Op Ed: Oregon Education Now At Tipping Point, Deserves Full Truth

(SALEM) - Never was there a time in Oregon time when a candidate for Governor has been so openly and continuously antagonistic, obstructive, evasive, and generally “disingenuous” as in this one --do you ? That last-word was publicly applied in a straightforward announcement yesterday that STAND FOR CHILDREN endorses incumbent Governor Ted Kulongoski for reelection. You can visit their Website at: www.stand.org This striking announcement was made by Executive Director Jonah Edelman who declared that Saxton must know-and-understand what his campaign has done and is doing, and characterizing Saxton as: “disingenuous”. That organization is highly respected throughout Oregon. It is known for its nonpartisan, child-and-youth dedication demonstrated by deep study and authoritative report on the precarious state of Oregon’s education system. Their authoritative planning materials will be presented to the Legislature, supplementing and strengthening the CHALKBOARD Project proposals pirated by Saxton. (“See with own eyes”: www.votesaxton.com Edelman stated the organization had rapidly declared its support for incumbent Governor Ted Kulongoski via statewide membership poll; significantly, within hours after the first candidate-debate co-sponsored by STAND on PBS radio and tv. There is no polite term to tell a candidate “You lie in your teeth, you cur, sir !” -- as was usage in the 18th Century, and is known to have brought on dangerous duels-to-the death. But that is surely the situation now for Oregon education -- “duel-to-the-death”, that is. There is no possible further-question but that our system must be salvaged via rapid-action; nor is there any question-left that doing so will demand Oregon tax reform; specifically, to remedy that massive shift of burden from corporate bottom-line to Oregonian individual-shoulders. (See: OCPP “Great Corporate Tax Shift”; www.ocpp.org. One simply says “disingenuous” these days; but that is strong-stuff, too. “See with own eyes”: disingenuous (as in "disingenuous") adj. : not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness; "an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who...exemplified...the most disagreeable traits of his time"- "a disingenuous excuse" On close examination of public record for each it is easy to see why Saxton chose silence first; then obfuscation and partial statement then careful guidance by carefully-supplied canny campaign cohorts; and now cannot avoid characterization by direct observation; not only on television but also by radio-voice nuance on radio. The STAND FOR CHILDREN result reflects the direct consequences when that public-exposure rips apart all that costly campaign propaganda via grossly perverted attack-ads --to reveal underlying and undeniable truths.
(See: OREGONIAN 10/6 front-page-and-inside full report on public record for both.) It’s beginning to sink-in deeply in many Oregon skulls, no matter how hardened until now, that PLEDGED means providing cover and concealment for continuing the current heavy-consequences status already shown to be catastrophic to all-things-educational in Oregon. First-shot of fast-opening campaign was “foot-in-mouth” challenge to the whole cadre of State and public agency workforce on whose good will and self-guidance at work his whole history if-elected had to depend. No wise and sensitive chieftain-to-be flourishes the hatchet over the heads (AND the families !) of his tribesmen, no matter how hot the community-fire around which they must gather --and plan. No skilled and sensitive leader-to-be ever rallies the rest of his natural nation of other tribes by trashing their traditional beliefs and deep-felt values protecting family virtues and their mutual visions. After that fast-opener fiasco, what else to do except try to shut up and show comparative wisdom by winsome silence --while someone else does the dirty-work by design of destructive dirty-ad displays ? But negative-notes, no matter how deftly designed and multiplied by massive management on many channels, have proven too much, too manipulative, and far too malign for far too many in modern Oregon. Most of us still prefer to “roll our own” for Oregon without misplaced manipulation from outsider-dollars driven by their private needs to shape our State policies, plans, and programs. The public reaction-- now strongly exemplified by arrival of “disingenuous”-- thoroughly demonstrates where-and-why cogitating common-folk across this State are contemplating common choice; fully aware of the consequences in allowing such character to invade the top command-post in our State. Better the one we know --even though, at times, a bit slow. At least that way, we won’t find slippery-slime “negative-time” still distorting and perverting confrontation-continuing-- when those cohorts of lobbyists and Legislators return to the Salem Arena. Please note “who is leading-whom” in that sentence: It simply reflects solid, ongoing status of “transactional lobbying” reflected in the latest “free press” reports re climate and specially-luxurious resort-facilities in Hawaii; lavished on legislators who, of course, were never influenced in the slightest way when they voted-later. Even “Minimal” Minnis participated, albeit she somehow missed making a full record of the occasion. Even those further to the Right in this reversed-field for future fateful direction of our beloved State are beginning to recognize that now they must choose: The Right “cult-side” -- or the “right thing to do now”; for the commonweal we all live with-and-in; and cannot do otherwise, in a cooperative, concerned, cogitating society inevitably serving all of us. ANY corporation counselor seeking such State office cannot possibly continue his conscientious concern for Oath-served commonweal considerations when PLEDGED, as acknowledged; to the primitive attack-is-all attitudes and promises of a notorious political cult whose pattern has drawn precarious predicament at every point at the national level... With of the damage so deeply now determined that the once-dominant political-cult long in command is collapsing, and its own moral and management principles are revealed every day in desperately deep disarray. OR did you miss that Hastert-show, on national tv yesterday, with all its new stand-up comic characters ???