Portland So Wrong Could Be Right

Some would say a “live and let live” mindset is admirable…in some case, perhaps.

A live and let live approach when running a city is a disaster, chaos blooming from “freedom."

Portland, Oregon is a beautiful city in many ways with its lushness, a foodie heaven, aminable to artists—

It has also become a parody of urban decay.

We have tents on every block in my neighborhood, puddles of urine, deranged persons screaming at imaginary adversaries, a syringe waiting on the bricks for the sole of your Reeboks.

We have scores of people suffering from mental health and addiction issues, human beings who really shouldn't be left to their own devices. How is that civilized? More importantly, how is that moral? 

More selfishly, why should the rest of us have to contend with the paranoid schitzophrenics, the panhandlers, our children seeing people shooting up?

Portland, so wrong, could be right. We simply need adults running this city for a change, people who understand the value of compassion hand in hand with law and order. The United States is, for the moment, the wealthiest country on the planet. The way we treat those who cannot help themselves is equally abominable and illogical—we have the resources to sweep the streets, get these people in care facilities. We, as a civilization, have the means. We get out and protest over LGBQT issues, what about protesting about how our fellow citizens are allowed to lead squalid, indecent lives in tents? What about our streets being grim scenes of degradation?

Yeah, untie the cops’ hands! Let them sort it out!

No, the police are not trained to handle these issues though I agree we should make it easier for them to enforce laws.

We need people trained in mental health to address these issues and people who can enforce what their prognosis is.

Portland, full of promise, capable of being a great city—we just need a change in leadership, kick the “live and let live” attitude in the dustbin where it belongs. Portland, currently so wrong is more than capable of being so right.