Dennis Tuuri

Full PEAPAC Analysis

PEAPAC Explanation: If passed, Measure 96 would amend the Oregon Constitution and prohibit the Legislature from making it more difficult for Oregonians to put measures on the ballot. Like many of the Measures on this years’ ballot, good people may disagree on how to vote on Measure 96.

The initiative process is akin to the sort of pure democracy that seems to be the antithesis of the representative government that the Bible commends to us. David Broder, considered by many to be the dean of Beltway journalists, takes aim at the initiative process in his recent book Democracy Derailed: Initiative Campaigns and the Power of Money. He says the initiative process is “alien to the spirit of the Constitution and its careful system of checks and balances” and “threatens to challenge or even subvert the American system of government in the next few decades.” Strong words. He also argues convincingly that while appearing highly democratic, the initiative process is very much controlled by the power of money and special interest groups.

On the other hand, the growth of the initiative process clearly shows a strong dissatisfaction with our Legislature and the sort of candidates produced by the current system. To those truly committed to biblical change in civil governance, the initiative process provides a sort of Mars’ Hill ( Acts 17:22 ), a forum where the citizens of Oregon gather to debate policies, ideas and worldviews; not personalities, charm and sound bites. To people dedicated to making a difference, the initiative process provides hope and an opportunity. In a way, the process gives us a check valve to prevent total apathy or violent revolution.

We think the initiative process is actually providing a sort of check and balance that is needed in our time of collectivism in both conservative and liberal circles. As we argue in our sidebar “Christian, not Conservative” it is time to move towards a more Biblical analysis of public policy issues. The initiative process gives us a venue for that discussion. It provides a small degree of check and balance against the nearly united collectivism of both major parties. We therefore ask you to consider voting Yes on Measure 96.