The Definition Of Liberal In Portland (Eugene, Salem: real estate market, rent, crimes)

[findingmesomeday]

Good observations in the post above. Having lived in PDX and Boston, there is a difference in what defines "liberal". It's not just one thing. Then again, some things are scary similar. For instance, in Portland it's what high school did you go to/who you know/how hip you are. If you're local, you belong. In Boston it's how far back can you trace your ancestors/what college did you go to and are you a legacy/where do you golf. The end result is the same. Outsiders do not belong. Interestingly, my husband and I have a lot of heated discussion about this since he's an Oregon native. He swears up and down that Portland is not like this and I disagree.

People in MA give lip service to recycling. In the wealthier suburbs, it's only done if they can hire someone to pick it up from them curbside.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by karlsch

This book, written by a liberal university professor, got a lot of press recently:
Amazon.com: Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compasionate Conservatism Who Gives, Who Doesn't, and Why It Matters: Arthur C. Brooks: Books

He analyzed liberal vs. conservative charitable donations. It turns out that conservatives donate quite a bit more than liberals. They also donate more blood and more of their time.

I have also seen research that shows that blue collar workers give more of their money to charity than higher-income people. Also higher-income people tend to donate more to the arts than to social welfare programs.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Katiana

I have also seen research that shows that blue collar workers give more of their money to charity than higher-income people. Also higher-income people tend to donate more to the arts than to social welfare programs.

Well yeah, stands to reason; richer people naturally tend to be greedier, that's how many became rich.

And they're more interested in the arts because they get to dress up and act ostentatious at art events.

[JiminCT]

I suspect that some of that is true, but arts funding is severely in trouble in a lot of areas. Many of these people are keeping a lot of theaters and symphonies in our major cities afloat. The last 8 years has witnessed a HUGE slashing of federal spending. Our NPR stations here in Hartford and Amherst rely more on donations because their own funding has been gutted. I'm sure you have the pledge drives in Portland too...they are becoming more frequent all over the country.

You can be wealthy and be firmly committed to the SOCIAL liberal ideology (much of the Catholic and Jewish communities are still very Democratic). It's just a question of whether you believe in the cause or not. My earlier point is that I think people tend to espouse liberal ideology for the cool factor, but not really believe it.

And I dont believe wealthy people are naturally more greedy...thats just a loaded stereotype. Most people today will give IF THEY CAN. For a lot of folks, just surviving is tough.

[kalit]

Originally Posted by JiminCT

And I dont believe wealthy people are naturally more greedy...thats just a loaded stereotype. Most people today will give IF THEY CAN. For a lot of folks, just surviving is tough.

Try saying that about CEOs of big companies. Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Exxon Mobile, etc. Bands that play and want a guarenteed $10,000 minimum. They are definitely more greedy. If the wealthy were not greedy, they would not be wealthy in the first place.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by kalit

Try saying that about CEOs of big companies. Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Exxon Mobile, etc. Bands that play and want a guarenteed $10,000 minimum. They are definitely more greedy. If the wealthy were not greedy, they would not be wealthy in the first place.

The definition of greed is "an overwhelming desire to acquire." The wealthy are wealthy. They've no need to acquire anything.

I'd say more lower-income people could be termed as greedy. Many play the lottery, gamble, enter contests, or go on game shows hoping to make tons of money fast, without having to actually do something and earn it. The money they do have, they spend foolishly on cigarettes and liquor, on big screen tvs for their cable television.

Most of the wealthy got that way because they, or a relative of theirs, provided a service or a product to a public that would pay for it. And, they were lucky enough to be in the right time and place to gain from it, financially.

If you'd look around, you'll find that at least two of your "greedy corporations," are quite the opposite.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

The definition of greed is "an overwhelming desire to acquire." The wealthy are wealthy. They've no need to acquire anything.

So you're saying they used to be greedy until they got wealthy and then they stopped being greedy? Sophistry. George Will makes a handsome living as an apologist for the wealthy, maybe you can grab some of that dough too.

And it's not as though the wealthy weren't up for getting wealthier.

[kalit]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

The definition of greed is "an overwhelming desire to acquire." The wealthy are wealthy. They've no need to acquire anything.

I'd say more lower-income people could be termed as greedy. Many play the lottery, gamble, enter contests, or go on game shows hoping to make tons of money fast, without having to actually do something and earn it. The money they do have, they spend foolishly on cigarettes and liquor, on big screen tvs for their cable television.

Most of the wealthy got that way because they, or a relative of theirs, provided a service or a product to a public that would pay for it. And, they were lucky enough to be in the right time and place to gain from it, financially.

If you'd look around, you'll find that at least two of your "greedy corporations," are quite the opposite.

So, Wal-Mart did give away $197.7 million. Out of $288.189 billion in sales. The average employee earned $9.54/hour. Which for a family is not a livable wage. CEO Lee Scott made $17.5 million dollars in 2004. Most of the clothes and shoes are made in China in sweatshops. They are one of the biggest union busters. Wal-Mart illegally threaten people who organize a union. Wal-Mart is by far one of the greediest corporations. By the way, these are numbers for 2004. Stan Cox: Wal-Mart's Magic Numbers

[deegers]

Posters: Reminder to you the OP was the definition of Liberal in Portland. We are going off topic here discussing greed and big corporations, so please stay on topic or i will have no choice but to close it. Luckily, many have already done well in discussing their opinion on the OP's question already, but I don't want to close it unless it's neccessary.

Thanks!

[spiritbear928]

I have never seen the conservative liberal divide more sharp then here. Oregon is as rednecky as Alabama except for Portland, Corvallis and Eugene. I think in those places liberal means tolerant of all. Homeless, gay, white, black, purple, green. Live and let live.

In the rest of Oregon I think they shoot libruls fer fun after they choke down some possum meat with their tooth