Joe, it is easy to concur. Like you, I was born during the baby boom after WWII. The Country was full of common purpose and the US was the hero of the developed world for defeating Fascism. The GI Bill allowed many of our fathers to go to college and start families. We were educated in public schools by people who 30 years later would have doctors, professors, attorneys and corporate executives.. We trusted government to do big things; the Interstate Highway Network, Space programs, military expansion. We tackled big things too; moon shot, civil rights, segregation. Cooperation was unprecedented. But it gradually eroded to where it is today while technology evolved to give power to a select few and make hard work and traditional college degrees obsolete or irrelevant. The creators of those have amassed the capital and political leverage to retain power.
In the meantime political events and time have resulted in our generation controlling the resources the Peacock generations need to realize the dreams you and I enjoy. I don’t blame people who were born after we achieved our goal for viewing us as the enemy. But I agree with you Joe, that it is self defeating. I just think we need to somehow convince them that the goals we had need to change. Eight billion people aspiring to live our lifestyles can’t work. It does not take much reflection to see that.
Values need to change. A long term process we need to start with the new generations.
What frustrates me is that we still need to address the reality we need in front of us as best we can we the resources available to us. That is that we need to forge consensus and cooperation with Peacock on.
Joe, thanks for starting this conversation in this little corner of Portland.
I'm not sure that the leaders at the city and county levels truly understand that their job is to solve problems. They seem to think that the only thing expected of them is to point fingers and disclaim responsibility for the mess that Portland is in. Let's get real leaders in there to replace them, as soon as possible. We need leaders that are bold, decisive and with their eye on the prize - solving problems efficiently with the resources that we have, and without spending needless time on excuses or finger-pointing.
Thanks Joe for this thoughtful and sincere message to our elected leaders. As someone who once lived on the streets of Portland battling addiction, and who now has the privilege of leading a cost-effective shelter and residential recovery program (CityTeam Portland), I see reasons for cautious optimism.
There is a growing recognition among some of our current leaders that lived experience and results-driven programs matter. A few of them are genuinely listening, engaging with providers on the ground, and supporting strategies that help people stabilize, get sober, become employable, and secure housing they can sustain. That gives me hope.
We share your conviction that collaboration is the only path forward. Those of us doing this work every day are ready to link arms with anyone who is committed to real outcomes, safer streets, and human dignity. If we can continue to set aside partisan narratives long enough to focus on what works and for whom, Portland can absolutely lead the nation in recovery-focused solutions. There is no lack of resources and this in not a money problem, it's an allocation & strategy problem.
The stakes could not be higher, but neither could the opportunity. Let’s build on the common ground that already exists and show what is possible when compassion and accountability are aligned with leadership that is willing to act. "Never waste a good crisis!" said someone wise, once!
The first graf says it all--and quite well. Give a government to a bunch of lace-doily revolutionaries, elected with 25-percent of the vote--and watch the carnage. Well said.
The rest is the bleat of the dispossessed moderate who doesn't have a chance of being represented (by who?), or having any real power, or being given a hearing in our frog-obsessed legacy media, or who will scare the opposition into giving up a piece of the pie (the only real leverage in politics).
No--let's all be TOGETHER. And who in the revolutionary clique might ally with someone who just wants things to be nice, friendly, and productive, when the real revolutionary agenda is disruption, nullification, undermining norms, and a general tear-down of institutions so the new world can be erected in its place--with you-know-who running the show.
Portland, if you care to read the numbers, is in a classic decline. It's economics, stupid--and "homelessness" is only a garnish on the dung-pie of the underlying movement of a tectonic plate. The city is being sustained by its culture of extreme tolerance for stupidity, its lack of any real power structure, and the feeding frenzy of minorities. When an entire federal building sells for $1.5-million, you know the game's over. Enter the bottom-feeders, the nonproifteers, the rent-seekers, while long-term residents wait for mortgage rates to decline so they can sell out and head for the far suburbs (beyond the reach of Metro).
Thanks for the article, Joe. Eventually the city will come together and get some traction. The freedom to express opinions and the ability to engage one another authentically is crucial. Most of us, can see the good in others approaches, even though we think things should be different than their approach. I think a lack engagement is Portland's biggest problem. People are silent when they disagree. I also believe you can disagree and be respectful. Since no one knows what the future holds, I choose optimism. When it comes to homelessness and severe mental illness, optimism means that in ten years we will dig ourselves out of the public emergency that is present in many neighborhoods, certainly downtown and the Pearl district.
