I'm on lots of mailing lists for lots of legislators. I suspect most of them added me without my express consent, but I don't mind that much.
Oregon state Senator Gordly has a newsletter -- I believe I did sign up for this one, by the way -- every now and then. Usually, it's the same dry stuff. I mean, it's interesting but it's not compelling. I just can't get really worked up about say, "SB 389 Requires landlord to provide tenants with actual towing cost information (as requested by many aggrieved Oregon citizens)"
But the big one, the one that prompted me to write this little diddy. Senator Gordly, who happily says, in big bold text:
There are no restrictions on downloading, copying or distributing this information.
said in her most recent newsletter the following, which I will copy and paste in full:
The Public Commission on the Legislature, in a document titled "Blueprint for a 21st Century Legislature", made a number of recommendations for fundamental reform.
These recommendations include fundamental changes to the processes of how legislative candidates are selected and how citizen participation is encouraged.
The Public Commission, on which I served, recommended that Oregon should adopt an "open" primary, allowing all Oregon voters to nominate two candidates to appear on the general election ballot regardless of political party affiliation, or lack of party affiliation, of the elector or candidate.
I was a registered independent or unaffiliated voter until 1984. I changed my registration in order to vote for Jesse Jackson for President because—as an unaffiliated voter—I was barred from voting for the candidate of my choice.
Throughout my voting experience, I have voted for and supported the person most qualified and/or who appeared capable of servicing the broad interests of a diverse population. In other words, party affiliation was not and is not my first consideration in selecting a candidate.
Data from the Secretary of State, Elections Division, show that about 22% of Oregon voters are independents. Under Oregon’s closed primary system, non-affiliated voters have no opportunity to select which candidates proceed to the general election. The result is that these voters are disenfranchised from fully participating in the election process—the democratic process.
My approach to public service has been nonpartisan. I feel that partisan politics and closed caucuses have prevented transparency in how decisions are made and who is making them.
In an open primary, voters will have maximum choice, in every election, to vote for the candidates they believe are best suited to govern Oregon. Parties will still exist, and citizens can choose to register with them or not.
I changed my registration back to unaffiliated (or independent) last July. I am not a member of a political party.
Ok. The title of the diary was a lie. I do know how to fell about open primaries. At least, right now I do. The way I see it, the notion that everyone should vote in every election is kind of silly. I see the "democratic process" as electing someone that the most people can agree on.
Parties have primaries to see who they want to send to the general election. It's sort of like an elimination bracket. You don't have the Bears1 play against every team in the nation to win the Superbowl, just like you don't have two elections for every candidate on the field.
I think the best solution is to allow people without a registered party to pick their ballot -- Republican, Democrat, Green, whatnot for the primary election. People already registered with a party don't get to switch sides for the primaries.
It's 5a, and I would go into detail, but really, I don't wanna. And also, I'm not wearing any pants, the sun is going to be up soon, and I need to go around and shut the blinds before the neighbors complain.
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1I actually don't give a flying rat's ass about football. I honestly don't know who won. I also can't remember who played. I'm a horrible American.