Once celebrated for its natural beauty and pioneering spirit, Oregon now finds itself plagued by deep, worsening crises that no local lawmaker can fix as these are brought on by state enacted polices. With a Democratic supermajority ruling the legislature for years, many hoped bold, compassionate leadership would usher in a golden era for the people. But instead, Oregonians have watched with growing frustration as critical issues have spiraled out of control.
The issues that Oregonians face are serious and they continue to worsen. From Homelessness, Drug Addiction and a Failing School System our state is in serious decline and it is not a result of any local lawmaker but by a series of failed policy experiments brought on by the democratic supermajority at the state level. The question begs itself how can we expect our local lawmakers to solve the very issues that were actually created at the state level. Let’s take a closer look at some of these critical issues our community and state are facing.
Chapter 1: Homeless – A Crisis in the Streets
Oregon now ranks among the worst states in the nation for homelessness per capita. In cities like Portland, sprawling tent encampments crowd sidewalks, parks, and freeway overpasses. Once-bustling business districts now struggle under the weight of open drug use, mental illness, and deteriorating public safety. Portland, a democratic stronghold in a state with democratic super-majorities in the house, senate and governorship.
Despite billions allocated to combat homelessness, tangible results remain elusive. Funds vanish into layers of bureaucracy and nonprofit partnerships with little transparency or accountability. The policies, intended to provide housing and dignity, have in many cases enabled a cycle of dependency and neglect.
The super-majority has pushed housing-first models without investing in the mental health and addiction services that are desperately needed. And so, the problem worsens not from lack of compassion, but from lack of competence and policies that worsen the very issues they try to resolve.
Oregon ranks the fourth highest in Homelessness:
Which states have the highest and lowest rates of homelessness?
https://usafacts.org/articles/which-states-have-the-highest-and-lowest-rates-of-homelessness
Does anyone really think that the local lawmakers such as the county commissioners and/or city council can solve an issue created by policies enacted at the state level? They may be able to help ease some of the problem but anyone who thinks they can actually solve our local homeless problem isn’t facing reality.
Further, we are not facing so much a homeless problem as we are facing a “lawlessness” problem as a result of drug addiction which calls for different solutions. It isn’t the struggling mom or pop that is destroying our town, it is career drug addicted vagrants that are destroying our town. We need to start treating this a lawlessness issue. This lawlessness issue needs 24/7 enforcement if we ever want our town back and our safety returned.
Chapter 2: A Statewide Drug Disaster
With the passage of Measure 110 in 2020 heavily supported by Democratic lawmakers Oregon decriminalized small amounts of hard drugs like meth, heroin, and fentanyl. The idea was to treat addiction as a health issue, not a criminal one. But the rollout was a disaster.
Instead of a robust treatment system replacing incarceration, there was little to no infrastructure ready to meet the surge in demand. Overdose deaths soared. Public drug use became normalized. Police reported confusion and frustration. Families grieving lost loved ones were told that “the system” was still ramping up.
Oregon’s drug crisis is now one of the worst in the nation. The well-intentioned policy, passed with support from activists and a legislature unwilling to question its flaws, became a symbol of failed leadership: ideology over reality, politics over people.
Oregon Ranks 12 overall and 3rd in Drug Use and Addiction:
https://wallethub.com/edu/drug-use-by-state/35150
Drug Addiction: A Fatal Experiment
- Oregon made history by passing Measure 110 in Nov 2020, decriminalizing all illicit drugs.
- Instead of robust treatment systems, the state faced overdose rates that soared: from 318 opioid deaths in 2019 to 1,394 in 2023, an increase of over 330%.
- Despite nationwide overdose declines, Oregon’s rates spiked—forcing legislators to recriminalize hard drug possession by September 2024.
Bottom line: A policy driven by ideology over preparation, lacking treatment systems, that led to the state becoming a national overdose hotspot. We wonder why we have a drug addicted homeless population that is terrorizing our town – most likely the decriminalization of drugs has brought every drug addicted user to our state.
Does anyone really think that the local lawmakers such as the county commissioners and/or city council can solve an issue created by policies enacted at the state level?
Chapter 3: Failing the Future: Oregon’s Schools
Oregon’s education system, once a source of pride, now ranks near the bottom nationally. Reading, math, and graduation rates are all below average. Teachers report burnout, student behavioral problems are on the rise, and parents are losing trust.
Despite record-breaking education budgets and increases in per-student spending, the outcomes continue to fall. Instead of focusing on core skills, the system has become increasingly politicized, prioritizing social agendas over foundational learning. Students especially those in low-income and rural communities are the ones paying the price.
Parents feel powerless. Good teachers feel trapped. And the legislature, dominated by one-party rule, continues to throw money at a system without demanding results.
Oregon ranked 45th worst state for school systems:
States with the Best & Worst School Systems (2025)
https://wallethub.com/edu/e/states-with-the-best-schools/5335
Does anyone really think that the local lawmakers such as the county commissioners and/or city council can solve an issue created by policies enacted at the state level?
Conclusion: A State in Decline
The problems Oregon faces are not due to a lack of funding or compassion. They are the result of one-party dominance that has gone unchecked for too long. Without meaningful debate or accountability, policies have been rushed, mismanaged, or ideologically driven with little regard for real-world impact. The supermajority may still control the Capitol, but the people of Oregon are watching and many are ready for change.
Why This Matters
Together, these crises form a portrait of misguided priorities and policy failure:
- One-party dominance allowed policy rollouts without the checks, planning, or bipartisan scrutiny that could have prevented disaster.
- Funding increases have not translated into outcomes homelessness, overdose, and educational achievement keep worsening.
- Politically driven fixes—like self-named “progressive” drug laws—prioritized ideology over infrastructure, and it shows.
It’s time to end one-party rule in Oregon. Decades of control by a single political party have led to worsening homelessness, rising drug addiction, and a struggling education system. Real progress requires balance, accountability, and fresh leadership that puts the people, not politics, first.
