For the fourth or fifth time, GOP members of the Legislature in the State of Oregon are boycotting the session to prevent a quorum and thereby prevent a host of bills from being passed. According to the AP, Democrats are being the demagogues arguing that lives are in danger because of many of the bills delayed: that lives will be lost if the “sabotage” is not stopped. And indeed, failing if the boycott does not end before the constitutional deadline of 25 June, less than 3 weeks away.

In effect, the boycott is (according to almost all Democrats and some Republicans and independents) making it impossible to government the great State of Oregon.

The Dems point to bills that will supposedly keep lives from being lost in a variety of ways: from floods and infrastructure failures and treatment of addicts and other “worthy” projects. Bills that will get “free” FedGov money to repair and replace bridges and dams, provide money to help those threatened by possible future wildfires, and other many “good and worthy” projects. Other bills purport to spend money to address many problems. Of course the special interests so greedy for (and dependent on) government handouts are firmly in the Demo corner.

The GOP strikers are fighting against others of the hundreds of bills introduced into the legislature this year. Among those, although the AP story and others don’t point it out, are bills which, if they become law, will actually cause lives to be lost – such as the abortion expansion and the laws to further disarm Oregonians and deny many the ability to defend themselves against violent criminals. Others which would be passed by the majority Democratic Senate and signed by the Woke government are seen by many in the GOP as tantamount to losing lives: from physical and psychological abuse, genital mutilation, and suicide. Among these are proposed laws that would provide special privileges for transsexuals. When you add in the moral impacts, it would seem that the GOP boycotters have somewhat the same case as the Democrat Senators and protestors who demand surrender on the part of the GOP. And yes, both sides are claiming the moral high ground.

There are some relatively minor differences. Among the various moral issues, most people understand there is a difference between potentially saving lives from disasters and accidents, versus allowing lives to be taken by governmental authority. But the root issues of liberty versus tyranny are more than just this or fiscal responsibility.

We here at TPOL point out that most of this spending, most of these bills (regardless of their merits and often-misplaced confidence in their ability to stop or do these things) are actually not in the legitimate purview of government, but exist only because government has become so tyrannical and controlling. The money in these bills is tainted stolen money, whether it is federal or state funds. The arguments against any of the hundreds of bills held up are stronger than either parties’ claim of benefits and prevention of lives lost.

We cannot tell what will happen. Because of the very nature of the GOP in Oregon and elsewhere, the party’s people in Salem are very likely to cave. As they have done in the past. As well, the Woke nature of the Democratic majority and the track record of Oregon governors demonstrates the high probability of the party running amok in the same way as the California Assembly has – and as is seen in Washington State and elsewhere.

Frankly, neither side controls or stands on any moral high ground. They both stand accurately accused of tyranny, government worship, and lust for power.

But we point out that government inaction virtually always results in a better long term outcome than any lawmaking and activism. It would be far better if Oregon is indeed ungovernable in 2023.