Alis volat propriis, “She Flies With Her Own Wings,” is a unique motto for a unique state.
A mesh of small-town Americana and cutting-edge cultural experimentation, it’s fair to say no one’s ever expected the ordinary from Oregon. After three years here, even I — an admittedly over-forgiving fan of my home state of California — can’t help but be inspired by the promise contained in its citizens and pioneer spirit.
In the spirit of its official motto, the state still flies with her own wings despite a seemingly relentless tide of political cynicism that has left much of rest of the nation adrift.
Part of it is simple geography. Its capital, major cities and largest universities are all located within hours of each other along the I5 corridor.
Though it may not seem important, consider the circumstances of Oregon’s neighbor to the south. A drive from Los Angeles to Sacramento lasts six hours, meaning that many of California’s state legislators can retreat to relative anonymity when they’re in session. Salem’s proximity, on the other hand, forces lawmakers to confront their constituents on a regular basis. As University of Oregon students have demonstrated, it’s easier to organize public protest when your elected representatives are only an hour away.
The real force behind Oregon’s special brand of politics is its legacy of progressive politics that dates back to 1902, when it became the second state in the country to adopt direct democracy.
Initiatives for women’s suffrage, labor protections, the right to recall elected officials, smoking bans, and environmental protections — to name a few — were placed on the ballot before World War II. In doing so, Oregonians demonstrated that an active public is not a dangerous one.
These experiments shaped the national character as much as they did Oregon’s.
Demands for access to equal rights and opportunities originating from the people are, for the most part, accepted as inherently legitimate in our modern society. Oregon helped make this possible by giving its people a robust voice to try new ideas.
Sometimes these experiments don’t work.
Judicial elections are a good example. Offended by the existence of openly partisan judges, Oregon’s early 20th-century Progressives implemented a popular election scheme for its state judiciary. By most accounts, this was effective at first; now, however, the same scheme can influence judges by demanding they raise money for their campaigns, often from a public that votes for tough-on-crime candidates.
Nevertheless, I’d rather live in a state that confronts problems like a corrupt judiciary head on rather than ignore them. It’s Oregon’s relentless optimism for change that gives it the edge, even if it does stumble.
With the 2016 national election coming up, it’ll be easy to be dissuaded by conservative rhetoric on both sides of the aisle that doesn’t seem to match up with the opportunities offered by this new century. In Oregon, though, we have a reminder that popular democratic processes can create positive change and progress for the better.
But during the 2015 legislative session lawmakers have also done their part, submitting bills addressing school use of Native American mascots, the protection of state-employed whistleblowers, the regulation of carbon emissions, and more. Oregon is still ahead of the national curve when it comes to embracing the future, even if it’s a messy one.
I just hope our nation’s leaders have been taking notes.

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(Oregon’s state flag/ Creative Commons)