Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon state employee. (Salem, Oregon.) 1944-195? | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1947)
12 çise of moral stamina and a realization that "we, the, people” sink or swirp together. No nation, no state, county or city can be stronger or better than the individuals of which it is composed. Burdens become light as they are shared among the many. The cost of govern ment becomes much less than a burden when all contribute as a privilege and duty. State, county and city governments in Oregon have struggled along for many years with limited funds. Many of our schools have labored under fi nancial conditions tyhiteh have prevent ed our children from - receiving proper education. Oregon ranks quite low, na tionally, in its grade school educational facilities. Our sister states outstrip us in the pay- schedules and working con ditions for state, county, city and school employees* Oregon is still behind, she; is the pauper State of the Pacific Coast. Paradoxically, Oregon has more poten tial wealth,'and more potential advant ages than most any State in the Union- What holds us back? California was nearly financially broke during the last depression, then voted a sales tax and has done well since.- Washington has a sales tax and gets along quite nicely, Residents in those States are not com plaining about their tax structures. Fi- n a n c ia 11 y prosperous governmental bodies create conditions which invite new people and new enterprises. Oregon deserves the development and prosper ous growth which our sister states have already enjoyed for years. The proposed sales tax raises revenues from a larger group of people than now support oUr governments. As population increases, it seems reasonable to assume th a t it will provide the added revenue necessary to insure financial prosperity for the State as a whole. The people of Oregon have recently voted favorably^’ to raise our school standards, to reconstruct and expand our State institutions, I to compensate our public servants more equitably. Such provisions are foresighted .and evi dence the increased realization that if Oregon is to progress it must invest now in its future. I The raising of revenues for invest-: ment in Oregon’s future is a privilege which all should want to share. An opportunity to make such an invest ment presents itself on October 7, 1947; when the sales tax issue will be decided. The stabilization and equalization; Of our tax structure can then be realized by the broadening of our tax base. A n Economic Question I take personal exception to any view, expressed or implied, that the O.SÆ.A. should take no official stand on the tÿx measures before the people of Ore gon qn October 7. All state employes are individually interested in being em ployed by a solvent and prosperous State. The Association isSaterested in the welfare of the State and of'-iTtS em ployees. In my opinion, the subject of taxation is not a political matter in the usual sense of the word. I consider it. to be a matter of economics, a problem of1 equalizing the costs of gOvernmenl between its beneficiaries, a problem 'of, insuring fair and équitable distribution and Use of funds placed at the disposa) of governmental agencies*' Our Association S has I consistently studied and recommended many mea sures intended to improve the général welfare of the State and its emplqyees. It is recognized as being a high-minded groupj'frëe from selfish interests. It en joys enviable prestige for these reasons, The writer has tried to point out factual data and its' meanings in such a way as to arouse-the reader’s iptetest in the subject, that he may give further un biased thought^ to the matters involved. The subject of taxation is worthy of our serious consideration. The right rag vote is a special privilege’ "reserved to the people in a democracy. An intelli gent Vote is a responsibility and a duty., It should be counted in the interest of good government and for the progress, of the sf ate, county^ city - and school district in which we live.
