/ •
Page 2
The INDEPENDENT, October 21, 1998
3
n. INDEPENDENT
VltìAT YOU 6ATU££ ja /6 up
Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published twice
monthly, on the first and third Wednesdays of each
month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 725 Bridge
Street, Vernonia, OR 97064, as a free newspaper. Edi
tors and Publishers, Dirk & Noni Andersen. Sports Edi
tor, Caren McGaugh. Phone/Fax: (503) 429-9410.
\d c u .,l
J
i
V0T££>
A#«> a / ow T tfA T TWeRe AiiJT
-Tou.er PaPeA AA/y/HdUe
|'/*i
£ oue < t i */6 A tt / CA/\i <serz
Go l«J M Y BATHROOM S o I
State Measure 57
Prison construction is already a growth industry in Oregon,
though school construction is on the decline. So, why would we
want to make criminals of people who possess less than an
ounce of marijuana? Arguments in favor of recriminalization tend
to emphasize protection of children, but there is something miss
ing from those arguments: It is already illegal for children to have
marijuana; it is illegal to provide marijuana to minors; it is illegal to
drive under the influence of marijuana.
Proponents also fail to mention the impact of recriminalization
on people who aren’t users: More jail space will be needed and
more police will be needed...that will increase taxes while de
creasing resources for other services such as prevention and
treatment.
This sends the wrong message to youth. It says we are willing
to spend money on prisons, but we’re not willing to spend money
on education, prevention and treatment. Do we really want to cre
ate 6,000 more criminals this year by passing an expensive, puni
tive and unworkable measure?
Vote No on Measure 57.
c a » j
W ipe
At/fi
V0T£A's
Measure 62
Measure 59
Measure 63
Measure 60
Measure 64
02
R*A1> AAa STts&Y Y«vA
Ytu IS07~£ !
This constitutional amendment would require
more frequent disclosure of political campaign
Should adoptees be able to obtain a true copy of their birth cer contributions, would allow the legislature to pro
tificate, instead of a phony one that was substituted when they hibit paying people to gather signatures on peti
were adopted? There is possible invasion of privacy of the birth tions and controls how individuals may make po
mother (or father), who may have very good reasons for not re litical contributions. Since constitutional amend
vealing themselves. There is also a legitimate need to know one’s ments are supposed to cover only one subject,
genetic heritage, especially in case of certain medical conditions. it’s anybody’s guess how this would fare in state
court. If it goes to the U.S. Supreme Court, it’s
It’s a balancing act, but a Yes vote is recommended.
unlikely to be allowed, if recent rulings are any
measure.
No matter how much we may want campaign
Here we go again. Measure 59 is so badly written that it would finance reform, when in doubt about the legality
have unintended results. It intends to prohibit public employee of any measure, it is probably a good idea to
unions from being able to use payroll deductions because the vote No.
unions also have political action committees. Unintentionally, it
would also prohibit “using public funds (public employees, etc.) to
collect political funds” thereby eliminating the Voters’ Pamphlet
When the measure requiring a “super majori
that so many people find indispensable.
ty” passed a couple of years ago, it was ap
This lacks intelligence; vote No on 59.
proved by a simple majority of the voters casting
a ballot. This is the measure that defeated the 9-
1-1 election in September, because it voids elec
The only question to answer about this measure is: Do you or tion results on money measures unless more
don’t you want to vote by mail in all elections? At this time, all than 50 percent of registered voters cast ballots.
elections in Oregon are by mail except the Primary and General
Measure 63 offers a “quid pro quo" for this
Elections, when people have the option of going to the polls. This tactic by requiring that any future ballot mea
hybrid system has resulted in a lot of confusion, with some peo sures trying to impose a super majority can be
ple waiting for a mail ballot when there isn’t going to be one.
approved only if they receive the same super
Even if you prefer going to the polling place, there are some majority being required in the measure.
compelling reasons for unifying behind voting by mail. One rea
The only opposition to this comes from Ore
son is that more people vote when they can do so by mail than if gon Taxpayers United, the same people who
they have to go to the polls. Another important reason has to do think that the efforts of active voters should be
with fiscal conservatism: Voting by mail is cheaper than using cancelled by people who don’t vote.
polling places. More than 50 percent of Oregon voters already
Vote Yes on Measure 63.
use absentee ballots so polling places are used by fewer than 50
percent of voters.
Let’s expand vote by mail. Vote Yes on Measure 60.
Measure 64 would ban ciearcutting, which
many people think that is an excellent idea. The
measure also calls for banning the use of pesti
At this time, it appears that votes either for or against Measure cides and herbicides on forestlands in order to
61 won’t be counted because, according to the court, it lacked prevent contamination of water, soil and air; cer
enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. If that holds, the tainly a legitimate concern. Other elements
questin is moot. In case that decision changes, let’s look at it any would prohibit cutting any tree over 30 inches in
way.
diameter and would allow any citizen of the Unit
This is another attempt to reduce crime by increasing punish ed States to sue in state court to enforce the re
ment, which is how we got on the prison-building track in the first quirements of this measure.
place. The people it would punish, however, are the taxpayers. It
Those last two elements are, in many ways,
is estimated that passage of this measure would require an addi more distressing than banning ciearcutting.
tional 4,300 prison beds by the year 2006. In addition to that cost,
Trees that have grown to 30 inches in diame
up to $470 million, there would be additional court costs in the ter, or greater, are found not just on federal
tens of thousands.
lands. Many responsible small tree farmers have
Why don’t we spend tax money intelligently. Crime prevention nurtured their stands over long periods of time,
costs that punishment. Vote No on 59, just in case it’s counted.
cutting selectively and letting some trees grow
very large. Those trees are their retirement, or
their grandchildren’s college tuition, or money to
Please vote on November 3rd
W ith
J
State Measure 58
Measure 61
all
blow. Should they be prohibited from using
them?
Why should any U.S. citizen be able to sue
Oregon tree growers to enforce Oregon law? If it
is state law, enforcement should follow the same
requirements as enforcement of any state law.
There are already too many people who think
“I’ll sue,” when they are upset about something.
The ban on herbicides and pesticides is an
excellent idea in many ways, but it doesn’t go far
enough. Any such ban must also apply to farm
ers, landscapers, gardeners, etc., in order to be
effective.
The way trees are grown on industrial lands
has developed from the best forestry of the time
and is always undergoing modification. As more
people inhabit the earth, more are going to
question the process and some will be extreme.
This measure should not pass, but it should
serve as a wake up call to industrial forestry. A
better job can be done, but vote No on 64.
Measure 65
This measure is a great way to make the
state legislature just as ineffective as Congress.
Any time any one is upset about an administra
tive rule, just petition your legislature. They can
then spend their time looking over the shoulders
of state employees to find what the petitioner is
objecting to.
Sorry, folks, this is just plain stupid, could take
up far too much of the legislature’s time and re
sources, and bring operations to a halt. Vote No
on 65.
Measure 66
Oregonians love salmon and parks, sort of,
just not enough to pay for them. But if they’re
paid for out of lottery funds, it doesn’t cost any
thing, does it? Yes, it does.
We are becoming more addicted to gambling
every day and think that all funding problems
can be solved by more gambling. We need to
fund parks and save salmon, but not this way.
Vote No on 66.
Measure 67
The medical use of marijuana isn’t a hare
brained idea. Marijuana works well for certain
medical conditions and in some cases is a good
substitute for heavy opiates. The reason there
has been so little research on marijuana is the
refusal of the federal government to provide it to
legitimate researchers. This is one way to put
pressure on so research can be done.
Vote Yes on Measure 67.
1 i
J
r.
4
»
?
t.»
il