Something's not right in southern Oregon (house, tax, move)

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

The question in my mind is WHY we are seeing this now, especially when pot is finally legal. It seems to be some combination of abandonment of enforcement by local authorities and looking the other way by State and Federal authorities.

Southern Oregon has been on a decades-long project of disinvestment in public services in the guise of tax resistance. In the past few years we have seen various articles about the complete dialing-back of law enforcement in Josephine County and places like Cave Junction.

I agree that those counties have allowed it to get as bad as it has by not paying for police. I don't disagree with that, but even if they were paying for police this problem would still exist. That is a lot of land to monitor. They need to have stringent consequences for landowners that fail to monitor their own properties if they want to do something about it.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Oregonians have spoken loud and clear, time and time again. The majority have made it clear that they are not interested in fighting the war on drugs. This changes nothing. I would argue that if the worst that comes out of defunding the police is an increase in illegal marijuana growing, then it's a smashing success. I will be extremely shocked if Oregon changes course and starts funding the war on drugs again.

On the contrary, I expect to see even the Red States start to see the futility of it, and follow Oregon's lead. It's just a matter of time before it will be legal nationwide. The majority rules, and the majority are done with the war on drugs.

[highstump]

Did you take any time to actually read the article?

[pathrunner]

He says he read it but even if he did actually read it he doesn't agree and will never agree. He just keep skirting the issue.

The issue isn't the "War on Drugs." The issue isn't "legalizing drugs."

The issue is forcing the illegal cartels to adhere to good environmental practices, pay their taxes and behave like normal citizens.

Obviously, CloudyDayz believes that the illegal drug cartels and other illegal growers shouldn't have to, which makes one question: whose side is he on?

And... cartels and other breaking environmental laws on their illegal farms probably already feel that they pay taxes given that they're probably enriching some deep local pockets.

[WestGuest]

Oh no using water to grow pot. Umm they can go to coastal Oregon where there is too much water. Next someone will complain that after a person smokes -they get thirsty and will drink even more water and there just wont be enough to drink because those pot smokers used it all.


Get real - farming makes the cheap land in Southern Oregon worth something. it creates jobs and is good for the economy. I consider that area a wasteland so any economic growth is appreciated.

[Metlakatla]

Another one that didn't read or understand the article.

This isn't about legal farming. The kind of activity described does not promote local jobs or otherwise "help the economy." And if you consider Southern Oregon a "wasteland," you've never seen it.

BTW, it ain't your mother's coastal Oregon anymore. Newport ran out of water last summer.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by pathrunner

He says he read it but even if he did actually read it he doesn't agree and will never agree. He just keep skirting the issue.

The issue isn't the "War on Drugs." The issue isn't "legalizing drugs."

The issue is forcing the illegal cartels to adhere to good environmental practices, pay their taxes and behave like normal citizens.

Obviously, CloudyDayz believes that the illegal drug cartels and other illegal growers shouldn't have to, which makes one question: whose side is he on?

And... cartels and other breaking environmental laws on their illegal farms probably already feel that they pay taxes given that they're probably enriching some deep local pockets.

The issue IS about the War on Drugs. The War on Drugs has always been about fighting illegal drugs. Since 1971 when Richard Nixon declared the War on Drugs, well over $1 trillion has been spent fighting this war and it has been a colossal failure. Since it started, illegal drugs use has not only not decreased but it has skyrocketed.

Oregonians have been the biggest opponents to the War on Drugs since it started. No other state has been less on board for it. It is in the culture of this state. Your chances of bringing prohibition back to Oregon, would be better then your chances of rekindling the War on Drugs here. A snowball's chance in hell.

[pathrunner]

Originally Posted by WestGuest

Oh no using water to grow pot. Umm they can go to coastal Oregon where there is too much water. Next someone will complain that after a person smokes -they get thirsty and will drink even more water and there just wont be enough to drink because those pot smokers used it all.


Get real - farming makes the cheap land in Southern Oregon worth something. it creates jobs and is good for the economy. I consider that area a wasteland so any economic growth is appreciated.

^^Another one who didnt (refused) to read the article.

[pathrunner]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

The issue IS about the War on Drugs. The War on Drugs has always been about fighting illegal drugs. Since 1971 when Richard Nixon declared the War on Drugs, well over $1 trillion has been spent fighting this war and it has been a colossal failure. Since it started, illegal drugs use has not only not decreased but it has skyrocketed.

Oregonians have been the biggest opponents to the War on Drugs since it started. No other state has been less on board for it. It is in the culture of this state. Your chances of bringing prohibition back to Oregon, would be better then your chances of rekindling the War on Drugs here. A snowball's chance in hell.

No, it is not. Read the article. Comprehend the article.

This is not about me. It's about respecting the environment and paying taxes.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by pathrunner

No, it is not. Read the article. Comprehend the article.

This is not about me. It's about respecting the environment and paying taxes.

Well you got one thing half right anyway. It's about taxes, but not about paying taxes. Rather about not paying taxes for a stupid War on Drugs that can never be won, ever.

Oregonians are not interested in paying taxes for drug enforcement. This is nothing new. As a matter of fact most Oregonians are not particularly interested in paying taxes for law enforcement in general. That's why while the rest of the country is debating whether or not to defund the police, Oregon has been doing it for the last 40 years. And the results are pretty damn good. Instead of it costing the state money, it makes the state money.