Opposing opinions on the ballot measures

Below are some opposing opinions I have received on the ballot measures from our Enewsletter. I post them hear so that people receiving the Enews can have their voice heard. Feel free to comment, but keep it professional please. This is a place to debate not attack.

comment #1:

Unfortunately the Democratic Party is not operating on facts with regards to
Measure 58; the propaganda produced by the party is singularly as bad as
anything I have seen from the Republican party. The current cost for Oregon
ESL programs are approaching $1 billion and the ODE AYP data shows very
minimal results as a pay-off for decades of this type of approach. In the
meantime our classrooms are swamped as a result of the largest immigration
wave in US history and an increasing number of mainstream teachers are
unable to teach grade level subjects due to the numbers of students unable
and unwilling to learn English at the academic level. Most of my students
who are willing to put forth an effort are achieving passing grades in all
subjects within two years. It's not a rocket science. It is unfortunate that
the science of 2nd language acquisition has been co-opted by culture
fanatics.

comment #2

Why would the WashCo Dems support Yes on 57? This measure would take money out of the budget to build and staff more prisons. This is exactly why CA has become so out-of balance, spending more money of prisons than schools for years. Going down the road to this end is insanity. We know prohibition against alcohol did not work, and prohibition against drugs is looting state and federal budgets, not to mention ruining lives. It is good to provide alternatives to prison for drug addicts, but it would be better to decriminalize addiction and provide treatment and education. We act as if education doesn't work, but it has seriously reduced tobacco use.

Oregon is and should be a progressive state, but this Measure 57 is regressive and will only dig us further into a hole. In a time of recession, we should not be wasting precious resources on this measure!