An interesting guest column in the Oregonian on January 8, reveals what actually happens with public input and debate in Oregon.
Paul Donheffner, the former state marine director for Oregon, explains what really happened with the Waldo lake debate. The marine board was tasked with getting public opinion and deciding if all motorized boats and float-planes should be banned from Waldo lake. Evidently governor Kulingoski had already decided this would be done and put the thumb screws to the board. The Oregon department of justice then drafted a memorandum telling directer Donheffner exactly how the rule would be worded (banning all motor-boats) and then hold public meetings to “gather public opinion”. Yea right. Those poor people who thought they were being a part of the process were wasting their collective breath. Get a clue folks, the powers that be are going to steam roller over you every time, while pretending to be fair and open minded. Take a few moments and read his letter HERE, and understand that within days of the “decision” being made public the director was forced to resign. Democracy marches on!
I remember attending the “Big Look” meeting in Tillamook last year, and when asked for my opinion, stated, “If any of you in this room believes that any of these state employees is willing to return even a shred of control back to us is possible, you’re kidding yourselves.”
If they don’t have the power, how are they going to help us?
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BTW–
Max at MaxRedline and I were wondering if you would either want to, or be willing to, be added to the Conservative Oregon Blog Roll Association links?
You’re currently listed in my “regular” links, but let me know if you would like your link changed?
http://oregonguythinks.blogspot.com/2010/02/cobra-changes.html