Hey fellow Oregonians,

It’s no secret that there’s a growing divide between Eastern and Western Oregon. This separation—political, cultural, and economic—has fueled frustration, misunderstandings, and even movements like “Greater Idaho.”

But here’s the thing: we’re all Oregonians. We share this beautiful state, its challenges, and its opportunities. The cities of “acceptance, tolerance, and respect” in the west and the rugged independence and resilience of the east should be complementary, not divisive.

What’s shocking is how little we actually talk to each other. Instead, we bicker, point fingers, and dig deeper into our divides. This post is a call for us to do something different:

Let’s talk.

No biting. No trolling. No blame games. Just an honest discussion about what we value, what frustrates us, and how we can work together to create a better Oregon for everyone.

I know we are all frustrated with our government. There have been some mega mistakes. Policies that were thought to go one way that went the opposite. Communities are impacted all across the state. We all have complaints about our elected leaders. And if you say you don’t, you haven’t looked enough—there is plenty to criticize.

I know we can do this. Why? Because I grew up along the Snake River in Ontario and now I’m a proud Portlander keeping it weird. I’ve seen both sides, and I know there’s more that unites us than divides us.

So, to kick us off: What’s one thing about your community that you wish the other side better understood? What’s one solution you’d propose to bring us closer together?

Let’s make this about solutions, not divisions. Oregon deserves better

Their governor called a special session to strengthen their protections.

Anyone know what can be done about a Mayor (small town, weak-mayor system) who is bullying, intimidating, and smearing an independent candidate for City Council? The candidate hasn't actually done anything wrong, she's just not who the Mayor wants to win the election and he handpicked the slate' that he's now publicly endorsing. His behavior on Facebook is really atrocious, but people are afraid to stand up to him because he's quick to come down hard on anyone who disagrees with him about...anything really. According to the city attorney there is no group in Oregon that has say over what the Mayor is allowed to say on social media. How can that be? He's not up for re-election for another 2 years, If he gets away with this not only has a council election been compromised but his unhinged behavior will just get worse.

IF HE HAS NOTHING TO HIDE THEN RELEASE THE EMPLOYMENT RECORDS!

How do people feel about Kamala?

Is anybody ready to talk about how the current way treatment for drug addicts and the web of other related government "services" in this state is literally a racket. I'm not going to break it down and spoon feed an explanation unless there's some actual engagement with this post and someone genuinely wants to know more but I'll do a fly by

• ohp self referral/physician referral for addiction makes no difference

-ohp no limit to amount of money spent each year on addiction related care.
-grants.
-peer based recovery model is pushed with no empirical evidence to support that it is and more or less effective than other models.
-take a look at what "peers" have to do and or learn to become peers vs what work they perform vs the pay incentive -grants -sober living homes= Domestic violence houses= I'm even hearing about sex offender homes recently... Meal plans, once or twice a year bbq with local PD = $$ -GRANTS -cps is or has been dealing with numerous lawsuits, one recent one about the state paying ridiculous amounts of money to an organization which recently shutdown thankfully but that's just one. The was federal funding GRANTS works has changed and so instead of the established old way of doing things by unjustly taking who knows how many children they hook you into these "services" now to get that same money. -what department of corrections says they do for inmates vs what any post prison inmate will tell you if asked about what allegedly provided. Then there's the ones that do the fire crew wow if that isn't a come up for the DOC I don't know what is and it's not like it isn't known than corruption runs deep there just ask Michael Franke.
-as fucked up as this fentanyl epidemic is it sure is convenient to be either the health agency or the contractor providing the medication for these people who are now off the street opiates. Every day loyal faithful customers. Well they probably don't think so but when you've got an ohp medical card read that as a no limit visa for these clinics well maybe I'm just not seeing the bigger picture here.

