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kermittgirl_pdx's comments:
on The Slow Path to Adulthood
My brother lives with my parents and has never moved out.
I moved out at 21. He has achieved much more because of his living situation. Car, 401K, health insurance, huge savings. Me, college degree, low paying job, nothing else.
My other brother and his family lives on my parents property.
As a group they have been able to help one another through the up and downs of life. And as a plus my parents are more than happy to treat my brothers as grown men. As my mom says she has her own life.
With the economic situation we have had serious conversations about being a multi-generational family.
Great- grandparents through grandchildren. We believe this is the only way we will be able to all live the American dream.
I think this is just going to be part of the new reality.
posted 2 years, 4 months ago
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on Islam in the Northwest
I try really hard to not be scared of all Muslims. But when encountered I feel fear and panic grip me in a way that is hard to ignore.
I am sure that 9/11 has something to do with it.
But this fear really formed from my dealings with Muslim individuals as a resident manager at Portland State.
They were rude and aggressive. The men that lived in my building had no problems making threats directly to my face.
The women, one of which was my lab partner wouldn’t allow me to touch her* it was a hands on A&P class!* or even really communicate with her.
I guess my real problem is the times that I have had to have daily interactions, I came away feeling that I’m better off avoiding, since it always seems to be a negative experience. I don’t know if that make me phobic, or just a person who has learned from my personal experiences
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on RUT? Teens & Texting
I think it is good that kids are learning now how to prioritize and organize their working lives.
As an adult I have had to learn how to juggle many distractions. My job requires me dealing with a constant stream of emails, calls on the office and cell phone and dealing with chat request all while completing my other core duties.
Being connected is a fact of life. It is good they are learning to deal with this young in life.
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on Public Transit
I live in the burb’s *Tualatin* right on the I-5 corridor. What I want is to get home in a decent amount of time from downtown after a night of fun. So honestly until we get a MAX system in my neck of the woods, I will almost never use TriMet.And just as a side note according to the TriMet website it would take me 2 hours to get to work using WES. What a joke when I can take a 15 min. drive
I want Bart in the Portland Metro.
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on Kitzhaber Wins
I’m use to being on the losing side so, no surprise on the governor elect.
What I want is the for the governor to realize that we are a state deeply divided.
I want to see the hard cuts made, because I can’t afford any more taxes.
I know that hard cuts are going to hurt, but I want thoughtful actions taken.
None of this easy way out across the board. Oregon needs to decided what our top 4 is, and focus on those issues.
Besides that, don’t forget about rural Oregon.
All I can do is hope that our state can beat my very, very low expectations.
posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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on How Religion and Politics Intersect
I find that when I finally get around telling people that I am Christian they are surprised because I don’t preach or demand that they come to my faith or "see the light". I figure it is up to God and the individual to find one another. I am told to serve, love others and the rest will happen as it should happen. It is nice to represent just by being me. The reason I love this place is because most people can find the good in one another. I won't demand that people find God and no one demands that I become a Vegan. LOL
posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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on Funding Parks and Candidates
I will support measure 76 and I rarely support any measure put on the ballot.
I refuse to frame supporting parks as taking money away from some other service that is also important.
For me, the issue is as simple. Parks have found their dedicated funding which is great.
Let’s make this permanent, cross parks off the “things to worry about” list and search for dedicated funding for all the rest.
NaTasha
posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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on Having Fun in the Forest
posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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on Bracing for Bad Budget Numbers
What I want to see is our government makes the bleak hard cuts that have been looming over our heads for years.
I would rather the pain now than one more temporary fix that puts off the hard choices for someone else.
I know the economy is not getting any better because I am barely living off of temp jobs.
I have the education and some experience but that doesn’t matter theses days.
My life have been full of the hard cuts, no cable, home phone, the dog is getting the cheap dog food…. The list just goes on.
I expect the state to make the same hard decision that I have had to make in my personal life.
Oh, and forget the sales tax. I will just buy even less.
NaTasha
posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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on Covering Kyron
Honestly,
I ignore most of the news coverage past the police conferences and the initial reports of who, what, where, when.
For the most part I find when the news keeps reporting on the same information over and over again I stop listening.
Thank God I don’t have cable because I can’t even imagine what the national media is doing with this.
I want facts from the media, not for them to color in the empty space.
And seriously I cannot fault a person for hiring the best attorney money could buy.
posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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on Classes To Cut
I don’t have any children but I know from my own education experience that the most important things to keep are teachers and a major emphasis on the basics; Reading, writing, math, English.
Now for elementary school I would suggest keeping PE, just because kids focus better with the excess energy worked out.
My school did not offer much but my parents took up the slack in the fitness and arts department.
I sorry parents but the rest is up to you. It is up to parents to take responsibility for supplementing your OWN children’s education.
You had them, you take care of them.
I can hardly support myself; I can’t consider anything that would cause my expenses to go up.
Sorry, I know all the options suck but you gotta do what you gotta do.
posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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on In Public View
It worries me that my signature could be made public record. Not because I am embarrassed or ashamed of my voting decisions. But because we live in a mean and revenge driven time and I fear what the other side would do with having my information.
As, for the gun decision, how is it wise that the general public can have a working inventory of every gun owner in the state. Some things should remain private between the state and law abiding citizens
NaTasha
PDX
posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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on Immigration Law
I take a hard line on this issue. If it were up to me, everybody would be sent to their country of origin if they do not have proper documentation to live in this country.
Now, I understand that option is not a feasible option because of so many special situations.
I support AZ, and never in my life have I wanted to travel there but now I do because I feel their actions are being demonized in the media.
I would completely support a law of this style coming to Oregon.
I do not believe that anybody in the federal government has the fortitude to truly create, pass and enforce serious immigration reform. That leaves the states to fend for themselves.
It is a difficult issue, but ultimately I feel the people that came here with out permission should have to deal with the ramifications of their choices. If I break our laws I suffer, the same rules should apply.
NaTasha
Portland, OR
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on Cleaning up the Gulf
I have to drive. My family lives 4 hours away in the country and I live in the metro area. I will no give up driving. I have tried to drive less but public transportation is not great in my ‘burb. It would take 3 hours to travel the 15 miles to my job. All I’m seeing are greater budget cuts in all avenues that would help me drive less.
But what truly burns me about the president’s speech and all of this discussion is that everyone talks about driving and very few mention everything else that uses oil or it by-product in everyday life. Where is the emphasis on manufacturing changing its use of oil in most products; toothpaste all the up to cell phones and computers? I can’t jump on the drive less bandwagon but I can reduce in other ways.
NaTasha
Portland, OR.
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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on Getting Back to Work: Jobs and Identity
I don’t have an identity based on my job and that kills me.
I am stuck coming up with other interesting things about myself.
I am very average and jealous of people who have something to label themselves. I crave the label!
I had been unemployed for a 1.5 year and when people asked what I do I told them I’m a statistic.
At the moment I have found a contract so now I tell people I’m one of those people waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Maybe this would change if I had a man or family of my own or some great passion. But all I have right now is a dog.
NaTasha
posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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