Oregon Public Broadcasting

1st congressional district 2012 election 2012 session agriculture art arts author beer births books budget business central oregon college congress crime culture death penalty eastern oregon economy education employment energy environment eugene fishing food gangs gay rights health health care high school history homeless housing jobs kids law legislature literature living media mental health military movies music native americans obama occupy portland occupy wall street onthejob oregon our town outdoors parenting police politics portland portland business journal portland mayor pregnancy prison public health race rebroadcast recess recession religion republicans rural schools science shooting sports supreme court talking business technology teen theater trailblazers unemployment union university of oregon washington water weekend women youth

I had an abortion about 6 years ago. At the time I was engaged to be married (to the man I am currently married to). The pregnancy was obviously a mistake, but I had conflicting feelings because I was getting married and married women have babies, not abortions. I chose to teminate the pregancy because our financial picture was pretty unstable at the time, and the house that we had just purchased & were living in needed major work and was not at all appropriate for a baby. Also, I had always thought that I would have a child when I was ready, and I really did not feel ready, even though I was in my late 20s. I now have a 4 month old baby and love being a mom. I think about my abortion all the time, and it is easy for me to think that I should have chosen differently. However, when I reflect, I realize that it is easy to impose the lessons I have learned since then on my past desicion, and ultimately I still think I made the right choice given my situation at the time.

posted 3 years, 8 months ago
view in context

I live in NE Portand, well within the city limits, and do not have the internet choices that I feel should be available to a resident of an urban environment. Comcast is my only choice for internet service, as Qwest has repeatedly informed me they do not have the equipment in my area to provide DSL, nor do they intend to install it. One Qwest customer service rep suggested I move if I was interested in their service! I was excited when MetroFi began installing the free wireless "cloud" in Portland, but this does not extend to NE portland due to Pacific Power not granting access to MetroFi to use their power poles to transmit the signal.
I am a student and cannot afford the $60 a month that Comcast charges for basic service, nor am I interested in supporting a monopoly. I know there are a number of residents even less fortunate than me in my area that also do not have internet choices they can afford. Basic internet access can make the difference between the haves and have nots in the age of email and more. I believe that the internet should be viewed as a public utility, like having a phone line, and should be regulated in the same way to ensure that individuals are not left behind.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
view in context