Oregon - newest third world member

[central scrutinizer]

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/front_page/107589952432471.xml

excerpt:

Measure 30 supporters were dejected.

"The voters have clearly spoken," said Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem. "I think it's time to pack it in and say if you can make small adjustments, do so, and then just get ready to work hard for the next session of the Legislature."

Despite efforts to link the measure's passage to services important to Oregonians and the success of the state's economy, unions and other supporters were unable to overcome the public's distaste for taxes and distrust of government.

"It's like a vote of no confidence in the Legislature," said Mike Riley, a Portland pollster. "The voters are saying, 'Sorry, not good enough, try again.' "


comment: After the Legislature worked hard to come up with a package that would fund schools and other services at a bare minimum level, anti-tax advocates, who don't care and had no plan of their own, used the initiative process to put it to a vote. The anti-tax slogan was: we need jobs, not more taxes. As if that was really the choice. How is a poorly educated workforce going to attract new jobs? Arrrrggggh!

[megatherium]

1. The Mississippi of the Northwest

That's what people were calling Oregon the last time a tax package was voted down, last year. I'm from Oregon. I keep wanting to return to Oregon. But not if this keeps happening. Not with the problems in high tech there, either. Close friends of mine have been unemployed for quite some time. I can't imagine Oregon holding on to the remaining high tech jobs if they rip apart education. I've lived in Mississippi. Oregon is no where near as bad, but Oregonians had better think about it.

BTW, I read that the real estate market in Portland is 30% over-valued. It might get worse there.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. They already have the shortest school year

don't they?

Bet they fire all the teachers next. *sigh*