en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/602675 Comments by mpbidwell http://www.katu.com/news/local/Higher-ed-board-will-hear-from-Lariviere-before-vote-134639318.html#IDComment229042633 If you ask me, the PSU lemming Pernsteiner should be fired. Larivere is one of the few university presidents trying to bring Oregon higher ed to the 21st Century. I think Oregon would be better suited with presidents who actually try to get rid of the dysfunction of universities unlike the situation at PSU (know as former employee and student). Oregon doesn't need all their universities at the dismal level of PSU. All in all, it's the politics of purging anything good in Oregon. It's sad, really and one of the reasons I left. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:09:43 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/Higher-ed-board-will-hear-from-Lariviere-before-vote-134639318.html#IDComment229042633 http://www.katu.com/news/local/133625143.html#IDComment220192683 I think the Mayor's response bothers me the most. It's in typical Portland-placation style. Let's say thanks to the protesters and say how awesome they are and then stifle them because it's upsetting the yuppies and making the corporate stores downtown nervous. Well, I guess it's not a concern to me anymore since I had to move halfway across the country to obtain permanent employment. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:50:44 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/133625143.html#IDComment220192683 http://www.katu.com/news/local/133213548.html#IDComment217434147 The big issue that has come up from logging on private lands has been clear cutting. What this has done is open the opportunity for not only invasive species to enter into the forest ecosystem but it has also made the new forests more vulnerable to disease. In addition, landslides and mudslides have increased in the areas clear cut since there's little to hold the soil/peat during rainy season. It is time to engage in Forest Management (thinning the forests and harvesting excess biomass). This will help reduce forest fire danger and has the potential of jump starting the rural economy with biomass and forest processing. This will be more sustainable from and environmental and economic standpoint than the status quo. Sat, 5 Nov 2011 22:08:57 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/133213548.html#IDComment217434147 http://northportland.katu.com/news/crime/442786-shots-fired-5-people-injured#IDComment189469739 By your comments, it's safe to assume that you never grew up on government assistance or grew up in a single family household. Where are the single parents? A majority of them are working two or three low wage jobs because WIC provides nothing thanks to the welfare reform designed to go after deadbeats. Not everyone who grows up in public housing ends up being a deadbeat or criminal. My mom worked as a paraprofessional for a school district in Kansas that paid little wage for the work. Apparently, assisting autistic kids isn't sexy enough to garner a living wage. She did the job as sacrifice to better the community, which I think shows incredible level of character (and that I don't see that level of character in Portland hence why I'm moving back to my home state that still has some community values). You must be so lucky living a privileged life and not have to face the reality that the working poor face on a daily basis. Sat, 3 Sep 2011 20:28:00 +0000 http://northportland.katu.com/news/crime/442786-shots-fired-5-people-injured#IDComment189469739 http://northeastportland.katu.com/news/news/442733-crashes-spark-concerns-about-burnside-couch-couplet#IDComment189188454 I do have to say that since the bike boxes, I have not had any close calls that involved evasive maneuvers like hopping off the bike and getting the bike out of the way. I have had three collisions with vehicles. Two of them turned right into me, both at low speeds, so no injuries were involved. Only one of them threw me off the bike, but luckily I know how to land. The third one was a van that had no signal on Main close to SW 4th where the van just suddenly turned. I was nearly at a stop, so the only damage was that my front tire was cracked from the van scraping against the front wheel and the basket (which also put a big scratch in the side of the van). Since they didn't even stop, they must've not been concerned. I have learned that if there is a car at an intersection with their right turn signal on, I will yield unless they waive me on because with blind spots, they may not be able to see me. That is how I've prevented many potential near accidents...and signal when I'm moving left, turning left, turning right, or stopping. Sat, 3 Sep 2011 00:42:14 +0000 http://northeastportland.katu.com/news/news/442733-crashes-spark-concerns-about-burnside-couch-couplet#IDComment189188454 http://northeastportland.katu.com/news/news/442733-crashes-spark-concerns-about-burnside-couch-couplet#IDComment189154442 Overall, the couplet is not a bad idea from a traffic flow perspective. The issue was where and how they are funneling eastbound traffic onto Sandy. They would have been better off having the traffic go up to NE 16th with a properly designed roundabout at 16th and Burnside (The Glisan and Cesar Chavez design is okay (minus the stop signs instead of yield signs)). I threw this idea out when they were in the initial stages but was not interested in what I had to say even though I studied transportation planning. Fri, 2 Sep 2011 22:05:06 +0000 http://northeastportland.katu.com/news/news/442733-crashes-spark-concerns-about-burnside-couch-couplet#IDComment189154442 http://northeastportland.katu.com/news/news/442733-crashes-spark-concerns-about-burnside-couch-couplet#IDComment189153317 I've had several close calls on a bike even when I am already stopped at the bike box at Grand and Couch and cars coming up behind and just turning. As much as I hate to say these words, I think there needs to be a bike signal at that intersection just like the one on Broadway and Vancouver...assuming cyclists obey the signal. Fri, 2 Sep 2011 21:59:50 +0000 http://northeastportland.katu.com/news/news/442733-crashes-spark-concerns-about-burnside-couch-couplet#IDComment189153317 http://www.katu.com/news/local/127992393.html#IDComment184327412 