January 28, 2003
State of Disunion
Immediately upon approaching the Broadway Room at the downtown Hilton, the television stationed outside was blaring the KATU prediction -- at 8:05 PM, with 30% of the votes counted -- that Measure No. 28 was doomed to defeat. At the time, results had it failing by a 54/46 vote.
Shortly thereafter, a son being carried by his father asked, "Why are you so sad? Why are you so bummed?" And two seniors hugged each other, one consoling, "It's not down yet."
Twice in the past week, I have been privy to the sight of a deflated crowd (the first being at last week's antiwar vote at City Hall). Moments after making a similar note to myself, a supporter of 28 was overheard venting about having tonight witnessing first the State of the Union address and then the defeat of Measure 28.
I took a break when Tom Cox of the Libertarian Party came onto the television to gloat about the measure's defeat.
Kitzhaber, at the Hilton, spelled out the political divide: That for supporters, this was never about the rhetoric of taxes, but about the values Oregon chooses to pursue.
In the end, supporters were left to hold onto the achievement of gathering as much support at the ballot box as they did, given where the Measure started out in the polls.
As of this post, with 78% of the votes counted, Measure No. 28 is losing by a 56/44 vote. Here in Multnomah County, it is apparently winning by a 55/45 vote.
Comments (2)
The One True b!X on 28 Jan 2003
And the Libertarians, of course, continue to run around living on Bizarro World. In one moment, the news has Libertarians asserting that 'Yes on 28' people were using scare tactics about the ramifications of failure, such as prisoners being set free.
In the next moment, the news explains the schedule for releasing prisoners from the Multnomah County jails, starting tomorrow.
But, no, really, it was all just scare tactics.
Idiots.
The One True b!X on 28 Jan 2003
Then again, of course, the Libertarians don't actually care about the consequences. They don't want the government involved in education. They don't want the government involved in social services. These things are meant, to Libertarians, to be provided by the beneficent hand of the free market, solidified by private contract.
In the meantime, as they strive ever more boldy onward toward that libertarian utopia, let the people who depend upon these government services be damned.