 In
1992 the Oregon Business Council launched the Oregon Values and Beliefs Survey.
The goal was both simple and innovative: get an in-depth picture of what
Oregonians really think, really value and really believe.
To that end, Oregonians were asked some fundamental questions. They were
asked to list their priorities for themselves and their families. They were
asked what they wanted for their communities and from their elected officials.
They were asked what matters to them and what they envision for the
future.
 Their
answers predicted many of the policy changes of the following decade.
In 1992, for example, Oregonians were deeply concerned with crime and
public safety issues. Two years later, they passed Measure 11, the mandatory
minimum sentencing initiative. And in 1992, school quality was the top
educational concern. At that time, statewide standards as the result of the
Oregon Education Act were still in development.
In 2002, a decade later, the Oregon Business Council - in
partnership with the Oregon Education Association, Oregon School Boards
Association, and SEIU Local 503, OPEU - went back to Oregonians with the same
questions - and a few new ones.
Some things have remained the same. Now, as then, family comes first to
Oregonians from Pendleton to Portland, from Medford to Bend. Quality public
education and adequate healthcare remain top priorities.
Other concerns have shifted. Oregonians today say they feel safer than they
did 10 years ago and they are much more satisfied with the quality of their
local schools. At the same time, they are more concerned about education
funding and are much more worried about caring for senior citizens.
By allowing Oregonians to frame the issues for themselves,
this project offers the kind of guideposts to policy makers, community leaders
and lawmakers that come along only once in a decade.
To view the executive findings, or entire survey, visit the Oregon
Values & Beliefs 2002 web site.
For a hardcopy of the 1992 Oregon Values & Beliefs Summary report,
please contact our office.
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