Oregon: the Mississippi of the west coast?

[0rganism]

We really do seem to be intent on shooting ourselves in the feet when it comes to funding the programs we voted for. We want statewide equalization of school funding and mandatory minimum sentencing, but can't raise taxes to pay for it. We used to be a haven for progressive politics, now we're in the A-group for Grover Norquist's experiments in beast-starving.

Are we just stupid? Or is there some underlying rationale that will enable the state gov't to satisfy urban and rural Oregon, at the same time?

[ChompySnack]

1. Enron is an Oregon corporation

They shopped the nation and found that the Oregon legislature was ignorant and bribeable enough to give them everything they paid for, on the cheap.

Portland, Eugene, Bend and to a certain degree Salem are the only areas where people aren't proud of being ignorant. Having gone to grade school in Philomath and high school in Portland, I thank my lucky stars I escaped. I could be driving a muscle car and have a child in my teenage years if I was educated there...

[0rganism]

2. Enron is a major player in the Oregon-Texas axis that's been emerging

I am really fucking sick and tired of rich Texans buying us out.

[sandnsea]

3. Who wants mandatory sentencing?

Not me. It's a friggin' disaster. I want our sentencing structure changed, so child molesters and rapists are actually locked up for a very, very long time. Not mandatory sentencing aimed at those "dastardly kids" when we won't pay for the programs or support our schools to give them a chance for a future in the first place.

[0rganism]

4. All the people who voted for measure 11, that's who

Yeah, it's a disaster. Just one in a long string of 'em, if you ask me.

[neverforget]

5. Right wing is trying to turn Oregon into a Libertarian paradise.

The attitude of Oregonians now seems to be "someone else should pay my taxes and the programs I use."

[0rganism]

6. Libertarian paradise <-- oxymoron

Their "paradise" is badly flawed.