Priority: Saving a Few Bucks

The most telling line in your reporting of the Measure 28 defeat was the quote from Russ Walker of Citizens for a Sound Economy: “It really says something about where people’s priorities are” (“Voters reject tax increase,” Jan. 29).

Yes, it certainly does. It says that Oregonians’ priorities are for saving ourselves a few bucks each week, but not for public education, higher education, public safety, our justice system, or health care for our poor.

Don McIntire, president of the Taxpayer Association of Oregon, was quoted as saying, “We’ve had months and months of talk of calamity if Measure 28 failed. Now I want to see that calamity” (“Light and heavy hearts greet news,” Jan. 29).

Mr. McIntire, here it comes.

I grieve for our state.