Citizen initiatives repair what our elected officials will not
The time has come for Coos County citizens to take matters into their own hands and file some initiatives asserting their rights to fair and equitable taxation and a sustainable economy
Stop by the Coos County Fair and you will have a chance to chat with commissioner candidates Don Gurney and incumbent John Sweet working their respective campaign booths. More likely than not you will see them standing together, talking about the county or ribbing each other about politics but feel free to insert yourself into the conversation and ask questions and offer opinions.
As important as it is that we elect good people to office, more and more citizens across the country are taking matters into their own hands and using the initiative process to correct flaws in existing laws and even to repair decisions made by our elected officials. The Oregon Right to Know GMO Labeling initiative is one example of the people taking matters into their own hands when the legislature kowtowed to the food manufacturing industry. Communities have similarly banned fracking and initiatives are underway to halt the use of aerial pesticide spraying right here in Oregon.
Citizen initiatives and referendums are powerful tools and in light of the recent revelation that Governor Kitzhaber will not intervene in the plan to abuse the enterprise zone statutes and privatize millions of dollars in property taxes via the CEP (Community Enhancement Plan) the public may need to intercede where our elected officials will not. Kitzhaber took a laissez-faire approach to the CEP which will deprive the state school fund of tens of millions despite his school equalization assertions telling The World editor, “I’d say let’s watch it closely and see how it works.” One can only hope the governor watches more closely than he did with Cover Oregon or than he and his predecessors have watched over the Port of Coos Bay. Gasp!
The time has come for Coos County citizens to take matters into their own hands and file some initiatives asserting their rights to fair and equitable taxation and a sustainable economy. More details will follow in the next couple of weeks but perhaps it is high time to do away with local enterprise zones and other ineffective but costly constructs that favor the few over the many.
As important as it is that we elect good people to office, more and more citizens across the country are taking matters into their own hands and using the initiative process to correct flaws in existing laws and even to repair decisions made by our elected officials. The Oregon Right to Know GMO Labeling initiative is one example of the people taking matters into their own hands when the legislature kowtowed to the food manufacturing industry. Communities have similarly banned fracking and initiatives are underway to halt the use of aerial pesticide spraying right here in Oregon.
Citizen initiatives and referendums are powerful tools and in light of the recent revelation that Governor Kitzhaber will not intervene in the plan to abuse the enterprise zone statutes and privatize millions of dollars in property taxes via the CEP (Community Enhancement Plan) the public may need to intercede where our elected officials will not. Kitzhaber took a laissez-faire approach to the CEP which will deprive the state school fund of tens of millions despite his school equalization assertions telling The World editor, “I’d say let’s watch it closely and see how it works.” One can only hope the governor watches more closely than he did with Cover Oregon or than he and his predecessors have watched over the Port of Coos Bay. Gasp!
The time has come for Coos County citizens to take matters into their own hands and file some initiatives asserting their rights to fair and equitable taxation and a sustainable economy. More details will follow in the next couple of weeks but perhaps it is high time to do away with local enterprise zones and other ineffective but costly constructs that favor the few over the many.
Related Posts:
MGX---Article on Server Attacks, SCCF Vote, & The Oregonian
MGX---The Yahoos in Rural Coos Could Pick the next County Commissioner
MGX---Mary Geddry offers Critique of The Oregonian Article on CEP
BOC---Cowardly, Commissioners Cribbins & Sweet Betray the Voters of Coos County
MGX---CEP/SCCF will Impact ALL of Oregon
MGX---Geddry Slams Koch over Forced Cooperation & Jordon Cove Funding
MGX---Fighting over the Jordan Cove Spoils
MGX---Tioga gun club not priority say commissioners
Tioga Sports Park Gun Range Public Meeting January 30, 2014
MGX---The Jordon Cove Plan using County Tax Dollars
MGX---Mary still tackling taxes and government development
MGX---Citizens may have to solve this problem without elected leaders
MGX---Rebuttal to Wayne Krieger
MGX---Mary slams The World, Jon Barton, Messerle, The ORRCA Board and LNG
MGX---Economic development spin cycle begins again
MGX----Some Damn good Stories from Mary Geddry
MGX---Older Posts, but still relative....
MGX---Article on Server Attacks, SCCF Vote, & The Oregonian
MGX---The Yahoos in Rural Coos Could Pick the next County Commissioner
MGX---Mary Geddry offers Critique of The Oregonian Article on CEP
BOC---Cowardly, Commissioners Cribbins & Sweet Betray the Voters of Coos County
MGX---CEP/SCCF will Impact ALL of Oregon
MGX---Geddry Slams Koch over Forced Cooperation & Jordon Cove Funding
MGX---Fighting over the Jordan Cove Spoils
MGX---Tioga gun club not priority say commissioners
Tioga Sports Park Gun Range Public Meeting January 30, 2014
MGX---The Jordon Cove Plan using County Tax Dollars
MGX---Mary still tackling taxes and government development
MGX---Citizens may have to solve this problem without elected leaders
MGX---Rebuttal to Wayne Krieger
MGX---Mary slams The World, Jon Barton, Messerle, The ORRCA Board and LNG
MGX---Economic development spin cycle begins again
MGX----Some Damn good Stories from Mary Geddry
MGX---Older Posts, but still relative....
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