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This could happen to you.
Measure 86 on the Oregon ballot looks so benign, yet if it passes it would open the door for banks to run the state, say what citizens can or can’t do. Banks could force the state government to raise taxes, eliminate social services and sell state resources to the highest bidder (such as state parks and the currently free K-12 public school system).
Hard to believe? It has already happened in countries around the world whose governments did what Measure 86 is proposing – accept loans from banks. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund call raising taxes, eliminating social services and selling state resources “structural adjustments,” conditions they place on money they loan to governments. I saw it happen in 2003 in Bolivia, where it led to bloodshed in the streets of La Paz.
On Measure 86’s innocent-looking surface it seems like any bond measure you voted for in your state over the years. It’s for education. All kinds of good people and altruistic groups are endorsing it. When the Greeks came calling with that lovely gift, a huge wooden horse on wheels, Troy opened its gates to accept this wondrous thing. Troops erupted from the horse’s belly, slew people and took over the city. The Greek’s invasion of Troy is like the hidden wolf inside this woolly-looking feel-good measure that ostensibly helps Oregonians pay for post-secondary education. But, and here’s where that wolf reveals a flash of his carnivorous fangs, this measure, unlike bond measures of the past, requires a constitutional amendment.
Measure 86 is proposing that the government of Oregon change its constitution to allow the State to go into debt to banks. Incurring debt is a way to hold a government and a people hostage to the desires of big business – banks. If you want a lot more details about how banks have been doing this, read the New York Times bestseller Shock Doctrine by journalist Naomi Klein.
In the meanwhile, tell Oregonians to vote NO on 86, and examine your own ballots closely for any Trojan Horses or wolves in sheep’s clothing that try to hand your power over to big business – to banks.
I agree with you in principle that it should not pass, but I think its passing could be a blessing in disguise. .
The state of Oregon, where I once lived, has gone progressive left and that means a mindset of over spending state reviews. They just can not control themselves with all social engenering, the nanny do gooding, and basice contorll freek agendas, just like California, where I also once lived that is now suffering not only bankruptcy lever debt but also losing its largest revenue producers (business taxpayers) leaving the state in groves.
Measure 86 was put on the ballot for one reason and one reason only. Finding more money to spend on a never ending list of progressive agendas.. Like I said, they can’t help themselves and a twelve step program would not do them any good either because progressives do not believe in any higher power other than themselves..
I think that having it pass will help the states progressive left spendaholics get faster and deeper into dept then without it passing, and thus have the bums thrown out sooner then later. Why die a slow and painful death of progressive state overspending accompanied by the never ending excuses for budge failures, when you can get it over with as quickly as possible.
It is for this reason and this reason only that I hope it passes. The next generation will be much better off for it. .
Besides, I believe that these progressives are already actually thinking when they get deep into debt with this 86 banking arrangement they can look to the Federal Government to bailout. It would be just like them to try and pull that off.
Bad news is by the time the state bankrupts there will be so many other progressive bankrupt staes asking the Feds for bailouts there will be non left to go around.
I say give the bastards enough rope to hang themselves as fast as they can for all out sakes so we can be rid of them for a few more generations at least.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article and post a comment. Now I invite you to read Naomi Klein’s book The Shock Doctrine.