Sizemore helped establish a norm of using any means possible to score political victories, even if those victories did not reflect the true will of the Oregon people.
Sizemore took progressives to school with the initiative process, showing how it could be used to move an agenda. For much of the 1990s, I was waving my arms and yelling -- see what he's doing, we need to compete and "fight fire with fire." Which progressives learned to do, if you look at the ballot measures that we sponsored in the years following for minimum wage increases, cigarette taxes etc.
But there was also a dirty underside to Sizemore's operation, involving the forging of signatures and the treatment of those signatures as commodities to be bought and sold. Most of that was corrected -- with yet another ballot measure (!) to ban payment by the signature on initiative petitions (Measure 26, 2002, which I'm proud to have been a part of).
One lesson from what Sizemore pioneered was the careful framing of initiatives in 15-word, sound bite titles that could win hearts and minds with superficial appeal. Progressives learned how to do that when it comes to ballot measures. But we're still behind in this game when it comes to what everyone is bemoaning now -- messaging!
Kevin...it may be easy to take pot shots at Sizemore because he was a controversial figure 20-30 years ago.
However, those of us who owned homes back then & still do remember the runaway property taxes.
You say ...” even if those victories did not reflect the true will of the Oregon people..”
Well, guess what? When Measure 47 passes by over 52% , that DOES reflect the true will of the people.
The initiative process is there to act as a check & balance to the other branches of government. If opponents don’t like what Sizemore or anyone else has proposed for a ballot measure- they are free to make their case. The other side has put their share of wild claims in the voters pamphlet as well.
The way taxes & fees are going up now a lot of us can’t afford to stay in our homes. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see another Sizemore-like revolt on the ballot soon & I look forward to the discussion.
I keep waiting for the cross-the isle nature of this site to emerge. My $30 just was spent to , hopefully support an All-of-Oregon approach. But time and time again, my BS sensor is set off. Yes I agree Bill Sizmore was not a positive influence for the state. But he was brought to power by politicians ignoring the concerns of the minority power in Oregon. Now we have a super majority of progressives in Oregon. Yet there is little said or done to include the shrinking conservative voice. More of a , "Too bad we have more votes" . And unfortunately this site is giving me that feeling. So being a person who wants to see some sort of cooperation in this state I am willing to hang on one more cycle, but hoping for a lot more effort to include the minority parties thoughts.
Sizemore took progressives to school with the initiative process, showing how it could be used to move an agenda. For much of the 1990s, I was waving my arms and yelling -- see what he's doing, we need to compete and "fight fire with fire." Which progressives learned to do, if you look at the ballot measures that we sponsored in the years following for minimum wage increases, cigarette taxes etc.
But there was also a dirty underside to Sizemore's operation, involving the forging of signatures and the treatment of those signatures as commodities to be bought and sold. Most of that was corrected -- with yet another ballot measure (!) to ban payment by the signature on initiative petitions (Measure 26, 2002, which I'm proud to have been a part of).
One lesson from what Sizemore pioneered was the careful framing of initiatives in 15-word, sound bite titles that could win hearts and minds with superficial appeal. Progressives learned how to do that when it comes to ballot measures. But we're still behind in this game when it comes to what everyone is bemoaning now -- messaging!
Kevin...it may be easy to take pot shots at Sizemore because he was a controversial figure 20-30 years ago.
However, those of us who owned homes back then & still do remember the runaway property taxes.
You say ...” even if those victories did not reflect the true will of the Oregon people..”
Well, guess what? When Measure 47 passes by over 52% , that DOES reflect the true will of the people.
The initiative process is there to act as a check & balance to the other branches of government. If opponents don’t like what Sizemore or anyone else has proposed for a ballot measure- they are free to make their case. The other side has put their share of wild claims in the voters pamphlet as well.
The way taxes & fees are going up now a lot of us can’t afford to stay in our homes. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see another Sizemore-like revolt on the ballot soon & I look forward to the discussion.
I keep waiting for the cross-the isle nature of this site to emerge. My $30 just was spent to , hopefully support an All-of-Oregon approach. But time and time again, my BS sensor is set off. Yes I agree Bill Sizmore was not a positive influence for the state. But he was brought to power by politicians ignoring the concerns of the minority power in Oregon. Now we have a super majority of progressives in Oregon. Yet there is little said or done to include the shrinking conservative voice. More of a , "Too bad we have more votes" . And unfortunately this site is giving me that feeling. So being a person who wants to see some sort of cooperation in this state I am willing to hang on one more cycle, but hoping for a lot more effort to include the minority parties thoughts.