You’re speaking truth….unfortunately too many Oregon voters seem to relish more taxes and inefficiency. Until voters change their tune about who they elect this will continue. Look at who Portland just elected to City Council—3 are outright Socialists and a majority are far far to the left. As moderates leave Portland and the state the extremism here will only increase. I’ll be gone in 5 years thankfully.
Totally get the frustration. But I still believe there’s a silent majority in Oregon that wants accountability over ideology. We won’t fix it overnight—but the more folks, like you, that speak up and stay engaged, the harder it is for bad policy to hide behind good intentions. We need people with common sense before the only choices left are between a tax hike and a bigger tax hike.
Cyrus, your provocative summary of the ODOT trip is the foundation for every bureaucracy. The private sector has the pressure of profit and loss to sustain efficiency. You produce a product or service the market demands at a price they’re willing to pay, in a delivery time and place they desire or you’re out of business. There are only two types of private sector companies, the quick and the dead. The public sector has no such constraints. And, there are no sideboards of transparency, oversight or accountability. As a sports angler in the state I experience the same reality from ODFW, paying more for less.
Well said—and you’re exactly right. Without market pressure or real accountability, too many agencies drift toward “more funding, less performance.” It’s why transparency and oversight aren’t luxuries—they’re the bare minimum taxpayers should expect.
Are there any bills tied to this nonsense that we can attack with testimony to stop the insanity? It seems taxing is done now without the voting of Oregon citizens I guess because the democrats have super majorities and they know more than us.
I hear you—and yes, the taxing-without-asking trend is frustrating. The full bill hasn’t been introduced yet, but I’ll keep you posted as soon as it drops so folks can weigh in. Public testimony still matters, and the more eyes on this, the harder it is to push through quietly. Stay tuned.
I do a lot of the wincing, head-shaking, and sighing. I literally pray I don't see more bad news for our state, nation, country. I and many have submitted testimony from fire maps to bills about wells (groundwater safety, I am sure that will be the only reason), to tires and gas taxes. We submit til we are blue and our fingers sore. I continue to talk about these things, and HOPE some sanity comes to our state. Otherwise, let's just call ourselves CalOrWash State.
It’s exhausting, but your voice matters—and every testimony, every comment helps slow the madness. Keep speaking up. Sanity’s still possible, but only if people like you stay in the fight.
I would love to see Metro as well as Jessica Vega Pederson being audited for the homeless services and universal preschool tax. Absolutely ridiculous that my household is nailed with these taxes while other households that don’t meet the income criteria for these taxes were able to vote for these taxes.
You’re absolutely right, Aaron. When people can vote to raise taxes they won’t have to pay, it’s a recipe for unfairness—and it demands serious scrutiny. An audit would be a great place to start. Let's have more accountability!
Everyone should have skin in the game- there should never be ballot measures that target a certain segment of a population. Same thing goes for property tax measures. If you don’t own a home and pay property taxes then you shouldn’t be able to vote on measures that will raise property taxes.
The belief that more money will fix any of this is a pipe dream! 😵 I wish the protestors would care about their own state instead of what Trump & Elon Musk are doing...😫
Government agencies are effectively monopolies. As such there needs to be some kind of third party scrutiny or audit and total transparency into how money is spent and how effectively it is spent.
Oregonians have been on a bad TRIP for decades. Our once prosperous state has gone down the road of the wants of the progressives. Circumventing the will of the voters. Creating policies that bind and tax Oregonians into oblivion without representation or accountability. The wants of Salem have supercede the needs of the state as a whole. Oregon is a very diverse state. But it seems only the diversity they care about is that that comes from the Portland metro area and Lane County, who do NOT represent the state as a whole. Their diversity is limited to their vision,not the diversity of the citizens. The rural communities have been decimated and gaslit for decades. Every issue this state faces has been self-inflicted by those elected. Some of the highest property taxes in the nation and some of the lowest education rates in the nation. Everything that happens in this state begins and end in Salem. Same issues year in and year out with no resolution except to raise taxes. Those elected have not been accountable to the taxpayers. Land and tax dollar mismanagement without accountability is the issue. More policies only bind the hands and pocketbook of the tax payer. The bills going through the legislature proves they want more control which leaves citizens with less freedom and less say. Nothing will change until those who support these ridiculous bills are directly impacted. Handouts are the priority, not a hand up. Many taxpayers and businesses have fled the state due to insanity that is the Oregon state government. What does that say about the voters? How much is Oregon willing to lose?
