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In early December, Governor Kotek unveiled “Oregon’s Prosperity Roadmap” and laid out “three broad goals” to grow business, jobs, and the economy. While acknowledging Oregon’s economic decline, her roadmap is only an updated cover for the same GPS coordinates: driving prosperity via state programs.
Oregon’s latest “prosperity roadmap” promises growth through new programs and administrative solutions—but decades of similar plans haven’t reversed our decline.
Oregon’s governors have been cycling through similar campaigns since Neil Goldschmidt touted “Oregon Shines” in 1989.
The problem isn’t the map. It’s the direction.
Eighty-five years ago, in 1939, Oregon’s newly elected governor, Charles Sprague, gave his inaugural address on “the economic problem of Oregon.” The Oregon Historical Society features a line from his speech on its courtyard wall, which says:
“In the long history of humanity, the most precious spark is that of individual freedom.”
In his day, Sprague managed the Oregon Statesman paper at a time when tyrants rose to power, and collectivist states snuffed out the “precious spark” of untold millions.
He knew a thing or two about Oregon’s economic challenges on the heels of the Depression, with 15 percent joblessness and dependence on New Deal spending -- rather than private sector growth.
His inaugural address emphasized freedom, responsibility, and recovery. His GPS was guided by the notion that individual freedom is the atomic “spark” that ignites human ingenuity to create wealth; and that long-term prosperity flows from free enterprise rather than never-ending public support and centralized control.
Oregon needs a new direction and leaders with the will and muscle to remove prosperity-crushing obstacles that prevent us from getting to cruising speed.
All roads have off-ramps. Many are ditching Oregon’s obstacle course and taking their sweet rides to cruise into the sunrise of better opportunity.
All roads have on-ramps. The on-ramp to lasting prosperity is that “precious spark” of individual freedom. As we debate our economic future, it's important to remember Gov. Sprague's lesson.
Oregon’s prosperity roadmap must be guided by individual freedom.
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