February 07, 2004
(Updated) Measure 30 Post-Mortem... Via Worldwide Pablo
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
Coverage here of the Measure 30 fight was, well, sparse. Someday perhaps we will sit down and try to write out the factors behind such an absence, if only to explore it for ourselves.
In the meantime, there's a wonderful item from Paul Nickell which takes a look back at the events of the last week, and tries to provide a little context:
... WWP would wager that most citizens think the tax system exists to focus first on education, public safety, municipal infrastructure (streets, bridges, sidewalks) and protecting vulnerable persons. We can all argue about the next tier of needs (creating a healthy business climate, building parks, supporting the arts, creating urban renewal -- you name it), but they are not and never will be in the first tier.
Contrast this to the scenario we see today: Citizens cry out for a safe city; city leaders talk of major league baseball. Citizens yearn for repaired potholes and sidewalks, city leaders talk of extended streetcar lines. Citizens longingly remember affordable water bills; civic leaders talk about buying the power company. Citizens demand a just and fair police bureau; the civic leaders are silent. And so on, and so on.
This is from the middle of Paul's piece. Readers should make sure to click through and absorb what surrounds this pull quote. If for no other reason than not to miss the punchline at the end, which will expose you to a fact that has gone almost entirely unreported during all this talk of taxes and Oregon's business climate.
Update
Meanwhile, today's Sunday Oregonian provides some questions and answers regarding "the state's puzzling tax and budget picture."