I don't think you understand why most people voted for the arts tax. It's because a LOT of schools were about to lose arts programs. If science programs were in the same danger, put it on the ballot and I'll vote for that too. But they're not.

I wish the RACC hadn't gotten a chunk of the arts tax money, not because I dislike the RACC but because most of us were far more concerned about the schools than unidentifiable chunks of metal being placed around town.

Wow, you hate Portland. Leave. There are plenty of cities more focused on $$ and iPads. Go to San Jose, bro.

Yeah....so, about all those science programs being cut in schools...

No one in my daughters kindergarten class is a hipster.

I AGREE- My daughter is taking forensics at school. The class cost me $175.00 for her to take it. I didn't find out about it until her second day of school (i paid it, because she specifically had her eye on that class all summer) But, 4 students who probably did as well, were taken out of the class because their parents couldn't afford it.

I get that Art is important, but no one takes art unless they feel the love of a specific art form. And when that happens, 9 out of 10, they are already good at it, and are able to continue seeking ways to better themselves.

You dont just wake up one day and realize you're (in my daughters case) good at forensics, you have to be taught. One of the four students that got kicked out of that class, my daughter tutors. Weekly she's asking my daughter what they are doing in that class.. It's like her little heart is missing out on something. But, in light of it all; it is really good to know that the guy next to her, who's really good at guitar hero, can play a guitar in band for two years and never do anything with it, except beat his high score. So..........

Portland needs to figure out other ways to address problems besides voting for more taxes to hand to incompetent local governments.

We just voted for higher taxes so that Metro can maintain the properties that we voted for higher taxes so they could buy, but somehow couldn't foresee that they would have to maintain without asking us to raise our taxes some more.

The local governments look at you idiots as stupid, vacant-eyed milk cows. And every time they sidle up to you, you give more milk.

The last time we raised our taxes was in November. Literally just six months ago. Next will be a parks levy. And they KNOW that you will vote yes - there is literally zero political downside or risk to coming to milk us again.

God this town is so fucking stupid. More academic intelligence than we could possibly need, but next to no practical intelligence.

lawl

Portland votes no on fluoride; then votes yes on raising taxes.

I wish the art hipsters would just slit their wrists and get it over with already.

IT isn't really science. What's needed in Portland, if Portland is to survive, however, are creative minds with knowledge and experience in mathematics, physics, geology, engineering, construction, and agriculture, who can make this city Earth quake proof, energy and food production self sufficient, pending an EMP and the long over due, 9.2. Let the economists and MBAss' figure out how many jobs this life saving project will create.

"We just voted for higher taxes so that Metro can maintain the properties that we voted for higher taxes so they could buy, but somehow couldn't foresee that they would have to maintain without asking us to raise our taxes some more." lmao right? That is fucking awesome!

Don't tax to bullet proof Portland, let private enterprise invest the capital, or else let Portland perish. No more boondoggles, like the Library, OHSU Tram, PSU Recreation Center, Killing baseball for Soccer stadium rip off, DMV software glitch, copy cat Water Bureau software glitch, ...what am I leaving out, here?

I know someone who got married in the Tram. It didnt help with the financial making of it, but the investment behind it was worth it, because it was really romantic, and in the paper so people could read and forget about it the next day. "Adopt A Wedding" tax.

Really? REALLY?

REALLY????

It's like a group of hip young folks pointing to a similarly dressed/same demographic group of hip young folks and saying LOOK AT THOSE FUCKING HIPSTERS UGH!

Bitching about hipsters is generationally provincial. Seriously, this is getting fucking stupid.

Go back to Reddit, you science elitist!

I agree because I liked my science teachers way more than my art teachers.

It's too bad that Portland State University, with all of it's doctors can't figure out a way to enable Portland to survive an EMP or a 9.2, but then again, it is located right on top of the West Hills Fault. Not only do they not Earth quake proof the buildings, or move, they keep condemning more buildings to occupy downtown, thus removing even more property from the tax roles as the school increases the amount of it's need for tax revenues.

If it was a science tax, your rant would've been "OMG WHY?!?!? WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS AN ART TAX!!! ART RULES!!!! RADIOHEAD!"

Typical liberal Portlandy bullshit, vote for the hippie agenda then balk when you have to pony up the money to fund it. "But I thought Mitt Romney types had to pay for all my bullshit art teachers?"

You can easily make the argument that schools are under-funded on a variety of topics, and I think people would understand this (except for the PERS perks, etc) But this tax costs one heck of a lot more than other taxes just to collect and distribute. A lot of silly overhead. This was a foolish idea to begin with. And aren't we second-guessing how the school board allocates its' funds too?

I haven't paid taxes in years. I just now looked this up to figure out what the Art Tax really is; an INCOME tax? You mean now you have to file an income tax with the City of Portland? Fuck that shit. It's bad enough when you tell the State of Orygun how much you earn. The City has no business knowing anything about my finances. Try and get it, shitheads!

Whoa there, j.cas --

Your comment is funny, as is often the case, but don't you dare use Radiohead's name in vain ever again, you impertinent cuss!

'In Rainbows', 'Hail To The Thief', 'OK Computer' -- music just doesn't get much better than that.

Alright then. What were we talking about again?

Let's not forget that the arts tax pays for stuff that isn't arts-in-schools-- like a $100k for an RACC executive's salary, various art projects that don't necessarily keep the money in Oregon, and handouts for the opera and symphony. Is this the bill you voted for? I bet you didn't even read it.

The benefit to schools was an afterthought. Stop using "the children" as ransom.

You're right, Chunty, they didn't read it. Sam knew they wouldn't read it.

Well, guess what folks..this Portlander for one is in favor of the Radiohead Tax.

I mean we all paid the Quarterflash Tax back in the early 80s--and look what that did for agreeable soft rock music. Though there was a lot of extra medical bills locally from arteries clogging and coronary bypasses after people took "Harden my Heart" a little too literally.

Judging by the fluoride vote, I think people here need more training in sciences rather than arts anyway.
Specifically to learn to discern junk science from real science.