Since the beginning of 2008, a group called "Ask Damascus" has been working to retake control of that small Oregon city from a rogue City Council. Responding to numerous tax and fee increases imposed by the City Council without public input, the group gathered signatures for a ballot measure forcing any tax or fee increase to the ballot for a vote. With AFP-Oregon's help, that measure was passed by Damascus voters in March of 2008 with a 69.78 percent "yes" vote.

In response, the Damascus City Council attempted to create a loophole by placing on the ballot three measures which would give it sole responsibility for the creation of so-called "franchise fees" - taxes on cable tv, phone service, cell phones, heat, lights and other utilities. Again with AFP's help, Ask Damascus crushed these three taxpayer-busting measures at the ballot box.

Now, Ask Damascus has successfully gathered signatures on four more measures. They would 1) prohibit light rail in Damascus without a vote; 2) limit City government spending; 3) limit City Council use of "emergency" clauses, and; 4) require voter approval of intergovernmental agreements. All four measures have been poll-tested and seem likely to pass overwhelmingly.

Elected officials are now beginning to come a little bit unglued at the idea of having to actually work with their constituents to get things done. Having become comfortable with dictatorial powers, even the simple act of asking for voters' opinion on a matter appears to be too much. At a recent party held to celebrate Damascus' 5th anniversary as an incorporated City, the Chair of the Clackamas County Commission suggested the City "dis-incorporate" and then re-incorporate without the taxpayer protections implemented by Ask Damascus and the voters. Another County Commissioner tried to make the argument that representative government was the way to go and that voters had no business voting on anything but who would represent them.

If greater evidence were needed that we have been electing the wrong people to public office, here it is. Oregon has a public reputation of encouraging public involvement in decision-making. That public reputation comes into question when elected officials in Damascus and Clackamas County work so hard to prevent public involvement in decisions.

It's clear that the issues that first caused Ask Damascus to come into being have not been resolved. City Council members have apparently not learned anything from the brutal beatings they have been taking at the ballot box. In Damascus, the beatings will continue until those lessons are learned.