What is the downside to living in Oregon? (Portland, Eugene: crime, houses)

[freedom]

Casey1996,

Your exactly right, fortunately we all still have the freedom to move about, and experience different place to live. Most of Oregon is filled with people from California and other states, and it makes for a nice mix of neighbors.

freedom

[Skytripper]

So very noteworthy of many of the previous postings regarding how bad life has gotten in Oregon.....or how the middle class has been "squeezed out" etc.
It's NO secret.....this isn't just happening in OREGON.......it's happening all over AMERICA......and its very obvious.
It's been happening for several years.....and its a direct result of pure and simple GREED......
Everyone need look into the mirror.
Yes.....a lot of it is a result of politicians who are voted into office who truly do not care about the people or the democratic process, but mostly, IMO.....its Corporate America who really runs the show now......not the government.
AMERICA IS FOR SALE!!
It really doesn't matter WHO you are or WHERE you are from.......only......WHO will pay the most!
Capitalism in its truest form.
When the "Almighty dollar" IS above EVERYTHING else......this is what happens!
Heck with tomorrow.....its ALL about NOW and consuming until eventually there IS nothing left to consume. Future generations are screwed.....but that doesn't matter to sooooo many people at the moment.
Greed is good?
Greed is rewarded.
Corruption proliferates.
Accountability......never happens.
Conform or be cast out!
They know who they are and that "they" WILL sail off into the sunset with BILLIONS of dollars that they should not have.....at the expense of the people who helped get them there.
THEY run the show......and the show appears to NOT have a happy ending for more and more honest, hardworking people in American society.
Hate to be cynical.....but I am realistic and perceptive.
How MANY houses, planes, yachts, property....how much money.... does it take to make one happy?
Fraud, deception, lies......any way of twisting the truth or changing the rules.....for the benefit of the few....elite....upper echelon in society to essentially.....sink what WAS once a GREAT nation that could only be lost by the potential force of a massive invasion or nuclear threat.....not to go down without a fight!
NOPE........a war to take over America won't be necessary since it will just be completely BOUGHT and PAID FOR by foreigners soon enough......THEN the American people will one day wake up........to realize.....they too are OWNED or evicted!
FORCLOSURE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM

It ain't JUST Oregon......it's ALL over!

[Marko3]

Looks like many of the posts have turned into political debates. While that might be important to you as an upside or downside, I doubt that it's an important deciding factor when contemplating a move to Oregon. I could be wrong...but I think you're looking for comments from people that live in Oregon, and what they wish they could change about it if they could. So I'll tell you what I like and don't like, and I'll try to stay on topic.

Pro's: I love how green it is, and how beautiful. I've been all over the United States and the world, and there are some sights in Oregon that are absolutely breathtaking if you take the time to look. I like that within about an hour from where I live, I can go to the ocean, or if I want to drive the other direction, I can be up in the mountains snow skiing and enjoying other alpine activities. I like that traffic compared to other areas of the country is excellent. I like that there's no sales tax. I like the difference in seasons, because by the time the hot beautiful summer is coming to an end, I look forward to the cooler temperatures of fall, and the crisp foggy mornings as the leaves change and football season begins. Speaking of that, I love watching Pac-10 football at Autzen stadium in Eugene, especially when the Ducks win.

Con's: Gotta mention the rain, after a long winter, the gloomy skies and rain do have the potential to get to you. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real condition, they didn't make it up. The high unemployment rate due to a lack of employment. I don't like not being able to pump my own gas. Why can't I be trusted to fill up my own car? Maybe I don't want to wait for that station attendant to finish his cigarette so I can get my car filled up and get on with my day! Construction: Is it just me? Or does it seem like road construction, and bridge repairs seem to take way longer in Oregon than other places? Is it because of the weather? Funding? Both? Airports; don't get me wrong, I love Portland's airport, in fact I read recently that it was ranked #1 by traveler's. My beef is the lack of airports in the state. There are basically 2. Portland and Eugene. If you want to fly into some other place, good luck. Drugs: Maybe it's because I work in EMS, but Meth seems to be an increasing problem statewide. Just today in Roseburg's paper is a story on the front page about a federal grant given to Douglas county for $450,000 to fight the Meth problem. Maybe if there was more money for 24/7 state police coverage, or more funding for education, we wouldn't have to be awarded federal grants to combat the problems of Meth.

Overall, I realize that everyplace has its problems. I still love Oregon. Most of those "downsides" are personal opinion, some might be important to you, and some will never effect you depending on where in Oregon you live. Regardless, I still belive the benefits outweigh the negatives. Maybe that's why I still call Oregon home.

