Dennis Tuuri

Full PEAPAC Analysis

PEAPAC Explanation: Measure 90 Creates A Unitary Primary for All Candidates, Top Two Go To General Election

The passage of Measure 90 would dramatically change our current political system. We think the changes proposed by Measure 90 are not the right ones, so we urge a No vote. But there are good reasons to change our current system.

First, Christian political theorists have long been concerned about the two party system. The Bible warns us about “party spirit” or “factions,” the sort of choosing sides with a group and one particular truth rather than with God and embracing all aspects of His truth.

Our nation’s founding father had like concerns. In George Washington’s farewell address he said the following about the dangers of political parties: “They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.”

Second, advocates of pro-family pro-business conservative policies have been out of power in Oregon for decades. They are tempted to approve almost any major shake-up of the political system, believing it really can’t get much worse. However, given the reality that change seems necessary, the question is, is this the right change? We are not convinced it is. The end result of this system, now in place in California and Washington, seems to be the further advance of progressivist policies, which is radically at odds with much of what the Bible teaches. For instance, since its enactment in California, the system has produced super-majorities of progressivist Democrats in both their House and Senate.

A better alternative might be so-called “instant run-off voting.” This is also called “preference voting” since voters rank the candidates in order of preference rather than voting for a single candidate. This system is now being used in various countries, including Australia. So far, it looks promising. While we share some of the same concerns as backers of Measure 90, we do not believe that this system has been sufficiently tested. Over the next few years, watching the results in Washington and California will help us make a more informed decision on how to change our political system. The Bible encourages us to think carefully before making big decisions. This is a big decision, and we advise more thought and investigation of other alternatives before making it. We encourage a No vote on Measure 90