Living in Oregon

Traffic is horrendous. There are waaaaay too many cars on the road... it matters not whether you live in Southern Oregon towns such as Grants Pass, Medford or Ashland- or in metro Portland. The roads and communities were simply not set up for a deluge of refugees from California. You'll find some of the worst drivers on Oregon roads.

Housing prices have soared to astronomical levels due to a buying frenzy from out-of-staters, resulting in an intense squeeze on locals. Those whom already owned their homes are facing vastly inflated property taxes from a wildly distorted market... while most others are seeing their dream of home ownership vanish. It's no longer realistic to acquire even a modest home, or "fixer-upper"... particularly when one is locked into a minimum wage economy. People who move to Oregon are shocked at the low wages.

Increases in crime accompany this influx of population. Gang activity is growing, and the charming act of "tagging" (spray-painted scrawl) is occuring in all parts of the State. Oregon ranks among the national leaders in property crime, acts of theft, sex crimes, child and domestic abuse, alcohol and drug addiction, teen pregnancy... and every other imaginable social dysfunction. A top State in number of Welfare recipients, Oregon can also boast of being the Meth capital.

Most communities no longer offer library services due to budget cuts. The libraries, most of which have operated on an extremely limited basis (10-20 hours per week) for several years, lie dormant. But hey- who needs l-i-t-e-r-a-c-y when you already have such a healthy, enlightened society? Perhaps one can also expect a good old-fashioned book burning in the near future....

Realize that hostlity is a prominent feature of life in Oregon. It can quite likely be attributed to widespread feelings of fear, inadequacy, frustration and resentment. Natives are not only accustomed to it, they are often the chief practitioners of it.

As pollution claims Oregon's waterways, the problem deepens. Landfills have reached capacity, leading to closures of local dumping sites. Contamination in groundwater has been found in wells near these sites, a result of rainwater percolating through countless decades of dumped toxic chemicals. The creation of "transfer stations", used to transport garbage to other locations, have necessitated substantial rate increases for disposal. The increased rates have exacerbated pollution problems, as evidenced by garbage accumulations found in Oregon's forests and rivers. Yes... to save money, some choose to dump their garbage in the woods, creeks and rivers. Always a lovely discovery.

Obesity is quite prevalent in Oregon. Certainly, many fat-ass, minivan-driving, cell phone blathering, obnoxious cows have come from California... but not all. Some are home-grown. Regardless of origin, these people are walking billboards for American gluttony. Their ridiculous girth causes problems for everyone else, from being stuck next to them on an airplane to being forced to squeeze past them in a grocery aisle.

It all boils down to something referred to as "quality of life". When farm, agricultural and pristine forestland disappear in deference to residential development, quality of life diminishes. When people and endless lines of cars clog up the roadways, resources dwindle and pollution proliferates, quality of life diminishes. All that once made Oregon special has been subjected to the wrecking ball, in lieu of greed. How sad... that people would exchange solitude in the natural beauty and grace of nature... for cash.

Oregon has an interesting.... blend of inhabitants. While metro Portland is largely progressive, rural areas can make you feel like you stepped into the bowels of Appalachia. In the smaller communities, the local Wal Mart serves as the default cultural center. Interestingly, even the ones with monetary wealth in the rural areas exhibit minimal intellectual output. But then, money can't buy class.... or intelligence.

To experience the thrills of full-blown hostility, simply spend some time on the roadways... road rage is becoming very popular in Oregon. One can also find it more on an "up close and personal" basis within any Oregon bar.

Here's a commonplace occurence in Oregon, known as the "bathroom barge-in"... it's a mating ritual predominantly of male origin, although women in flannel shirts often participate.

Water demand is on the rise; another crisis looms as demand literally overshadows supply. Municipalities continue to overreach in their quest to increase tax rolls... filled with lust for the almighty buck, most lack any foresight or restraint pertaining to responsible growth issues.