By Jim Francesconi

Our state's slogan once read, "Things Look Different Here." Meaning

better

. Unless we quickly reverse course, things will not look different here for much longer. Oregon is becoming as poor, as polarized and as paralyzed as California and many other states. And this is occurring before we fall off the cliff that is rapidly approaching -- a $2.5 billion state budget shortfall.

Oregon is a small state, and we don't have sufficient leadership in any single sector -- government, business or civic -- to solve our problems. It's going to take a sustained, concerted effort by a coalition of business, labor, civic and political leaders who are willing to work together in a common effort to solve Oregon's financial problems. Creating this coalition became more difficult with the passage of Measures 66 and 67. But there are three things that should give us hope.

First, we have a compelling recent example of courageous business, civic and political leadership that has come together across ideological and emotional divides to forge an eastside forest policy agreement that deserves congressional approval. Once bitter enemies, environmentalist Andy Kerr and timber operator John Shelk came together with the leadership of U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden to solve a long-festering problem. Both sides realized that "small victories for either side in the forest wars were often short-lived" and that they needed each other to craft a long-term solution. ("The right time for forest restoration," by Andy Kerr and John Shelk, March 10.)

Second, we have an issue uniting the self-interests of business, government and community, all aligned for the good of Oregon. That issue is post-secondary education. Employers need from our community colleges and universities a well-educated and trained work force as well as university research that creates jobs. Our colleges and universities need the support of the business community to foster a belief that government resources allocated to post-secondary institutions are investments that produce a return for Oregon. We have an opportunity to create a new "education after high school" compact with Oregonians that would allow our young people to live, work and be educated in the state if we provide the colleges and universities with the operational flexibility and the resources they need to deliver.

Third, we have no other option but to overcome the bitterness and polarization that now divide us. If we do not, our state will sink below mediocrity, and our children will not be able to enjoy the Oregon that we value.

The timber operator and the environmental advocate have set an example of how we can overcome past differences, identify mutual self-interests, build relationships across ideological divides and unite in a common effort to solve problems. Let us follow their example by creating a world-class education after high school compact for the sake of our children and our state.

Jim Francesconi is vice president of the State Board of Higher Education.