Not a valid reason

The two ballot measures clogging the airwaves in the run-up to this November's election are generating no shortage of misleading arguments. The most ridiculous of them is the anti-50 message telling us we "shouldn't mess with our constitution." What is sometimes forgotten is that the Oregon constitution is not at all like the relatively pristine, high-minded United States constitution. As noted in a Corvallis Gazette-Times editorial earlier this week, our state constitution "is more of a legislature- and voter-approved dumping ground than the New Jersey salt marshes" and has been amended 24 times in the past eight years alone. If I'm not mistaken, something like 240 amendments have been tacked onto Oregon's constitution.

I also don't buy the argument that taxing a product seeing diminshing use—and that we all hope disappears—is unwise because then that funding also disappears. But do you realize how much healthcare money we will save by taxing cigarettes out of existence? And how many fewer kids will start smoking due to the expense?

Regardless, you might find a reason to vote against Measure 50. But the fact that it changes the Oregon constitution really shouldn't be one of them.

Another voice talks about one of the jewels of Gladstone

West Linn writer Cornelia Becker Seigneur has discovered the Happy Rock Coffee Company on Portland Avenue in downtown (no giggling when you say that!) Gladstone. Read her very nice take on the local atmosphere here.

4A Football: Somebody's not paying attention

Gladstone and Cascade have the same record and similar results on a game-by-game basis. But somehow, barely a week removed from defeating Cascade, the Gladiators are ranked behind the Cougars in the new poll. Fortunately, this isn't like the BCS; in the long run, the polls don't matter, only the playoffs.

A Night of Celebration

Hey, Gladstoners. Just in case you’re interested, I have eight four two remaining raffle tickets at $25 each for one prize of $4,000 in travel vouchers. Only 600 tickets will be sold, and all proceeds support the Gladstone Education Foundation. The drawing will be this Saturday night—need not be present to win. Saturday is the GEF dinner auction fundraiser; if you aren’t already attending but are interested in doing so, give Tammy Tracy (some of you might remember her as Tammy Davis) a call at 503-650-2577 or visit this Web site: www.gladstone.k12.or.us/.

Some of you have already donated auction items for this event; thank you very much for doing that. Anyone who would like me to set aside one or more raffle tickets for them, just drop me a line with your address and phone number in the next couple days.

Also, this Friday night is the Homecoming football game. The boys are having a very good season, and the facility features a new track and synthetic playing surface that is fantastic, so come have a look. Those of you in the Class of 1980, following up on Ted’s idea, how about we gather near the snack shack in the northwest corner at the end of the first quarter? (Just so you know what you've been missing out on, Diane's niece was homecoming queen last year.)