BlueOregon reports that the “open primary” bill (SB 630) got killed in the Senate yesterday, so that’s a clear victory. The Louisiana primary system is a truly horrible idea; of all the things you might want to import from Louisiana, their politics would be right down there at the end of the list, along with [...]

Excelsiors (Onward Oregonians sounds to awkward, so I think I’ll just call us all “Excelsiors”): Please check out these free events and consider attending one near you – people who frequent this site have the kinds of views that are all too frequently ignored in planning screaming matches debates: Thank you for signing up for [...]

More proof, as if we needed more, that even the most intelligent and personally upstanding folks, when submerged into an organizational structure such as a corporation can lose all sense of morality and decency. The organization does things the individuals would abhor, and no one feels responsible, and only the profit motive is heard. Please [...]

Out enjoying the beautiful day today, I was meditating on what would happen should the Oregon 37 fix fail this November. I heard Sen. George speak recently and I think he’s not sure whether it will pass or fall, because he’s boasting that it is sure to fail quite loudly and often. I got the [...]

One of the more important ways of knowing what’s going on in Salem is “SalemWatch,” [sic] produced by the Oregon Conservation Network and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. This week’s issue is a timely followup to my “What’s Next?” post, because it contains some important pieces of legislation I overlooked. I’m posting big hunks [...]

A friend published a good op-ed about Michigan that applies equally to states like Oregon, where about half the Legislature seems intent on following Michigan’s lead in the “how much can we become like Mississippi” race – Published May 6, 2007 Cheryl Bartz lives in Lansing Cheryl Bartz: Keep Michigan in First World What’s the [...]

OK, Measure 37 rewrite is going to the voters. It stinks, but it stinks far, far less than Measure 37, so we need to do everything we can to pass it. Meanwhile, what do we concentrate on for the balance of the session? If you like big-picture, long-term thinking, probably SB 838 (renewable portfolio standard [...]

Ok, we’ve got about six inches to go to score an important victory, a first step towards the kind of response to global warming that we’ve got to have. Or if you prefer baseball, we’ve got the winning run on third base, ready to come home! Or if you prefer knitting, we’ve got the shawl [...]

If you look at the “Action Center” link up there, it takes you to an important page where you can find links for taking “action” on various subjects—all marked urgent! (These days, taking action is pretty much defined as communicating with your elected employees in Salem.) One suspects that Onward Oregon readers don’t suffer from [...]

(This affects you no matter what substantive issues you are most interested in. Driving out small publishers will do to our discourse what Sprawl-Mart does to Main Street businesses in Oregon.) POST OFFICE TO END 215 YEARS OF SUPPORT OF A FREE PRESS BOB MCCHESNEY – The U.S. Post Office is in the process of [...]