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JOHN SCHRAG
jschrag@wweek.com
(503) 243-2122
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This year's ballot-measure campaign is barely a week old, and already we're seeing signs of Roguish campaigning--from both ends of the political spectrum.

The left-leaning Don't Waste Oregon Council issued a press release Saturday warning that Measure 59 would "gut" the Oregon Voters' Pamphlet. The measure would prevent public resources from being used to collect political funds, and it might prohibit the use of state money to prepare Voters' Pamphlet statements. That's certainly a problem, but this measure is really aimed at preventing public employee unions from using payroll deductions for political work--a fact downplayed in the press release.

The previous day the Healthy Forest Alliance, a timber-industry-backed group, issued a press release blasting Measure 64, which would ban clear-cutting. The group warned that reductions in timber harvests will lead to reduced tax revenues for schools. It's a point worth considering but one that is hardly central to the debate of forest management.

We know what's going on. The Voters' Pamphlet is a lot easier to defend than public employees unions. Underfunded public schools get more sympathy than unending tree stumps.

We realize that political campaigns play up their strengths and cover their weaknesses, but such practices all too often obscure the real issues. In 1990, for example, sensible restrictions on wasteful product packaging were defeated by unfounded scare tactics about food safety. Two years ago opponents of a cigarette-tax hike warned that nicotine addicts would smuggle smokes from Vancouver, Wash., if the measure passed.

As evidenced by this week's cover story, voters will face plenty of important measures on this fall's ballot. They deserve to hear an honest debate on the central issues, not the sideshows.

 

originally published July 22, 1998