I would argue that they voted against the debt ceiling for good reason. For the first time in US history, the house passed a debt ceiling raise with strings attached, unprecedented and unconstitutional (before the current stacked supreme court of corporate lemmings). Republicans are even less serious about dealing with national debt than the Democrats, which is saying a lot. It can be done with 10 very simple things, but no one has the guts in Congress to cut the strings from their corporate master. Everything we have done economically since Eisenhower is what has led us to this mess (combined with weak leaders or those who I believe want to self-induce the rapture). Obama and Democratic leaders folded and started with a beyond a compromise position (even though now I think they really believe in this disastrous supply-side, corporate first mentality), which has destroyed the ability for small businesses to even compete. In closing, I'd much rather support someone with a backbone (Merkley and DeFazio [even Ron Paul]) than the other lemmings anyday. Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:47:10 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/127992393.html#IDComment184327412 http://www.katu.com/news/local/127992393.html#IDComment184325838 Note they didn't talk about DeFazio, who is not a fan of the job killing NAFTA and most favored nation status with China. Schrader is on to something with cutting the pork called the civilian military contracts. Ending the wars and the star wars programs and focusing on counter-terrorism/special operations tactics would also save us money. Raising taxes on those above $250000 (in a graduated manner) will also help. Reversing all of the tax breaks in the tax code especially the corn refining industry, corn ethanol, and all other corporate subsidies that do not translate into more family wage jobs will also help (maybe rolling back the tax code to 1960 would help in that arena). The stark reality is that if we are really serious about getting out of our national debt issue, then we need to cut everywhere except the safety net (SS, Medicare/Medicaid, and unemployment (some of our entrepreneurial spirit isn't happening because some with good ideas don't have enough money to take the risk and risk failure)) and those programs that prevent crime, create jobs, or help with homeland security in a real way. The tax code and trade deals need to go back to the way they were until this debt is paid off. Note that the debt deal and extended tax cuts for corporations and the top 2% did not create a single long term job and that now the banks we bailed out are sitting on about $3 trillion in dollars and growing. We're not in a supply shock so stop using supply side economics, which is an epic failure for non supply shock forecasts! Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:40:37 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/local/127992393.html#IDComment184325838 http://www.katu.com/news/politics/127486248.html#IDComment182086515 Since Baucus is one of the "Democrats" on the supercommittee, I can guarantee you that partial privatization of Social Security, Medicare, and more gimmes to the large corporations will be in this decision of this "supercommittee". With Democrats like these, who needs to blame Republicans for this mess? Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:41:23 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/politics/127486248.html#IDComment182086515 http://gresham.katu.com/news/crime/84-year-old-woman-badly-beaten-max-stop/442141#IDComment178497944 If he gets prison time, then his real suffering will begin, if you know what I mean. Sat, 30 Jul 2011 03:29:33 +0000 http://gresham.katu.com/news/crime/84-year-old-woman-badly-beaten-max-stop/442141#IDComment178497944 http://portlandcitycenter.katu.com/news/transportation/trimet-ridership-tops-100-million-mark-again/442063#IDComment177469972 Two thoughts: 1) Notice the decline in ridership in all the bus categories. It is not surprising since TriMet cut service and putting more of its eggs in the rail basket, which by design, has a saturation point...and is more costly that bus service (when considering repairs, rail upkeep, and coordination of buses when rail is down). 2) The numbers on MAX used to be estimates (not sure if they now have automated counters), but the numbers would be skewed by estimation or with the automated counters (people on a full train trying to move around to get on and off the trains can cause such sensors to count people extra). If Metro wants everyone to drive less, then we need to start putting money towards bus service that is frequent enough to make choice riders actually considering using bus over car. With the tax scheme, TriMet doesn't have enough money to do the bus service with all the other obligations caused by new start approval. If fares go up any higher, it will prevent low income people from using the service and cause choice riders to go back to their cars. Since oil will be getting more expensive, maybe it's time for some proactive thinking...for a change (electric buses would also help). Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:31:21 +0000 http://portlandcitycenter.katu.com/news/transportation/trimet-ridership-tops-100-million-mark-again/442063#IDComment177469972 http://southwestportland.katu.com/news/crime/arrest-made-after-men-report-bias-crime/442070#IDComment177468369 Crimes being committed against anyone not bestowed with all the gifts of white privilege always happens as more and more people fight for fewer and fewer resources. Extreme religious groups of all walks also start using their religious text to blame all of a persons ills against this group or that especially in dire economic times. If you want less violent crime based on the person(s) being whatever non white-privileged label (and crime in general), then you better fix the economic situation (and the supply-side tax structure that enables this consolidation of wealth). The increase in gay bashings, ethnic hate crimes, and violence are all symptoms of a bigger problem in this society. Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:23:55 +0000 http://southwestportland.katu.com/news/crime/arrest-made-after-men-report-bias-crime/442070#IDComment177468369 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125830778.html?