Jay Patrick

The state of Oregon has much to figure out.

A state government’s reason for existence should be to protect and care for its citizens. Oregon has much to repair. It needs to reverse action on much to start moving in that direction.

According to tax data provided by a CNBC report Oregon is one of the worst when looking at the annual state income rate, especially when looking at taxing the rich verses the poor. The system needs to be adjusted.

I have read in several reports that puts Oregon as a leader of states when it comes to drug addiction. Sadly, we also have an extremely high rate of suicide in Oregon. A couple of categories we really can’t be proud.

According to The Oregonian, lawmakers approved a $376 million housing and homelessness package and $211 million for substance abuse and behavioral health services not backed by much research or detailed plans. Rather they just decided to throw tax dollars at the wall, hoping someone can figure it out for them.

Oregon is again a winner again as it is rated third in the nation for homelessness. And Oregon is the number 1 state when it comes to unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. Not a badge of honor.

Environmental extremists are crippling our farmers and ranchers as well as everyday economy. Watching the disaster in the dam removal in southern Oregon which saw the demise of 850,000 salmon? Plan, what plan? No realization of consequences for every action that is taken. This seems to be a mode of operation for Oregon in the last several years.

Watching everything from saving the owl to the spotted frog totally drying up livelihoods of families in our forests to our farms today. Environmentalist extremists influence everything in Oregon, even our state water board. Oregon’s Water Board has said no more water for you, and is applying that decision to most all of the municipalities’ applications in Oregon.

Oregon leadership seems to be starting to eat their own. As we hear from our governor, a huge push to build homes to reduce homelessness which all sounds wonderful given our housing situation. But this puts her at odds with her water board. When you don’t allow water permits for municipalities and are saying “no building for you.” This shouts to everyone watching, who is leading this state.

If this current situation continues from the owl to the spotted frog, the wolves, the coyotes to the salmon and possibly even the grizzly bear. These animals may ultimately end with our beautiful state all to themselves when the rest of us are regulated out or can no longer afford the realities of living here. What a shame.

I try to keep positive. It took a few years to figure out that free drugs anytime, anywhere with no consequence for any action was not a “fix” for our societal woes. Hopefully some more of the wild ideas out there will come around.

Oregon leadership appears less and less concerned about its citizens and the livability of our state and more and more about our animals.

Hopefully our leadership can focus more on its people who are trying to make a living and survive daily. Let’s start working together to solve problems. This one way or the highway approach sure seems to have taken us down a dirt road to nowhere for years now.

Two words come to mind: common sense.