The Definition Of Liberal In Portland (Green, Brooks: neighborhoods, construction, university)

[Jimrob1]

After two years in Portland I am really curious as to how people define liberalism in this region of the country. Do you feel it is different than say the liberalism in the Northeastern USA, because I sure as hell do. I even find that Washington state does not completely resemble the liberalism of Portland. I say Portland because I do not really find much of the rest of Oregon Liberal at all. With that said, I am from the east coast and cannot and have tried over and over to relate to this mindset here, and cannot seem to. I find absolutely nothing appealing or liberal about crawling over all these homeless and the begging here. I find nothing appealing about watching a city rip itself up with construction and have more poverty than I ever saw in the northeast, at least in my face anyway. Something is off here big time, and I don't call the political mindset here liberal in the true sense of the word by a longshot. So I am curious what is Portland Liberalism, or is it what I described with the multitude of social woes here in such a small city. That is the Continuous poverty in ones face including the 14 year old I found sprawled out on the airport train when I went to work this morning, begging for money. I don't think this type of liberalism would work in much of the USA or they would have adopted it by now. Underage children obviously homeless sleeping on transit, would have been picked up by the Transit Police in both NYC, Boston or any other big city back east and elsewhere I feel. This thread is not a snub at Portland, or that the Northeast is a better place but people want to know the good and bad about a place when making decisions. City Data is a decent website, but many do not give a complete picture of a place. That lack of info can cause a person to make decisions they may not have made, had they had more info on the good and bad. So please tell me what Portland liberalism is, and is it a major factor in how high percentage wise Portland's social woes are for such a small metro area. Because I feel it is a multitude of reasons for this type of setting and environment.

[bobmulk]

I'm curious as to what the transit police in Boston do with the homeless youth they pick up.

My impression of liberalism in Portland is driving a hybrid, giving money to a liberal charity, voting liberal and eating organic. It also involves speaking loudly about liberal touchy-feely issues like "diversity", "mass transit", "land planning", "mixed-use development" and "green development". It has nothing whatsoever to do with actually mixing with people of a different ethnic group or race. And it would NEVER entail respecting or associating with someone from a different socio-political stripe.

I think it also involves dismissal of any idea and person that isn't completely liberal or what passes for liberal in Portland. As long as you espouse liberal ideals and really, really, really, REALLY are upset over inequities, then you pass with flying colors the definition of liberal in Portland.

[GB1]

Originally Posted by bobmulk

My impression of liberalism in Portland is driving a hybrid, giving money to a liberal charity, voting liberal and eating organic. It also involves speaking loudly about liberal touchy-feely issues like "diversity", "mass transit", "land planning", "mixed-use development" and "green development". It has nothing whatsoever to do with actually mixing with people of a different ethnic group or race. And it would NEVER entail respecting or associating with someone from a different socio-political stripe.

I think it also involves dismissal of any idea and person that isn't completely liberal or what passes for liberal in Portland. As long as you espouse liberal ideals and really, really, really, REALLY are upset over inequities, then you pass with flying colors the definition of liberal in Portland.

That's interesting on a number of levels.

To amplify on that, I'd note that driving hybrids, giving money to charity, and eating organic are all characteristics more associated with the middle- and upper-middle class than traditional blue-collar liberalism, as they presuppose a certain amount of discretionary income. (Not that poor folks don't also donate to charity, but it's a different metric.)

I always thought of it as the "NPR liberal."

[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.

[karlsch]

In 1937, George Orwell wrote this about "liberals" in England:
....often with vegetarian leanings … with a social position he has no intention of forfeiting. … One sometimes gets the impression that the mere words 'Socialism' and 'Communism' draw towards them with magnetic force every fruit-juice drinker, nudist, sandal-wearer, sex-maniac, Quaker, 'Nature Cure' quack, pacifist and feminist in England."

Not too far from a description of Portland liberals.

Entire Slate article is here:
What Orwell can teach Obama. - By Jeff Greenfield - Slate Magazine

[Jimrob1]

thank you for you input.

[Jimrob1]

Originally Posted by bobmulk

I'm curious as to what the transit police in Boston do with the homeless youth they pick up.

My impression of liberalism in Portland is driving a hybrid, giving money to a liberal charity, voting liberal and eating organic. It also involves speaking loudly about liberal touchy-feely issues like "diversity", "mass transit", "land planning", "mixed-use development" and "green development". It has nothing whatsoever to do with actually mixing with people of a different ethnic group or race. And it would NEVER entail respecting or associating with someone from a different socio-political stripe.

I think it also involves dismissal of any idea and person that isn't completely liberal or what passes for liberal in Portland. As long as you espouse liberal ideals and really, really, really, REALLY are upset over inequities, then you pass with flying colors the definition of liberal in Portland.

If the kid is clearly underage and living on the street, the transit police notify the Massachusetts Child Welfare Agency. A social service employee is assigned and places the child in a shelter specifically for children. The agency attempts to locate the parents and to access the enviroment the child was living in. Thank you for your input.

[oldtintype]

How can there be a definition when Portland is comprised of many types of people?
There is a stereotype, which isn't a definition and I think that's what you're going to get in response--stereotypes, which may or may not have any validity to them.

This "concept" has come up before. People tend to focus on a few neighborhoods of Portland and "define" what that means/what Portland is, ignoring all the different types of people the rest of the city is comprised of.

You may have a real interest in this topic but it's a loaded question, looking for specific results.

[suncat]

Originally Posted by bobmulk

My impression of liberalism in Portland is driving a hybrid, giving money to a liberal charity, voting liberal and eating organic. It also involves speaking loudly about liberal touchy-feely issues like "diversity", "mass transit", "land planning", "mixed-use development" and "green development". It has nothing whatsoever to do with actually mixing with people of a different ethnic group or race. And it would NEVER entail respecting or associating with someone from a different socio-political stripe.

I think you hit the nail on the head. It's all talk and no action. People here are more concerned with putting forth a progressive image than actually being progressive. It's so phony.

[suncat]

Originally Posted by GB1

That's interesting on a number of levels.

To amplify on that, I'd note that driving hybrids, giving money to charity, and eating organic are all characteristics more associated with the middle- and upper-middle class than traditional blue-collar liberalism, as they presuppose a certain amount of discretionary income. (Not that poor folks don't also donate to charity, but it's a different metric.)

I always thought of it as the "NPR liberal."

That's true, but it also describes East Coast liberals. There's something different about the ones in Portland, but I can't exactly put my finger on it.