#IDComment175406458 I worked at PSU as a union employee, and I did not only my work but the work my supervisor and managers could not or would not do. The two jobs were the lowest paying jobs I ever had and very unrewarding. I wish all hard working people were paid a living wage instead of the top 0.2% making riches by doing physically nothing except manipulate their money to consolidate more wealth at the expense of the bottom 98%. Wed, 20 Jul 2011 04:44:18 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125830778.html?#IDComment175406458 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125830778.html?#IDComment175405546 See my reply to Kachina to explain why the details are not released yet. There's a sequence to it (that is essentially politics and not trying to keep out of the public eye). Wed, 20 Jul 2011 04:41:39 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125830778.html?#IDComment175405546 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125830778.html?#IDComment175404997 I think you are reading too much into this. It is a tentative agreement because the agreement has been agreed to by the leaders of the union, and then employees under that union have to do a final vote to approve the agreement. Until it is voted on by the entire body under that union, it is customary to not discuss the terms of tentative agreement until after the vote has been cast (yea or nea), and then the details come out whether it is accepted or rejected by the body. I was in a union-represented job in the past, and that is how it works. Wed, 20 Jul 2011 04:39:54 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125830778.html?#IDComment175404997 http://www.katu.com/news/politics/125271004.html#IDComment175170451 So what we have had isn't tax and spend? We have fought two preemptive wars while giving tax breaks to those over 200K (with most going to those over a million). With the extra interest that has to be paid from that debt, it's tacked on to everyone at a flat rate, which means the lower half are footing a larger burden. What's funny is that looking at history, Eisenhower, who was a Republican, was more "progressive" than today's "progressive Democrats". With that higher tax rate and a progressive structure, it allowed small businesses to actually exist without big corporations trying to low ball prices to force them out of business (not to mention the advantage in purchasing corporations have since they can buy more...get it at a much cheaper rate than a small business). If you are against spending, where has your voice been when we racked up 5 trillion dollars in debt from these wars (which if fought as counterterrorism strategies, we could have spent 1/10 the amount) or the supply-side tax cuts that produced no new jobs over the long term? If it could be shown that we could cut the war, defense, and military contract budget by 1.3 trillion dollars without compromising security, would you be telling the "non-progressive Congress" to cut there? Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:08:19 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/politics/125271004.html#IDComment175170451 http://www.katu.com/news/politics/125271004.html#IDComment175168632 A progressive democrat is the faction of democrat ignored in DC by the mainstream Democrats. The progressive democrats are for a more even playing field for small business, transparency in government, investing in infrastructure, and pro-prevention (as in prevention as a component to health care, military (not fight wars when terrorism is a tactic), and the like). The DC issue is that the "mainstream" portion of the Democratic party has been overrun by corporatists who keep us in trade agreements that hurt American workers. This part of the Democratic party also understands that the tax structure is just as important to prevent predatory/greedy capitalist ventures by big financial institutions as having the right revenue to balance the budget. Over the past 30 years, the Democratic Party leadership keeps trying to make the appearance of being center or even center right, which in application, has become corporatist and somewhat out of touch with economics and ordinary people. DeFazio is the only one of the Oregon US House delegation that fits this definition of Democrat. In the end, I agree with your statement. Hopefully my explanation helps explain the stalemate we both see. Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:01:40 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/politics/125271004.html#IDComment175168632 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125743633.html#IDComment175166180 Oregon is an at-will state. It is not a union state. It has voluntary agreed to unions at the public level, which is different. So now, it's a contracts clause of the constitution dictating (via signed contracts/agreements) and not legalization of unions, an important distinction. Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:51:42 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125743633.html#IDComment175166180 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125743633.html#IDComment175165741 Compared to other states, Oregon's hourly workers do not make as much (and make little compared to "Red" Kansas, which is an at-will state, like Oregon. If I were Kitzhaber, I would be pushing for a combination of cola and merit pay increases as the pay increase compromise. I've worked in non-union and union places, and while there are some complacent people who just coast by, usually the issue is inept managers, which are plenty in the public institutions I used to work at in Oregon. With a general sentiment towards the average comments, I wish we could turn the paradigm around and say everyone should work jobs that have livable wages and benefits. There's a reason that Oregon is a poor state, and poor treatment and pay of workers does exist in Oregon. I also wish people truly knew the history of unions so they could fairly access the strengths and weaknesses (like some of the unions out there who are more out there for the power than representing the union workers, which does exist). Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:50:09 +0000 http://www.katu.com/news/business/125743633.html#IDComment175165741