We are a bit old fashioned: we think that the first priority of government should be to protect us.

• On the Federal level, that  means to protect us from foreign threats.
• On the local level that means to protect us from criminals, whether they be on the street or in government.

Lower priorities, in no particular order are:

• Provide for the education of our children, whether through private, home or government schools.
• Provide a means of dispute resolution. (our civil courts)
• Provide an efficient, smooth running transportation system, preferably funded by users.
• Provide water and sewer services, where is is unsafe to rely on wells and on-property waste disposal.

All other services should be of a lower priority.

We wonder why various local government entities in Multnomah County are:

• Releasing prisoners who hurt people
• Closing courts one day per week
• Allowing us to have the shortest school year in the country

But they have spent money to:

• Remodel PGE park
• Subsidise wages at PGE park
• Expand the convention center
• Build a million dollar horse barn
• $30 million to encourage development in the North Macadam district. This is the first payment on a total of $150 million.

They are still living in a dream world, evidenced by their talking of:

• Selling our water system, the crown jewell of the Pacific Northwest
• Building a new baseball stadium
• Buying PGE
• Building new light rail lines along I205, Mcloughlin Ave and to Vancouver. Local matching money likely will be close to $1 Billion.

We also have the worst increase in traffic congestion in the country and rank seventh in total traffic congestion.