What's Life in Oregon Like?

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by ccjarider

!. Are you actually claiming Oregon gov't stupidity has NOTHING to do with the Cover Oregon debacle?? The Oracle issue is about a web site only. Oracle was not responsible for the health care program, the STATE was. The STATE failed. THE STATE wasted millions.

2. Oregon school systems are generally, nationally ranked pretty low. Yes there are exceptions.
In general the state does not value education. On that there can be little doubt. It would be nice if marijuana mgmt and abortion money was redirected to higher value investment such as education.

3. Don't know where you live but I doubt very much your tax burden is 20% of another area of state. Most states do not operate with that large of a discrepancy. Seems like that is a number pulled from your ass. But if true - I guess you would be happy to donate more to the well run, Oregon state gov't.

4. Don't put words in my mouth - never said anything like you claim. The point of being 5th highest user in nation is indicative that something is wrong with this state. Further FEDS partner with states but $ comes from both. You tell us a lot about your thought process by claiming welfare programs are economic drivers. They are not.

5. You are acting as the moralizer. Stop the moralizing pompousness. I said nothing about the legality or illegality of abortion. I am challenging your statements that Oregon is a tax bargain. State gov't should not be in business pf paying for abortions. OR is one of only seventeen states that do. There is much better use of taxpayer money in this badly managed state.

If you don't like it, run for the legislature and try to convince people to vote for you. My property taxes are certainly 1/5 of the rates in Portland, because I live in a conservative area where people don't vote for bond measures. I pay $1500/year property taxes on 90 acres with 1/3 mile of creek frontage, a fully remodeled house, barn, landscaped yard, deck, patio and gazebo overlooking the creek. The taxes include both a professional fire department and a rural fire protection association, which gives me a nice break on my homeowner insurance.

You are complaining about taxes and don't even know who you are paying them to. Oregon does not have a property tax.

[Familyman6]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

If you don't like it, run for the legislature and try to convince people to vote for you. My property taxes are certainly 1/5 of the rates in Portland, because I live in a conservative area where people don't vote for bond measures. I pay $1500/year property taxes on 90 acres with 1/3 mile of creek frontage, a fully remodeled house, barn, landscaped yard, deck, patio and gazebo overlooking the creek. The taxes include both a professional fire department and a rural fire protection association, which gives me a nice break on my homeowner insurance.

You are complaining about taxes and don't even know who you are paying them to. Oregon does not have a property tax.

No offense but you live in Myrtle Creek. You don't deal with anything like the folks in the metro area deal with. MC is way too rural to be comparing any of the topics in this thread to that of Portland.

I am actually surprised you have Internet and running water down there. Lol. Jk

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by Familyman6

No offense but you live in Myrtle Creek. You don't deal with anything like the folks in the metro area deal with. MC is way too rural to be comparing any of the topics in this thread to that of Portland.

I am actually surprised you have Internet and running water down there. Lol. Jk

If you want to gripe about Portland, there is a forum for that.

//www.city-data.com/forum/portland/

Strangely enough, people who live in Portland have no idea what layers of government they have, and automatically assume that everything is done by the state. Well, Portland is not the state. Metro is not the state. Multnomah County is not the state. Your huge poop tubes are not the state. People who live in cities are provincial and ignorant.

You're right, we didn't get internet down here until 1994, and running water is a roll-your-own affair. I have a well, cistern, pumps, and a septic system. Unlike you guys who just dump your sewage in the Willamette, I manage my own sewage so it doesn't impact people downstream. I spent thousands of dollars repairing the system about 15 years ago, and the DEQ conducted a dye test to assure that nothing was escaping my property. There's not a toilet in Portland that would pass that test.

You pay massive local taxes because you can't trust your citizens to assume responsibility for their own mess. That's your problem, but it's not the state, it's your city. If you don't like paying for sanitation, get everyone in Portland to dig up their yards and streets and separate storm water and sewage. It's that simple. It's just easier to pay taxes than to take responsibility and convince everyone else that they have to take responsibility. In more rural parts of the state, personal responsibility is a tradition. In consequence, we don't pay so many taxes.

