Our Opinion: Measure 65 is about fairness
By now most of the ballots for the 2008 general election in Oregon have been filled out and sent on their way.
Friday, October 31, 2008 11:06 AM PDT
We’re hopeful most voters did not fail to take a good, hard look at ballot Measure 65 and then vote “yes.”
Essentially, this measure would open up Oregon’s primary system to the entire body politic and not just those who happen to be Democrats or Republicans.
Would you be pleased with a system that always eliminates 25 percent of the people?
Neither would we. But that’s how Oregon’s primary system is set up.
But Measure 65 would change that and allow all voters to choose the best political contender — whether Democrat, Republican or Independent.
The measure has sparked plenty of opposition from labor and education unions and from those who simply do not want to change.
Yet the measure is really about fairness and democracy, and that’s why it makes a great deal of sense and why it should gain recognition and passage across Oregon.
We hope Oregon voters also saw the wisdom in promoting, not undermining, the democratic process and gave this measure a green light.
We do.