Why is this surprising to anybody? Oregonians voted for more taxes, more fees, a Democrat supermajority that will cause real pain for the next two years. And in 2026 Oregonians will vote Kotek back in as Governor. Insanity is doing and voting the same way everytime and expecting different outcomes. We will hear lots of whining and moaning but when it comes to voting Oregonians will keep going down the same stupid path.
I get where you’re coming from, John. It’s easy to feel like we’re stuck in a loop—but I still believe people can wake up when the consequences hit close to home. The key is helping folks connect the dots between bad policy and everyday pain. Cynicism is earned, but change is still possible.
I think the majority of people in this state are clueless. See these dem Democrats have clearly brainwashed them . I simply don't understand when we are paying so much for things . And it's because we have moved all manufacturing out of this country. So this is why Trump is doing the things he is trying to undo all the damage that the Democrats have caused us and this country things will be rough for a while but people got to understand it will get better we must shut down the border and keep our people safe.
Love your "straight to the point truthful writing. Being a child from the "first TV" era, my mind is baffled at the thinking of some of the government and business leaders. Maybe I had on rose colored glasses during that time but they certainly aren't rosy now. Keep a steady mind and stay true to yourself. You have God in your pocket:)
Thank you, Dorothy—that means a lot. I think a lot of us feel like the world’s flipped upside down from what we grew up with. But truth still matters, common sense still matters, and I’ll keep calling it like I see it.
You’re speaking truth….unfortunately too many Oregon voters seem to relish more taxes and inefficiency. Until voters change their tune about who they elect this will continue. Look at who Portland just elected to City Council—3 are outright Socialists and a majority are far far to the left. As moderates leave Portland and the state the extremism here will only increase. I’ll be gone in 5 years thankfully.
Totally get the frustration. But I still believe there’s a silent majority in Oregon that wants accountability over ideology. We won’t fix it overnight—but the more folks, like you, that speak up and stay engaged, the harder it is for bad policy to hide behind good intentions. We need people with common sense before the only choices left are between a tax hike and a bigger tax hike.
Cyrus, your provocative summary of the ODOT trip is the foundation for every bureaucracy. The private sector has the pressure of profit and loss to sustain efficiency. You produce a product or service the market demands at a price they’re willing to pay, in a delivery time and place they desire or you’re out of business. There are only two types of private sector companies, the quick and the dead. The public sector has no such constraints. And, there are no sideboards of transparency, oversight or accountability. As a sports angler in the state I experience the same reality from ODFW, paying more for less.
Well said—and you’re exactly right. Without market pressure or real accountability, too many agencies drift toward “more funding, less performance.” It’s why transparency and oversight aren’t luxuries—they’re the bare minimum taxpayers should expect.
Are there any bills tied to this nonsense that we can attack with testimony to stop the insanity? It seems taxing is done now without the voting of Oregon citizens I guess because the democrats have super majorities and they know more than us.
I hear you—and yes, the taxing-without-asking trend is frustrating. The full bill hasn’t been introduced yet, but I’ll keep you posted as soon as it drops so folks can weigh in. Public testimony still matters, and the more eyes on this, the harder it is to push through quietly. Stay tuned.
I do a lot of the wincing, head-shaking, and sighing. I literally pray I don't see more bad news for our state, nation, country. I and many have submitted testimony from fire maps to bills about wells (groundwater safety, I am sure that will be the only reason), to tires and gas taxes. We submit til we are blue and our fingers sore. I continue to talk about these things, and HOPE some sanity comes to our state. Otherwise, let's just call ourselves CalOrWash State.
It’s exhausting, but your voice matters—and every testimony, every comment helps slow the madness. Keep speaking up. Sanity’s still possible, but only if people like you stay in the fight.
