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I agree that the emphasis on prohibition is the wrong approach; The war on drugs has failed. We need to spend the money on education and treatment; when it comes down to it people would rather have a happy life than have to escape through a drug.

Look to Portugal as a model for "legalization", education, and treatment. Their rate of drug use has gone down.

The psuedoephedrine ban is a failure as it has only shifted the manufacture to other areas of the country and world. Another effect is that we now have to see a doctor to get cold medicine that has proven safe and effective, and sold over the counter for many years.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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When does the "right to decide" stomp on my rights? The rights of people should be upheld before the wants of a few are passed into law.

posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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It is not the schools job to protect the children. The schools should be exposing students to the outside world. Too many issues are driven by the argument to "protect children". These are the same parents who allow their children to watch TV; exposing thier children daily to a world that does not exist, and to expectations that can never be met.

Sex education exemplifies this attitude; a few parents can hobble the education provided. This has led to a higher teen pregnancy rate.

We should not pander to the supposed needs of the children, the children should adapt to the world.

posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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As a nurse I see daily problems in the health care industry. People are able to demand care, doctors are able to practice without oversight to their efficacy, the insurance companies make huge profit, and the charges for services are purposefully confusing.

The system should not be for profit- we could move our system to a science based system using best practice evidence. The profits now are only used to promote drugs, equipment and procedures that might not be the most effective.

I entered the field to help my fellow citizens; the reality has left me disheartened and searching for another way to make a living.

posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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A low speed train network would be the best use of funds. If you travel in Europe (Germany, France) the service is amazing. You can go from city to city, or stop near a national park and enjoy the day.

I would like to see a line that not only serves Portland and Seattle, but also allows people to go out of the city centers.

The great thing about train travel is that it is smooth, usually reliable, relaxing, and inexpensive (Id be interested to see how much auto/bus transport costs when looking at the private/public funds spent).

A train can be the transportation mode of choice for people. Why the obsession with fast before we even have the slow train network ironed out.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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The real issue here should be why we are letting our news media take our attention away from the real problems in Portland. Economic hardships, homeless, lack of healthcare etc...

If Mr. Breedlove had accused Sam of wrongful behavior and he lied, that would be wrong. That is not the case, and Sam did what any person during a "job interview" of this type would do if asked a non-relevant question. The fact that so much attention is being given to this is (obviously) distressing to the two involved. Neither one of them asked for this to be public, and therefore everyone should stop.

Contrast this "scandal" against the fact that each of us ignores (does nothing to solve)the homelessness in our city. We are the morally bankrupt for devoting energy to this "controversy".

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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Its not as if Breedlove was accusing him of misconduct. Most anyone being asked an inappropriate question would say "I did not" or "none of your business". If Sam answered the latter people would assume he had. What is not credible is the fact that our news media is taking the focus away from real problems facing the city.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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