The fact is, the left has always been the divider of our nation. They were the ones who opposed ending slavery. If you look up "the clan bake" you will see the KKK walking down the street in their robes. The left are all about keeping us separated and not allowing us to unite because they fear if we do, they will lose power over us and all they they want power
Joe, it is easy to concur. Like you, I was born during the baby boom after WWII. The Country was full of common purpose and the US was the hero of the developed world for defeating Fascism. The GI Bill allowed many of our fathers to go to college and start families. We were educated in public schools by people who 30 years later would have doctors, professors, attorneys and corporate executives.. We trusted government to do big things; the Interstate Highway Network, Space programs, military expansion. We tackled big things too; moon shot, civil rights, segregation. Cooperation was unprecedented. But it gradually eroded to where it is today while technology evolved to give power to a select few and make hard work and traditional college degrees obsolete or irrelevant. The creators of those have amassed the capital and political leverage to retain power.
In the meantime political events and time have resulted in our generation controlling the resources the Peacock generations need to realize the dreams you and I enjoy. I don’t blame people who were born after we achieved our goal for viewing us as the enemy. But I agree with you Joe, that it is self defeating. I just think we need to somehow convince them that the goals we had need to change. Eight billion people aspiring to live our lifestyles can’t work. It does not take much reflection to see that.
Values need to change. A long term process we need to start with the new generations.
What frustrates me is that we still need to address the reality we need in front of us as best we can we the resources available to us. That is that we need to forge consensus and cooperation with Peacock on.
Joe, thanks for starting this conversation in this little corner of Portland.
I'm not sure that the leaders at the city and county levels truly understand that their job is to solve problems. They seem to think that the only thing expected of them is to point fingers and disclaim responsibility for the mess that Portland is in. Let's get real leaders in there to replace them, as soon as possible. We need leaders that are bold, decisive and with their eye on the prize - solving problems efficiently with the resources that we have, and without spending needless time on excuses or finger-pointing.
This city and state hasn't had effective leadership since Katz, Goldschmidt and Kirzhaber.
Thanks Joe for this thoughtful and sincere message to our elected leaders. As someone who once lived on the streets of Portland battling addiction, and who now has the privilege of leading a cost-effective shelter and residential recovery program (CityTeam Portland), I see reasons for cautious optimism.
There is a growing recognition among some of our current leaders that lived experience and results-driven programs matter. A few of them are genuinely listening, engaging with providers on the ground, and supporting strategies that help people stabilize, get sober, become employable, and secure housing they can sustain. That gives me hope.
We share your conviction that collaboration is the only path forward. Those of us doing this work every day are ready to link arms with anyone who is committed to real outcomes, safer streets, and human dignity. If we can continue to set aside partisan narratives long enough to focus on what works and for whom, Portland can absolutely lead the nation in recovery-focused solutions. There is no lack of resources and this in not a money problem, it's an allocation & strategy problem.
The stakes could not be higher, but neither could the opportunity. Let’s build on the common ground that already exists and show what is possible when compassion and accountability are aligned with leadership that is willing to act. "Never waste a good crisis!" said someone wise, once!
When I hear the words "human dignity," I reach for my wallet.
The first graf says it all--and quite well. Give a government to a bunch of lace-doily revolutionaries, elected with 25-percent of the vote--and watch the carnage. Well said.
The rest is the bleat of the dispossessed moderate who doesn't have a chance of being represented (by who?), or having any real power, or being given a hearing in our frog-obsessed legacy media, or who will scare the opposition into giving up a piece of the pie (the only real leverage in politics).
No--let's all be TOGETHER. And who in the revolutionary clique might ally with someone who just wants things to be nice, friendly, and productive, when the real revolutionary agenda is disruption, nullification, undermining norms, and a general tear-down of institutions so the new world can be erected in its place--with you-know-who running the show.
Portland, if you care to read the numbers, is in a classic decline. It's economics, stupid--and "homelessness" is only a garnish on the dung-pie of the underlying movement of a tectonic plate. The city is being sustained by its culture of extreme tolerance for stupidity, its lack of any real power structure, and the feeding frenzy of minorities. When an entire federal building sells for $1.5-million, you know the game's over. Enter the bottom-feeders, the nonproifteers, the rent-seekers, while long-term residents wait for mortgage rates to decline so they can sell out and head for the far suburbs (beyond the reach of Metro).
Sometimes, hope isn't enough. Reality counts.
Thanks for the article, Joe. Eventually the city will come together and get some traction. The freedom to express opinions and the ability to engage one another authentically is crucial. Most of us, can see the good in others approaches, even though we think things should be different than their approach. I think a lack engagement is Portland's biggest problem. People are silent when they disagree. I also believe you can disagree and be respectful. Since no one knows what the future holds, I choose optimism. When it comes to homelessness and severe mental illness, optimism means that in ten years we will dig ourselves out of the public emergency that is present in many neighborhoods, certainly downtown and the Pearl district.
The fact is, the left has always been the divider of our nation. They were the ones who opposed ending slavery. If you look up "the clan bake" you will see the KKK walking down the street in their robes. The left are all about keeping us separated and not allowing us to unite because they fear if we do, they will lose power over us and all they they want power