This is Floyd Wynne with "The View from Here"

          Today is election day and the fate of Measure 30 is now in the hands of the voters.

          While I have not taken sides on the issue there are some things about it that bother me.

          First among these is the wisdom of a huge tax increase that hits all citizens at a time when the state economy is struggling to stay afloat and continue to serve meaningful segments of our society.

          Those who support the measure maintain that failure to approve the tax increase will mean substantial cuts in such very important services as education, health care and police protection.   Yes, these certainly are very essential services.

          However, those who oppose the measure maintain that these are really “scare” tactics that are almost always employed to convince voters to approve tax increases.

          One of the issues that concern me is the statement of the current Governor, Ted Kulongoski that if elected, he would make certain the state lived within its income and that he would not support tax increases.

          Now, I’ve lived long enough to realize that campaign promises are designed to gain votes, and most often drop by the wayside when they take office.    I can remember that President Bush, the father of the current president, promised voters “No new taxes”, and later found that in order to co-exist with a Democratically controlled Congress he had no choice but to agree to raises some taxes.   At the next election the Democrats defeated him on that very issue among others.

          The public, I feel, has become accustomed to politicians saying one thing, yet doing another.   That’s why politics has become a bad word, and a lot of good people don’t want to be involved.  But politics is the life blood of a free society.  It should not be a tool of neither the wealthy, elite class nor those with certain axes to grind. 

          Another thing that bothers me about this election is there does not appear to be any sizeable cuts in other state programs.  And that brings up the issue of so-called cuts.   Oftentimes when they refer to cuts....they don’t mean cuts in their current budget, but rather cuts in the increases they hope to get.   There is a big difference.

          I can well remember one year when I was a County Commissioner we knew we had to make cuts in the budget.  We called all the departments together and informed them that every budget except the Sheriff’s would have to be cut five per cent.  Not only that, but we wound up cutting the county work week to a four and one half day which meant a pay cut for most employees.

          Having served as both a City Councilman and a County Commissioner I can honestly say that there is one axiom applicable to government:    It never has enough money!

          That, in some cases, is because there are always those with special causes, special needs and workers that need raises regardless of what state the budget is in.    I’m not criticizing the special needs.  Many of them are very worthy, but government can not be the do all for everybody and everything.....down that road lies complete socialism which is a companion of Communism.

          If Measure 30 passes, one will find that the next Legislative session will need still more money.    If it fails business in the state will go on as usual.  

          Until our economy improves....everyone must tighten their belts....and examine every dollar they spend very carefully.

This is Floyd Wynne and that's "The View from Here"