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Christian's comments:

on Bike Plan 2030

Having lived in the upper midwest, I find Portland to be much less bike friendly--especially for kids.  Madison and the Twin Cities have extensive, bike only paved paths separated from the road and from pedestrian pathways.  Portland needs to go this way.

posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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on March Show Suggestions

It's been 50 years since the Chinese invaded Tibet.  Protests and crackdowns are underway again.  The Dalai Lama is aging and Tibetans are becoming more militant at the same time that internal Chinese press is vilifying them.  What is the recent history of Tibet vis-a-vis the Chinese Communist State and what does the future hold? 

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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on Measure 65: Open Primary

Phil Keisling's dismissive and arrogant tone has turned me off to this measure. He is skipping or dismissing the relevant conversations. I was interested in hearing a thoughtful discussion of this issue. Keisling hasn't helped "his" cause.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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on The Race Has Just Begun

As one of the Keating Five, I don't think McCain should be talking about "his own interests."

posted 4 years, 11 months ago
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on The Race Has Just Begun

Barack Obama should give Hillary and Bill a pass. Their campaign against him lost my vote early on (I really like aspects of her campaign, but not her sleaze tactics.) They would be horrible to have looking over the shoulder of someone they've called unprepared.
Hillary is really needed as Senate Majority Leader. Harry Reid is a good legislator but has been an ineffectual leader, missing many important opportunities to challenge an unpopular president and collaborative legislature. The Democratic party should maneuver to offer her this position, she has earned it.

posted 4 years, 11 months ago
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on The 51st State of Mind

I can understand the frustration of not feeling that one's way of life is valued politically. But the east side population is not the majority. They also rely heavily on my tax dollars to keep their schools open while we in the Willamette valley subsidize their very (political) existence. We need to maintain a union, east and west, for our mutual benefit. If taxes feel onerous to the East now, what would they be able to support without Willamette subsidies?

posted 5 years ago
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on The Democratic Party's On

I have been registered as an independent since I started voting in '84. I voted for McCain in the Michigan primary. I am less enamored of him now, especially given how the Republican party has abandoned all fiscal responsibility (their only saving point.) The Republicans have forced the middle of the electorate to the no-longer-liberal Democratic party (anyone who considers Clinton the 1st as anything but a moderate hasn't been paying attention.)
I like Obama and switched to a Democratic registration to vote for him. H. Clinton is slandering him and hurting the Democratic party's chances. I will have trouble voting for her over McCain.
I am a white, 43 y.o. male with an advanced degree. I will switch back to a non-affiliated registration after the election.

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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on One Billion Served?

Part of the "Great Develop the West" campaign in China involves getting self sufficient Tibetan Nomads to participate in the economy by forcing them to come down from the grasslands, selling their herds of sheep and yaks, thereby taking them away from their means of income and heritage. Many become day laborers for a very minimal wage and are much poorer. "Progress" fares differently for non-Han "Chinese."

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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