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I too could not vote for the partisan portion of this election. It's rather irritating because I would vote for someone. Maybe not from one party or the other. I think it's time that the state of Oregon change the excusionary rule of not allowing citizens to vote in primaries unless they choose one party over the others. Seem rather un-democratic eh?

Emily, you should have a show about this topic, especially with the upcoming mid-terms.

As far as the anti-incumbent fever goes, I think it's ludicrous. If someone is doing a good job, even a decent job, it should matter and not whether they are an "insider".

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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I was a homeless youth back in the eighties when the last somewhat serious recession hit. Although the circumstances of my situation were both economic and social I happened to turn out pretty well.

I was only without a home for roughly two and a half years but it was a time I will always look back on fondly. That's the interesting part of my journey. When I have told people that my mother threw me out of the house when I was fourteen for getting a mohawk haircut they often feel sorry for me.

They way I look at things now I most certainly benefitted from my experience as a homeless teen. Maybe not so for many other kids that I knew but not everyone can handle life in the same way.

I'm fourty now, have gone to university, have had a few careers, inicluding my most current as a freelance journalist, am married and am a home owner.

The best way that I can say that being homeless as a youth impacted the rest of my life is that now things aren't a big deal. Just about everything that life has tossed my direction isn't anything compared to having to sleep on the street, be scared for my safety and not know where my next meal will come from.

But as I said before I do look back on some of those days fondly because youth is a precious thing... even on the street. 

Thanks,

Jason Howd, Portland

posted 3 years, 7 months ago
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