[Hickory16]

Hey Ya'll
My girlfriend and I,have known each other since high school.We're in our 50s now.I've been a lot of places and always come back to the P.N.W. You know what I mean,if you've ever experienced ice storms,hurricanes,tornadoes,storms that would scare the hell out of most people,and extreme heat. We love the coast,but don't want to live in damp fog all the time.We love the mountains and the redwoods only the west coast can provide.We have been looking at all the options and Where we want to spend the rest of our lives together.The answer keeps coming back to Klamath Falls.We love the small town life we grew up with,which is all but gone and drivin out by big money.Sorry! Enough about me.We have made up our mind on Klamath falls.Work and jobs are of the first priorities at this point.I have no problem adjusting to wages.I've been doing that for some time now.Gotta swallow your pride and do what you can.I've done a lot of different work through the years,so it shouldn't be too hard to find work,if there is work to be had.I also heard a rumor that Lowes is coming to the area. Any info would be appreciated so very much!
Thank you!

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by Hickory16

The answer keeps coming back to Klamath Falls.We love the small town life we grew up with,which is all but gone and drivin out by big money.Sorry! Enough about me.We have made up our mind on Klamath falls.Work and jobs are of the first priorities at this point.I have no problem adjusting to wages.I've been doing that for some time now.Gotta swallow your pride and do what you can.I've done a lot of different work through the years,so it shouldn't be too hard to find work,if there is work to be had.I also heard a rumor that Lowes is coming to the area. Any info would be appreciated so very much!

Do not hold your breath for Lowe's, both Lowes and Costco sold/relinquished interest on the properties they had been looking at. But there is still Home Depot, Big R (didn't Coastal buy out Big R?), Diamond Home Improvement and Grover's Plumbing/Electric if you are looking for jobs along those lines. The unemployment rate is better than it was a few years ago, but as Oregon cities/counties go, it is still one of the highest in the state.

Housing in Klamath Falls is lower cost than a lot of cities in Oregon, but the job prospects aren't great. If you have a good work history and are a hard worker you will likely be able to find a job - but it might not be a full time job and it might not pay particularly well.

And, hey, air service resumes in October! Not sure how they plan to meet the minimum passenger count required for the federal subsidy, given the size of planes and the 2 flights to PDX daily, but maybe this time will be the charm! (Alaska/Horizon and United/Skywest have both started and then stopped service.)

[Hickory16]

Thank you,P.N.W.-type-gal.
I've been looking at housing too,for some time.We have a couple picked out that are really affordable.Nothing like that here at all.I have work history in a lot of different fields through the years.Auto Tech/service advisor by trade,but also skilled in warehouse,forklift,hardware,construction materials of all kinds,and more.
Oh,by the way,what type of phone service is there? We have Metro PCS.
Don't mean to be a bother,but we don't know anybody there yet.
Your input is very much appreciated.
I've already checked out the Medical center for my Mom who's 82,and my girlfriend(we will be upgrading that status),who has Lymphadema.She's a cancer survivor.That all looks good.

[PNW-type-gal]

Skye Lakes is a good small town hospital, but they airlift out trauma and serious cases. If you have specific medical needs, best to check on the available programs in advance. Most of Oregon outside the Willamette Valley (Portland south to Eugene) is considered "medically underserved" and tends to be very short-staffed with either long wait times or long drives out of the area to see specialists.

I had Verizon, but then I lived out of town 45 minutes or so and it was the best option where I was. Verizon and US Cellular have some of the best reception in the roads outside town, something to keep in mind if you are driving around. There are dead spots in several locations on Hwys 97, 62, 140, 30, 58, even with the wider range carriers.

[Hickory16]

Thanks!
I'll call and talk to Sky lakes some more tomorrow.I already talked to the cancer center.
Might have to see what our phones do when we come up to check things out.
We get dead spots in the hills or mountains down here.