FUN WITH THE LOONY LEFT PART II

Well, I got some response to my comments yesterday at the website I mentioned, BlueOregon.com

Someone responded that Wal-Mart creates sprawl, but when pressed they couldn't give a satisfactory answer to how sprawl, defined as uncontrolled development, is controlled in Oregon by a UGB, even though one might not like the type of development that's occurring.

It's clear that by "sprawl," at least in Oregon, opponents of Wal-Mart really mean "development I personally don't like." UGH.

Here's the link for a continuation of the dialog. I made the point this morning that since the Supreme Court has ok'd governments taking private property to benefit a private developer (under the thin veneer of "economic development"), and since our urban growth boundary has helped push land prices sky high, lower-income individuals living in mobile home parks are threatened with homelessness because their largest asset - their homes - are in jeopardy.

So I pose the question, what's worse: more traffic from a Wal-Mart OR hundreds of people threatened with being homeless because of too-restrictive land-use rules in Orygun?

FUN WITH THE LOONY LEFT PART I

I'm not pleased about today's Supreme Court decision that allows municipalities to seize private property for the purposes of economic development that benefit private parties. It's terrible interpretation of the Constitution and frankly, it just emboldened powerful land owners and their corrupt city partners.

So, to get rid of some of my frustration, I'm going to have some fun with the unhinged opponents of "Sprawl-Mart" or as normal, thinking people call them, Wal-Mart. Yeah, they're big, cheap and buy a lot from China. So what? We all do. But a meme has gathered steam to the effect that Wal-Mart is the root of all evil. In some places they've accelerated the decline of the local economy, but in other areas they're just like any other big box retailer if you really look into it.

Well, a local website BlueOregon.com had one of these unhinged Wal-Mart activists talk about how a proposed Wal-Mart in Gresham, Oregon needs to be opposed because Wal-Marts cause sprawl. That's clearly impossible as Oregon cities literally have lines drawn around them, called Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs), that restrict development outside of the boundary. So how, exactly, does Wal-Mart cause sprawl with a store well within the boundary? Who knows.. but the guy who wrote this screed apparently does.

Below the article, I wrote a critical comment and I'm curious to see what kind of response to this I get:

Posted by: Bill | June 23, 2005 03:57 PM

Can someone please explain to me exactly how Wal-Mart causes sprawl in Oregon when it must abide by Oregon's land-use planning regs, including urban growth boundaries which restrict expansion, among other things.

Since technically you can't have sprawl when there's literally a line drawn around what can be developed and keeping everything else off-limits, what exactly does the unhinged opposition mean by sprawl?
Traffic?
Development in general?

It seems to me that if individuals support a UGB and all related planning to make a place more "liveable" (whatever the hell that means), one needs to get used to the idea that things are going to be crammed in more densely - including Wal-Mart.

Here goes nothing!

HAPPY BELATED 30TH BIRTHDAY TO TOM

It seems he had a nice birthday on the 30th. Here's his summary of the festivities:

Yeah, we had a pretty good party. Most of Kate's family, some friends from work and Chris were there.. We got to meet some of the new neighbors too, so that was good. We have two retired people, a stay at home mom and her husband, and a veterinarian and her husband living next door to us. Yeah, i talked to mom and Andi yesterday morning. They called around 8am just as I was getting up. And dad called me yesterday (seems mom reminded him it was yesterday and not today!).

YES, I'VE BEEN BAD ABOUT POSTING

I've been quite busy. To the left is a new photo of Gabriel, courtesy of his Gramma Dianne. As time allows, I'll post.

GABRIEL A FUSSY EATER

He's just coming out of a fussy eating phase where all he'd eat was either milk or little rice-based snack crackers flavored with juice. The doctor wanted to see him, but ended up not being worried because he's still gaining weight. Just a phase I guess.. lately he's been blowing out the cabinet of food of all sorts.

Lately, though, he's enjoyed fresh strawberries and boysenberries from our garden. Last night, we sat down and ate a peach together. He opens wide and bites right in and gnaws the thing to death, but he loves it.

He's in the beginning stages of trying to stand. And when assisted by holding an adult's hands, he'll walk all around the house non-stop until your back gives out. Plus, he loves to give kisses - but sneaks a bite in every now and then <NO BITING!>

Other developments: he's pulling himself up in his bed or by grabbing a table. He's pulled himself up by grabbing my hands for a long time now. He sits up on his own and loves to roll all around the floor after Nino.

Finally, and most impressively, the little guy is already demonstrating a fascination with bugs. When held in front of his bedroom curtains, decorated with all manner of colorful, cartoon garden bugs, if he's asked to pick out the ladybug he'll grab for it every time. Smart little guy.