There's the line of thought that in states like Oregon, where ballot issues pop up by the bushel, you're better off voting against all of them. (There's a good argument about just that on Blue Oregon.) Evidently, a lot of people do; something like two-thirds of them tend to fail. It's a reasonable default situation.
That said, not all do, and not all should. And blanket voting is simply another way of saying one is unwilling to do the work of separating the crystalline from the crud.
Herewith, an early and quick rundown of the measures that make the Oregon ballot this year, our take on what lies ahead. Expect the biggest debate on Measure 48; hope for spirited debate on all, especially the most obscure (and sometimes treacherous) financial measures.
Measure | Will it pass? | Should it pass? |
39 - No eminent domain for private sales | yes | yes |
40 - Constitution: Elect Supreme Court, Appeals by district | yes | close call |
41 - Allow state tax deduction equal to federal exemption | unclear | no |
42 - Ban insurance company use of credit scores for rates | yes | yes |
43 - Parental notification on abortion of minor children | yes | leaning yes |
44 - Expand Oregon prescription drug program | yes | yes |
45 - Constitution: State legislators term limits | close call | no |
46 - Constitution: Procedure on campaign finance law | probably | no |
47 - Campaign finance rules, adds requirements | probably | no |
48 - Constitution: TABOR state spending limits | leaning no | no |
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Comments not only welcome, but encouraged. Consider the above a first take likedly to be extended and revised a couple of months from now.