The Weekly Way (7/16/21)

On citizenship, ranked choice voting, the kicker, and Black Lives Matter.

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"Alvord Desert" by BLM Oregon & Washington is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Editor’s Note:

When the sidewall of a bike tire blows out, the only long-term fix is a new tire. My friend didn’t have that luxury on top of the McKenzie Pass. He settled for a short-term solution: a lot of sealant. It wasn’t a choice to go with this second-best response -- it was his only way to get down the pass and into Sisters. 

Our democracy has its own fair share of significant bumps, bruises, and holes. Yet, though we have the choice to institute long-term solutions, time and again only short-term fixes have been suggested and, rarely, implemented. Oregonians deserve better than putting sealant on problems that require new tires. Oregonians deserve democratic fixes that match the scale of the issues stalling progress and stoking partisanship. 

The recent fights about voting rights illustrate our focus on important, but untransformative solutions to our democratic ailments. Though access to the ballot must be secured across all races, backgrounds, and geographies, lowering barriers to electoral participation is a “sealant” solution. Consider that empiricalresearch is mixed on whether seemingly significant solutions, like vote-by-mail, actually increases voter turnout. 

A “tire” solution would involve asking questions like, “What would universal voting look like?”, “Beyond voting, what other ways can we create for people to participate in our democracy and hold officials accountable?”, and “What changes to term limits and term lengths might make elected officials more responsive to the wants and needs of all their constituents (not just those who voted for them)?”

These bigger questions are politically risky for any current elected official to ask and may also be difficult for candidates to raise because they’re likely seeking the support of party officials that benefit from the status quo. Following these “leaders”, most Oregonians have likewise refrained from pushing for big solutions. 

We need to restore our Democratic Imagination. If we’re incapable of imagining a better democracy, then we will never be able to take steps toward that democratic ideal. Of course, no democracy will ever be perfect, but surely we can do a heck of a lot better than going mile after mile, year after year on broken tires held together by a lump of sealant. 

Even a few Oregonians brave enough to call for big changes can help turn our collective imaginations back on. Right now, apathy is seemingly more popular than imagining big changes. It’s hard to go against such a strong prevailing sentiment. Consider the study of eight individuals looking at three different lines under the guise of doing a vision test. When the first seven select the blatantly shorter line as being the longest, the eight person (the test subject) is highly likely to go along with the crowd and pick the same, incorrect line. But, if even one other person selects the truly right answer before the test subject goes, then the test subject is drastically more likely to buck the majority and double down on what they know to be the right answer. 

What does this mean for the collective Democratic Imaginations of Oregonians? It may not be popular and it may not seem feasible, just a few Oregonians pushing for big, bold changes can reverse the tide and help the state implement the solutions our democracy requires. 

Here’s to a better Oregon,

Kevin

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To think on: how Oregonians think about the Black Lives Matter movement

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To read:

Adam Davis weighs the costs of prosperity — who and what pays for the good life available to many in Oregon?

• read the full piece here.

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Jared Garson examines what Oregon should learn from NYC’s first use of their Ranked Choice Voting system.

• read the full piece here.

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Reagan Knopp argues that the kicker has an underappreciated upside — helping legislators be better stewards of the state’s budget.

• read the full piece here.

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Jessica Gomez pushes Oregonians and their leaders to take specific steps toward a more innovative state.

• read the full piece here.

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Tim Nesbitt explores how the Mayor of Independence is fostering a service-oriented approach to citizenship.

• read the full piece here.

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Kevin Frazier asks what your 12 priorities are for the next governor.

• read the full piece here (then leave a comment)!

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To do:

• Invite three friends to subscribe to The Oregon Way

• Nominate a contributor — send Kevin their name and why you think they’d be a good fit for the blog (kfraz@berkeley.edu)

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