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The Lottery is essentially a poor tax. How appropriate, then, that we would have a measure to reinforce funding for the mechanism by which that segment of the population is disproportionately imprisoned. I also note no discussion of whether public safety in Oregon is actually low or actually needs such funding. This sort of myopia and unsubstantiated hysteria seems to pervade any discussion of police funding issues.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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I went to Portland State and earned a bachelor's degree in English. I had thought that the degree alone would provide some sort of general qualification for a living wage job. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I returned later and earned a Master's degree, also in English. I would caution your listeners that for purposes of paying back student loans, not all majors, nor even graduate degrees, are equally suitable for the purpose. After struggling with those loans for nearly a decade, I realized that I would not pay them back in my lifetime working as an adjunct instructor. I realized I had to become a doctor, lawyer, or accountant; I can't stand the smell of hospitals, and was bored to tears by accounting. I went to law school at the comparatively late age of 33. I am now a lawyer, and, while the career is sensationally over-rated as a means to wealth (and markedly underrated in terms of stress and working hours) has provided me with at least the hope of extinguishing my loans in my lifetime.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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I am a member of a third party and have found the major candidates unappealing because none of them appear to value liberty or transparency in government. Obama caved, much to the chagrin of his supporters, on the issue of telecom immunity. McCain has attempted to style himself a maverick, but supported Bush in allowing such execrable practices as torture and secret prisons. The Libertarian candidate would ordinarily be a conscientious alternative, but leans more to the right than is palatable for my taste. By contrast, Biden opposed telecom immunity, and Palin actually cleaned up the corrupt Alaskan political machine. This leaves me in a quandary: Frankly, I'd rather vote for the VP's. A reluctant vote for Obama will probably be my uninspired concession.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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