Oregonians participate in the political ritual of voting on citizen initiatives with more frequency and, at times, more enthusiasm than any other group of citizens in the United States. Over the past century, Oregon has had more statewide citizen-generated measures on its ballots than any other state, and, as a result, “direct democracy” has dramatically transformed the state’s political and social landscape.

 

This is the focus of “The Voters Have Spoken: Oregon’s Controversial Ballot Initiatives,” a free conversation with Linfield College associate professor Jackson Miller on Saturday, October 20, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at the Downtown Bend Public Library. This program is hosted by Deschutes Public Library and sponsored by Oregon Humanities. Through the Conversation Project, Oregon Humanities offers free programs that engage community members in thoughtful, challenging conversations about ideas critical to our daily lives and our state’s future.

 

Jackson B. Miller is an associate professor of communication arts and the director of forensics (speech and debate) at Linfield College. In 2008, he wrote and directed the play 82,769 Signatures, which focuses on five controversial ballot initiatives. Miller holds B.S. and M.A. degrees from Ohio University, and a Ph.D. in speech communication from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

 

For more information about this or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Tina at 541-312-1034.