StatesmanJournal correctly notes in their recent editorial that while Oregon politicians blame Washington for the collapse of the CRC project, in point of fact the blame resides with - Oregon politicians, who early on adopted a "my way or no way" attitude rather than seeking compromise and actually listening to opponents. Certainly, the comments of supporters in the many articles discussing the CRC bear them out: the supporters are always, without fail, superiorists who resort to referring to Vancouver residents as "Vantucky" or "Hooverville" residents. It's astoundingly immature, and demonstrably unproductive.
Most of the semi-trucks that wait for hours to get onto Interstate 5, and then to cross the Columbia heading north, are carrying Oregon products. Their freight might be nursery stock, agricultural produce or manufactured goods from the Willamette Valley; fish from the coast; lumber from the hills; or grain and other items from Eastern Oregon.
Meanwhile, most of the commuters caught in congestion — or delayed when the I-5 Interstate Bridge’s lifts are in the “up” position — are heading to Oregon worksites.
As a result, the Oregon economy suffers due to delays and increased costs.
After all, the commuters from Clark County generally work in Washington County's high-tech industries, meaning that they pay a lot in Oregon income taxes. And those commuters don't want light rail. Rather than listening, Portland politicians like former mayor Sam Adams and gov. Retread repeatedly told them: No light rail, no bridge. No kidding.
It's never a good idea to attempt to dictate to residents of another state. Yet, stubbornly and stupidly, that's exactly what they tried to do. They made it abundantly clear that there would be no negotiation, no compromise. And in so doing, they killed the CRC.
And that's yet another reason to kick gov. Retread to the curb in the coming election cycle.
