Read Between the Lines.
I hope Oregonians are reading between the lines as legislators and top officials begin to talk about their plans for the future.
Example: The governors budget proposal that protects education and state employee’s and proposes cuts to programs for our most vulnerable seniors and the disabled. I admit, I have a brother in-law who is disabled and gets help from the state. Yes, I’m bias on this issue. But come on, what’s really going on here? Why is he protecting these particular employees? You have to ask these questions and really think about it. I don’t see anyone in the media asking do you?
Our new Secretary of State and Attorney General announced this morning they want to crack down on abusers of Oregon’s Initiative Process. Boy, that sounds good doesn’t it. But what does it mean to the people of Oregon? What do we lose in the process? Will the process become even more difficult for us to use? Is this a move to protect us or those who hate the initiative process? Why do they hate the process so much? Is it really because people abuse it or is it because it keeps them accountable and brings up ideas they don’t like? That’s what elections are for, we get to decide, not the government. Yes, we all know of those who seem to make a career out of the process but Oregonians have the final say and as we saw this last election decided against most of the initiatives on the ballot. I’m not saying we shouldn’t crack down on abuse but instead of grandstanding perhaps we should enforce the laws that already exist. When someone is caught faking signatures, we should prosecute them and make an example of them. We don’t do that right now for each case, only the ones that create the biggest headline. I’ve talked with signature gathering businesses who told me they turned in names of employee’s they had caught faking signatures and the state never prosecuted them. Wouldn’t that be cracking down on abusers? And we wouldn’t have to change anything simply enforce the laws that already exist.
So, voters, January is just around the corner and we have a job to do. We can’t just take what’s said at face value. It’s unfortunate but we have to ask more questions. We need to look at what’s behind each move. If we don’t “we” stand to lose the most. Before you take anything at face value, you must “read between the lines” or forever hold your peace, and that’s exactly what some are hoping we do.
When did I become the parent.
As I look out the window, the night lights of Portland twinkle in the distance, and here I sit wondering when did my mother and I trade places? My twin sister is on her computer. My little sister just left. Sitting next to me in a hospital bed is my mom. She fell the other day and broke a blood vessel in her brain. The blood won’t clot so they’re keeping her in the hospital for a few days. I think she’ll be okay but at 83, every trip to the hospital reminds me that I’ll always have a mother but she won’t always be next to me like she is right now.
It’s funny: this is the woman who changed my diapers and held my hand as I had my head perched on the edge of a toilet seat throwing up. Remember how scary it was throwing up when you were a kid? I do. The roles have changed. Now, I’m here, with my sister, watching my mother in pain. My mom is the toughest woman I know. She lives in constant pain and yet if you asked her to show you the “pain face” she’s feeling, she will always say it’s lower than it really is. She doesn’t complain she just lives with it.
My mom is funny. She’s ready for us to leave. She likes her private time with her favorite men. No, stop thinking like that my mom is not that kind of girl. Her men are a team called “The Blazers”. She loves them.
So, Judi and I will pack up and head home. Mom has a date. Go Blazers.
