ORegon Health Authority wanders into grocery store merger

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Harney County (Oregon) Circuit Court Judge Raschio rules that Measure 114 is unconstitutional.  This state judge decision over-rides the earlier Federal Court ruling saying Measure 114 is constitutional.  Gun Owning groups are appealing this lower Federal Court decision to the 9th Circuit of Appeals.  But for now, Measure 114, which attempted to substantially restrict gun ownership in Oregon, is dead.

The 9th Circuit seems to have become a lot less liberal in the last few years than traditionally is its nature. So, it is conceivable the 9th Circuit Court could overturn the lower federal court, and also declare Measure 114 as illegal.  I believe if Measure 114 ever reaches the U.S Supreme Court it will also be struck down as well (permanently).

The state of Oregon Attorney General (A.G.) Rosenblaum states she intends to appeal the Harney Circuit Court ruling against Measure 114.  The appeal would probably be heard in Marion County instead of a rural area county like Harney.

That the first state court case is heard in Harney County probably favored those suing to kill Measure 114.  In sparsely populated counties like Harney people can't depend on timely police response to threats against their safety.

That the appeal is by the state Attorney General probably means the appeals court will be faster at hearing the appeal, rather than the slower year(s) long appeal process when private and lower rank persons are appealing a lower court decision.

From the polling data I read, Oregon gun ownership seems to be close to 50% of the population.  Maybe this reflects why Measure 114 passed voter approval by the slimiest of margins (50.7% said yes to Measure 114).  With the recent Hamas attacks against innocent Israelis and with the U.S open border, gun ownership is probably over 50% in Oregon by now.

Here's the link to Oregon Public Broadcasting's (OPB's) reporting on Measure 114 being struck down:

Oregon judge rules that voter-approved Measure 114 gun safety law violates the state constitution - OPB

(posted by Elvis Clark on November 23, 2023)

Measure 114, which is barely approved by Oregon voters in last November's election, requires an FBI fingerprint for those wanting to purchase a gun and yet the FBI does not generally fingerprint people wanting to purchase a firearm.  The above statewide Sheriff Association's' legal guidance is prompted because an anti-gun federal circuit court judge approved Measure 114 as constitutional.  This M114 judicial decision is being appealed to the ninth Circuit Court of Appeals - which has become a little less liberal in recent years than in its notorious past (so, there is hope of restoring the right to bear arms in Oregon).

Here's the link to the Oregon State Sheriffs Association letter counseling sheriffs to not issue permits for gun purchase:   Guidance for Law Enforcement Agencies on Enforcement of Measure 114 (oregonfirearms.org) 

(posted by Elvis Clark on September 1, 2023)

I do notice a significant presence of gay and lesbian couples living in the Milwaukie and Portland area.  For Oregon's more urban areas, I suspect the percentage is probably greater than the state-wide average of 5.6%. 

(source of map above:    

Movement Advancement Project | LGBT Populations (lgbtmap.org) )

Oregon's relatively high percentage of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) peoples probably changes the dynamics of Oregon's government policies significantly.  In some ways, the state and Metro areas see positive economic growth from being most friendly in policy towards LGBTQ people - providing one tool for growing Oregon's population.  Then too, minorities such as LGBTQ can be the swing vote in capturing the reins of power.  For instance, Oregon's current governor identifies as Lesbian.  And the Governor won by less than 5% over the more traditional candidate in the last Governor's election.

I suspect some of the LGBTQ movement is cyclical.  For instance, yesterday I had lunch with a relatively young transgender couple with one a biological female transgendered to male and the other a biological male transgendered to female.  I got to wondering later whether these two people are not motivated to change their sex because of the need to break from the conformity of the traditional roles of biological male and female. 

 At a certain point, though, I can see that the novelty of being different such as in this case could very well fade.  Then maybe the need to dress or alter physical appearances with drugs and surgery, maybe fades for such couples.  Then maybe such couples can more simply be truer to the organics of their biology (at birth) while breaking from the more traditional roles simultaneously.

Another wild thought that has come to me lately is that how Artificial Intelligence could radically change our culture.  Just imagine a female sex robot for heterosexual males.  Keeping peace among couples is difficult as illustrated by the relatively high level of divorce in modern times.  Many guys only marry for the sex.  But what if Artificial Intelligence incorporated into a well-endowed female robot becomes much more real, then I can see some males forgoing marriage to (or partnering with) with a biological female - instead doing their business with a female sex robot.  

And most definitely there are females who don't want the complications of dealing with their male counterparts.  So, wow.  The future could be one of extreme solitude, with sexual needs satisfied by visits to a virtual world.

Finally, I hope one day that people don't get extra points for stating their sexual preferences.  

(posted by Elvis Clark on August 20, 2023)

So, there are only minor injuries and some property damage as a result of Antifa and the Proud Boys showing up at a park in Oregon City and squaring off in June of 2021.  And for this the Proud Boy in the photo above is sentenced to over 7 plus years in prison!  Really?  This sentence seems more like it is meant to send a message to right wing groups to stand down always.  Only one Antifa member is scheduled for trial, stemming from this Oregon City staged riot, with September '23 the court date.  We shall see what, if any, sentence this Antifa member comes away with.

Here's a link to KGW's initial coverage of the Oregon City riot:    

Fight between Proud Boys, antifa leads to riot in Oregon City | kgw.com

Here's a link to the Oregon Catalyst reporting on the Antifa member trial:

  Portland Antifa leader faces trial in Clackamas County | The Oregon Catalyst

(posted by Elvis Clark on August 7, 2023)

I think Adams' is making a very good point.  Our current state of wokeness is Marx like as it views the world as one of oppressor and victim classes.  This is the Race Filter on the left side just above.  If you are minority, do you really think you can be your best if your tack is to blame others for your being disadvantaged?  Except for those who make a living at race baiting (Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, for instance), you are likely to turn off a potential employer or opportunity by pushing your grievances and wanting payback.

You as a minority are more likely to succeed by doing the things on the right above (called the Personal Success Filter).  Be optimistic that you can overcome systemic Race conditions, and show yourself as improving the world (as to oppose to looking at the world as largely fixed).

Another biggy on the Personal Success Filter is to Network, establishing relations with a broad array of people.  You just never know how someone in your network might have an opportunity for you to advance.

I like Adams' outline for making for better race relations in our country.  Concentrate on individuality rather than class.

(posted by Elvis Clark on March 18, 2023)

IP 12 is now collecting signatures to try to qualify for the November 2024 General Election.  In the above photo at the very top shows a schematic example of Star voting. Notice that a mediocre candidate not preferred by either wings of liberal and conservative parties, scoring all threes for instance, can end up winning the final election.  Whereas in the existing two party system, one of the two liberal (Democrat) and conservative (Republican) primary winner candidates usually end up winning the final general election.

I believe star voting would end up favoring the Democrats over the Republicans, as two Democrats would likely come out of the first of two rounds in Star voting.  In other words, two Democrats would end up running against each other in the final of the two rounds of elections.

(posted by Elvis Clark on January 27, 2023)