[Skytripper]

I basically have to agree with everything you said about Oregon.
It is a beautiful state....as is the Pacific NW in general.
I too.....love the water, trees, mountains and the gorgeous scenery and the diversity of it. No doubt that the Oregon Coast has some beautiful beaches and the Cascades are close too. Mt. Hood, Bachelor, etc.
Compared to many and most other states in this country.......it beats them by a long shot for sure, IMO.....also.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Skytripper

So very noteworthy of many of the previous postings regarding how bad life has gotten in Oregon.....or how the middle class has been "squeezed out" etc.
It's NO secret.....this isn't just happening in OREGON.......it's happening all over AMERICA......and its very obvious.
It's been happening for several years.....and its a direct result of pure and simple GREED......
Everyone need look into the mirror.
Yes.....a lot of it is a result of politicians who are voted into office who truly do not care about the people or the democratic process, but mostly, IMO.....its Corporate America who really runs the show now......not the government.
AMERICA IS FOR SALE!!
It really doesn't matter WHO you are or WHERE you are from.......only......WHO will pay the most!
Capitalism in its truest form.
When the "Almighty dollar" IS above EVERYTHING else......this is what happens!
Heck with tomorrow.....its ALL about NOW and consuming until eventually there IS nothing left to consume. Future generations are screwed.....but that doesn't matter to sooooo many people at the moment.
Greed is good?
Greed is rewarded.
Corruption proliferates.
Accountability......never happens.
Conform or be cast out!
They know who they are and that "they" WILL sail off into the sunset with BILLIONS of dollars that they should not have.....at the expense of the people who helped get them there.
THEY run the show......and the show appears to NOT have a happy ending for more and more honest, hardworking people in American society.
Hate to be cynical.....but I am realistic and perceptive.
How MANY houses, planes, yachts, property....how much money.... does it take to make one happy?
Fraud, deception, lies......any way of twisting the truth or changing the rules.....for the benefit of the few....elite....upper echelon in society to essentially.....sink what WAS once a GREAT nation that could only be lost by the potential force of a massive invasion or nuclear threat.....not to go down without a fight!
NOPE........a war to take over America won't be necessary since it will just be completely BOUGHT and PAID FOR by foreigners soon enough......THEN the American people will one day wake up........to realize.....they too are OWNED or evicted!
FORCLOSURE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM

It ain't JUST Oregon......it's ALL over!

The history of this planet, every nation and region has the same gripe. In America we can choose to be capitalists or not most other nations have that choice made for them.
Greed is a human fault, it is everywhere.
Not all people that work hard, make sacrafices and persevere should be called greedy.
It takes people to build everything you mentioned. They get paid to build them for the rich. If they don't buy them, then those jobs don't exist.
That is the problem in Oregon. No growth, equals no middle class. The assault on the timber industry has spred to the development and construction industry. The future will be very interesting........

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by Marko3

Construction: Is it just me? Or does it seem like road construction, and bridge repairs seem to take way longer in Oregon than other places? Is it because of the weather? Funding? Both? Airports; don't get me wrong, I love Portland's airport, in fact I read recently that it was ranked #1 by traveler's. My beef is the lack of airports in the state. There are basically 2. Portland and Eugene. If you want to fly into some other place, good luck.

I gotta echo Marko3 on these two points. Some building and road projects going on here in Corvallis have taken an E X C E E D I N G L Y L O N G time to complete. And the airport situation is really different from other parts of the country. My family and I flew to Michigan a couple years ago, and we had to split up and take separate flights. My wife and one child flew into Lansing and myself and our other child flew into Grand Rapids. Both cities have pretty large airports and are only about 70 miles apart. We also could have flown into Detroit or Flint or Kalamazoo or Bay City as well. Delta has recently started flying out of the Salem airport, so maybe that will give us another option.

[robinons1]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

There is definitely an attitude in Oregon, and I guess the way to explain it is that other states have similar attitudes - anywhere in which you can buy one of those bumperstickers that say "Native" and have some state-specific phrase or image on them.

California, Colorado, Texas, Washington, Oregon all have that somewhat irritating pride-of-place that often pushes over into an arrogance. I like living here, but I don't think it confers some special grace on me. I love Portland, but I'm not blind to its faults - I just think the positives far outweigh the negatives.

You are so right. I however don't think the positives outweigh the negatives unless you fit in look the look, walk the walk and talk the talk no differences allowed.

[wohelo]

It is amazing to read the posts that express so much hate (Californians). There will always be "them" to blame for change or for anything -for that matter. Every state has some group they fear, blame and hate. For example: If you are from Michigan it is even within their own state "those folks from downstate" and "the UP-ers, are so blank blank".

Finally, the best place to live in America (at this time in the market) is under your roof.

[Happy & CC]

They're the ones with the sunglasses and tan!

Originally Posted by angelbug

I always laugh about the Californian thing. Do the people who hate Californians mean the shallow Hollywood type, the San Francisco old hippie type, the Silicon Valley computer geek type, the crunchy granola back-to-the-land organic farmer type, the middle-aged cosmetic-surgery junkie type, the Central Valley almond grower, the Modoc county beef cattle rancher, the staid Sacramento state government worker, the Humboldt County pothead, the Orange County born-again fundamentalist Christian, the San Diego Air Force family, or the Bakersfield oilman with his cowboy hat and boots? What exactly IS a "Californian"?

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Happy & CC

They're the ones with the sunglasses and tan!

Hey we get tan here, I'd post a picture but I like anonymity.
Oh, I'm from California. ooops..... wait 15 yrs ago though, this is a true Oregon Berry tan Mate....