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Scubaseth's comments:

on Sentencing and Spending

Once again we are forced to choose the least effective method of dealing with drug and crime issues and that is spending time and money delaying and then modifying a poorly written measure.

It also sounds like many of the guests have motives around expanding the corrections infrastructure when we really need to be focusing on education, transportation and healthcare infrastructure, things that will keep people out of prison to begin with. 

Scrap 57 and start again.

posted 3 years, 12 months ago
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on Sentencing and Spending

This conversation is not addressing the fact that Oregon voters had no choice with regard to this measure.

It was the lessor of two evils and therefore the majority of voters your guests are speaking of is a false majority.

We had no choice and I would like to know how 61 and 57 made it on the ballot so that we could not vote no for both?

posted 3 years, 12 months ago
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on Student Debt

I'm a non traditional Engineering student at PSU. I restarted my bachelors degree at 36 and will be 41 by the time I finish my masters. Fortunately I have been able to save money as an adult, find a field and pursue and education in something that I know I will enjoy and will pay my bills an likely complete my education with little outstanding debt.
That was not the story when I was 18.
As a lower mid class high school senior from coastal oregon and average grades in the late 80's I could not qualify for much in the way of scholarships and grants.
Military was the only choice if I wanted to make some quick college money. The GI bill eventually provided $27,000 for my education. I took advantage of this and it has served me well. I do lament the fact that in our country, of such great wealt,h we have no other alternative for students of low mid class, other than the military, to get a college education without a huge debt or postponing an education for many years or not at all.
Our nation needs a system to the military where low mid class teens, youth and adults can work/volunteer in social programs, environmental programs, healthcare programs and infrastructure programs that will give them experience in the world, food and lodging and generate college credit "credits".
Students also need better advising on how their choices for major will effect their financial future.

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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