I would love to see Metro as well as Jessica Vega Pederson being audited for the homeless services and universal preschool tax. Absolutely ridiculous that my household is nailed with these taxes while other households that don’t meet the income criteria for these taxes were able to vote for these taxes.
You’re absolutely right, Aaron. When people can vote to raise taxes they won’t have to pay, it’s a recipe for unfairness—and it demands serious scrutiny. An audit would be a great place to start. Let's have more accountability!
Everyone should have skin in the game- there should never be ballot measures that target a certain segment of a population. Same thing goes for property tax measures. If you don’t own a home and pay property taxes then you shouldn’t be able to vote on measures that will raise property taxes.
If you pay rent, you pay property taxes. You're just paying the property owners property taxes.
The belief that more money will fix any of this is a pipe dream! 😵 I wish the protestors would care about their own state instead of what Trump & Elon Musk are doing...😫
Maybe we could pay DOGE a commission for tidying up Oregon's excessive expenditures?
Oregon would never allow them to grace our doorstep. Oregon is too busy bringing lawsuits against the Trump Administration. 🙄
I, like every other commenter here, completely agree with you.
Thanks!
Government agencies are effectively monopolies. As such there needs to be some kind of third party scrutiny or audit and total transparency into how money is spent and how effectively it is spent.
Oregonians have been on a bad TRIP for decades. Our once prosperous state has gone down the road of the wants of the progressives. Circumventing the will of the voters. Creating policies that bind and tax Oregonians into oblivion without representation or accountability. The wants of Salem have supercede the needs of the state as a whole. Oregon is a very diverse state. But it seems only the diversity they care about is that that comes from the Portland metro area and Lane County, who do NOT represent the state as a whole. Their diversity is limited to their vision,not the diversity of the citizens. The rural communities have been decimated and gaslit for decades. Every issue this state faces has been self-inflicted by those elected. Some of the highest property taxes in the nation and some of the lowest education rates in the nation. Everything that happens in this state begins and end in Salem. Same issues year in and year out with no resolution except to raise taxes. Those elected have not been accountable to the taxpayers. Land and tax dollar mismanagement without accountability is the issue. More policies only bind the hands and pocketbook of the tax payer. The bills going through the legislature proves they want more control which leaves citizens with less freedom and less say. Nothing will change until those who support these ridiculous bills are directly impacted. Handouts are the priority, not a hand up. Many taxpayers and businesses have fled the state due to insanity that is the Oregon state government. What does that say about the voters? How much is Oregon willing to lose?
Well said. This view shouldn’t be considered partisan; this is simply integrity in governance and administration.
Why is this surprising to anybody? Oregonians voted for more taxes, more fees, a Democrat supermajority that will cause real pain for the next two years. And in 2026 Oregonians will vote Kotek back in as Governor. Insanity is doing and voting the same way everytime and expecting different outcomes. We will hear lots of whining and moaning but when it comes to voting Oregonians will keep going down the same stupid path.
I get where you’re coming from, John. It’s easy to feel like we’re stuck in a loop—but I still believe people can wake up when the consequences hit close to home. The key is helping folks connect the dots between bad policy and everyday pain. Cynicism is earned, but change is still possible.
I think the majority of people in this state are clueless. See these dem Democrats have clearly brainwashed them . I simply don't understand when we are paying so much for things . And it's because we have moved all manufacturing out of this country. So this is why Trump is doing the things he is trying to undo all the damage that the Democrats have caused us and this country things will be rough for a while but people got to understand it will get better we must shut down the border and keep our people safe.
Love your "straight to the point truthful writing. Being a child from the "first TV" era, my mind is baffled at the thinking of some of the government and business leaders. Maybe I had on rose colored glasses during that time but they certainly aren't rosy now. Keep a steady mind and stay true to yourself. You have God in your pocket:)
Thank you, Dorothy—that means a lot. I think a lot of us feel like the world’s flipped upside down from what we grew up with. But truth still matters, common sense still matters, and I’ll keep calling it like I see it.
MONEY PIT......