Call me a conspiracy theorist all youd like but they just take whoever is unfortunate enough to have somehow ended up with problems, many of course not all directly or indirectly related to the policies of 20 years ago, herded through this maze of "service" which generate how much revenue from your hard earned tax dollars plus the grants for which the government and contracted non profits alike receive there is so many of them and new ones popping up all the time it's too many to wrap your head around.

To some it may seem like their tax dollars are being well spent or maybe that these entities are trying everything they can but it's a farce. If the average middle class or even upper middle class tax payer maybe with a small or not small but not big business that's doing well but not making anyone rich necessarily were to see how those Dollars that they must pay in all their various taxes actually get spent you people would revolt.

I know I'm not the only one who's aware of this whole thing operating right here at home which resembles the industrial military complex way of doing things which is not only not working OBVIOUS to any person with common sense who has driven through Salem recently but probably Even perpetuating the problem. Follow the money ask hard questions demand answers because this shit has to run deep there's no other way I can imagine it going on like this.

I hope for something productive from this though I'm bracing for the flame.

If Donald transitioned to Donna it would leave Oregon Democrats, and Florida Republicans scrambling to place their check mark! Oh baby Jesus, make it so!

Are they legal? I just got one that appeared to be targeting Susheela Jayapal. Regardless of the work she's done, push polls are really unwelcome.

If you're a Oregon voter living abroad or know someone who is, the deadline to register to vote in the Primary Election is April 30th.

You can request your ballot here: https://www.votefromabroad.org/

For more information: https://www.votefromabroad.org/states/OR

Primary elections determine the frontrunners of the major parties for Federal, State and Municipal elections. They provide an opportunity to change the party leadership, among other things. In recent years, expat votes have been the deciding factor in many close elections.

Importance of overseas voters: https://www.npr.org/2022/11/06/1132730832/american-citizens-voters-overseas-abroad

Information on Oregon Primaries: https://ballotpedia.org/Primary_elections_in_Oregon

This post is intended to be non-partisan, simply showing how to exercise your voting rights even when abroad.

Thanks!

just further proof Oregon has terrible elected officials. Let's not help people and provide help. The war on drugs is the worst failure of government to its people. Lock these loosers up and let's spend billions doing it. I hate fentanol users and it's use but going back to a failed system because why politicians rather listen to the voices of a-hole cops than that of the voices of people of minority and low economic communities. They need to give the homeless and addicts who want to use openly an area, I vote Gresham it's a s.hole anyway. And tell them to do them stay your own stores build your pallet tents, trash it, graffiti it out, keep it clean and nice whatever just stay in Gresham you do you, and we will all do us. Cross that line with your bs, mob justice! That shit works. If you get caught stealing in Africa the townspeople will chase and stone your ass might even cut your hand off. I bet you wouldn't steal ever again if you lost a hand. Or got stoned half to death for exposing the public to your open drug use. Couldn't drink openly in portland but you used to be able to smoke fentynol on the street corner? But hey you all celebrating this horrific move as a win ought to be ashamed. Think Bigger and think better Oregon law folks! You all are terrible.

save lives by access to regulated consistent less lethal doses and clean up the city and educate the masses with the profits.. or just let Mexico have another multi billion dollar facet of the illicet drug industry. There will always be a supply for any demand. Drugs are a real demand. What economy should the drug money from the local community ultimately be spent in and benefit? The community that is impacted by it. That does not happen under the current minds in our government.

#stepsbackwards #anti-progress #legalizeRegulationsAndTaxations

Oregon ballot initiative system?

Just looking for a group that cares about the main priorities:

1.Housing/Ending homelessness

2. Stop crime, increasing police force/rule of law

3. Clean Environment

4. Less Govt. Bureaucracy and mindless spending

5. Less taxes and less restrictive zoning

6. Free Healthcare/End the money making attitude of insurance

7. Ending Corporate Overlords

8. Empowering individualism as part of a large conscious collective

9. Public transportation

10. Less focus on radical left wing policies of equity/equality debate and LGBT debates and more emphasis on increasing the availability and success of a middle class workers.