Suppose you were trying to pick a U.S. city that could possibly be riddled by violence due to drug cartels, street gangs, or some other sort of violent crime (even though none of these were reported by the major news agencies). Perhaps the last place you would go would be Portland, or any other place in Oregon.
That’s because (per AI), Oregonians are known for:
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Love of the outdoors:
Many Oregonians are passionate about outdoor activities like hiking and biking, thanks to the state’s natural beauty.
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DIY and foraging culture:
The state has a strong do-it-yourself ethic, visible in hobbies like knitting and brewing, as well as a culture of foraging for items like mushrooms and fruit.
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“Oregonian” identity:
There is a sense of identity tied to being “different” and sometimes a playful aversion to anything seen as “Californian”.
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Environmentalism:
Oregonians have a reputation for being environmentally conscious, with a history of pioneering environmental protections and progressive policies.
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Quirky and authentic:Oregon has a reputation for being “weird” and “wonderful,” with a unique sense of humor and a drive to do things differently.Moreover, Portland boasts well-educated, well-read, people, many of whom are affluent due to various forms of involvement in the tech industry.It’s vaguely possible that federal troops are going to encounter people with guns, though it’s far more likely that they’ll find wealthy, retired people dressed as frogs.
I join those who say that the human race has evolved to be tribal and selfish. We are largely indifferent to the needs of others, and the capitalist society we’ve built has only served to reenforce this.
As Tom Waits observed, “We’re monkeys with money and guns.”
Now, are there some extremely decent and kind people spread around the globe? Of course. But they tend not to be the billionaires who make all the important decisions as to the how our culture will conduct itself.
Well, never is a long time, as they say.
Yet imagine this scenario, which is quite possible:
Trump is impeached and removed. Almost immediately, there is an incredible outpouring of information on an additional set of crimes committed by Trump and his administration. Simultaneously, the U.S. morphs into a social democracy, and its people enjoy quality education, access to healthcare, and prosperity, not unlike those in Northern Europe and elsewhere around the globe.
Yes, there will always be Republicans promising mass deportations and whatever else appeals to a dwindling MAGA base, but I would think they will have one hell of a hard time winning a national election.
The GOP can say the American economy is skyrocketing. But then there’s that nasty little piece of reality that people can’t afford groceries and are suffering financially more generally.
Or they can day that people are suffering financially, but it’s Biden’s fault. Oops. Biden left office 588 days ago.
Or they can say that the war in Iran has driven up gas prices, but that will turn immediately because we’ve won the war. Yikes. What can we say about all these bombs?
Or they can say that all the racial hatred and divisiveness is Obama’s fault. No, that’s problematic, since he’s been gone for almost 10 years.
Trump supporters may not be too sharp, but even they are having trouble accepting all this crap.
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