Reply #3: Oregon's Catch-22 [View All]

We have the shortest school year anywhere. But Oregonians will NEVER vote for a tax hike of any kind - not even a one-time emergency surcharge for schools.

We have the highest unemployment rate in the country. But the sweetheart tax breaks we give to large corporations are not attracting new businesses (& jobs).

I agree. Oregonians need to take the first step to improve our schools. That's the #1 reason big businesses don't come here, IMO - not tax breaks. And the ones that do come seem to be bleeding us dry. Maybe big business isn't the answer, tho - the State turns to small businesses time & time again to pick up the slack on funding. As a small businessperson, I can attest that this is inherently regressive & sucks ass.

Either way, the root of the problem is education. We're especially feeling the burn of the No Child Left Behind program & the state's in chaos from it.