The Way: Kerr on Urban/Rural Divide, Harris on homelessness, Frazier on Sizemore, Wolf on Convening
PLUS a new cartoon and an excerpt from "Rediscovering the Oregon Way."
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Editor’s Note:
The Oregon Way and Wisconsin Idea launched at similar times for similar reasons and in similar fashions. These similarities perhaps come from a strong demographic match between the two states. Turns out many Wisconsinites became the first Oregonians.
Resettlers from Wisconsin brought their rural way of life (and its corresponding norms, values, social institutions, and democratic processes) as well as their general demographic homogeneity with them along the Oregon Trail. Once having resettled, Wisconsinites and other Midwesterners (now Oregonians) became fixtures of Oregon’s demography for decades. Consider that by 1900 upwards of 26 percent of all Oregon residents were born in Midwest states. So it comes as no surprise that both Wisconsin and Oregon developed similar political cultures.
Learning more about the Idea that took root in Wisconsin and how that Idea relates to the Oregon Way reveals that political cultures are driven by people and can form because of as well as in spite of geographic characteristics; this inquiry also highlights why the demographics of early Oregon were integral to the creation of the state’s Way.
In 1905, the President of the University of Wisconsin delivered a speech that called for the creation of a distinct political culture; President Charles Van Hise envisioned the University forging a tight relationship with the State government in addition to the state’s broader network of communities.
The Idea had a simple principle—reciprocity. The University would provide expertise and energy to fuel positive action by the State government. The State government would support the University and leverage its academic assistance to help all Wisconsinites. Reciprocity, though, should not be mistaken for a repeated exchange of obligations.
The ties connecting the people, the University, and the state were to be "without partisanship, without bias, with no personal end, but with the sole idea of finding the truth, the path which leads to peace and prosperity for the people." By removing specific ideological and demographic indicators from this Idea, President Van Hise maximized the possibility of identifying shared values across a larger swath of Wisconsinites. He also indicated a willingness to share power with myriad stakeholders, showing others in the state that the University sought not to step on others’ feet but to complement ongoing treks.
On the surface, the relationship described by President Van Hise could be characterized as somewhat limited in its reach; after all, he merely called for two very large institutions to collaborate on a common goal. And the reach of his address may have indeed been small had the UW community not responded so fervently to his call for focused collaboration.
But they did respond…President Van Hise quickly shared his vision with then-Governor of Wisconsin Robert La Follette. Governor La Follette turned the Idea into action and helped create the conditions required for the perpetuation of a Way. Soon UW professors were working in the halls of the State Capital, sharing their expertise, learning the priorities of legislators, and establishing a culture with specific values and norms.
Indeed, the Wisconsin Idea, even in its earliest conception by President Van Hise, was never intended to be confined to just two institutions. The professor-legislator relationship was just one of the means through which the UW system shaped the state.
A comprehensive survey of the Idea’s impact would require tracing the careers and community engagement of every UW graduate. When students received a diploma, they also received a responsibility to steward the Idea as graduates. A census of how graduates performed that stewardship lies beyond the scope of this book.
Even without that work, though, it is possible to spot trends in the prevalence and potency of the Idea. For example, though the UW system has struggled in recent times, an atmosphere of reciprocity still remains in the state, just at a lower concentration.
When then-Governor Scott Walker challenged the Idea by rushing Republican right-to-work legislation through the State Legislature, protestors cited the Idea and its founding fathers, including President Van Hise and Senator Robert La Follette, as guiding principals and principles for their rage and resentment.
A state’s civic culture matters. This blog is an attempt to improve that culture in Oregon — encouraging more debate, more curiosity, and more exchange.
Here’s to a better Oregon,
Kevin
*This is an excerpt of “Rediscovering the Oregon Way.” Find links to all the chapters here.
To look forward to:
Our #GovernorGoals series. Learn more about how you can help shape the future of our state here.
Jessica Gomez shares the role immigrants play in keeping the American Dream alive.
Scott Kerman highlights the role of trauma in shaping the state’s homelessness crisis.
To interpret:
To read:
Rob Harris offers the latest piece in our #GovernorGoals series on homelessness.
Read his unique perspective here.
Andy Kerr posits that no matter where you live, there likely is someone nearby with views on the opposite end of the political spectrum from yours.
Read more here.
Greg Wolf thinks elected officials have a superpower of sorts: the power to convene. Those capable of wielding it can accomplish a lot.
Read more here.
Kevin Frazier looks back at the impact Bill Sizemore had on Oregon’s political norms and calls for reversing some of the norms he established.
Read more here.
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Photo credit: "2020 Eastern Oregon Backcountry Festival" by samkchou is licensed under CC BY 2.0