The man is running for governor and this article is an attempt to discredit him as a candidate for governor, not as a representative of the Blazers. IT IS PURE POLITICS and has nothing to do with the Blazers. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

It saddens me this sight can be used for political purposes, especially after what Dave wrote yesterday.

election was a positive. Off the top of my head, former Minn. Gov. Jesse Ventura comes to mind as one such example. Though, in the interest of being open and honest, I’m a libertarian who’s pleased when like-minded people find success on a political level. So yeah, I’m openly biased in that regard.

Wanting lower taxes does not correlate to wanting NO taxes. You seem to be taking an issue that comes in shades of gray and trying to polarize it into black and white. I’m pretty sure just about everyone here sees the value and neccessity of paying taxes. However being willing to pay taxes shouldn’t mean we’re expected to be willing to hand the government whatever they amount of money they think they want. Is it really so unreasonable to expect our government to use our money wisely instead of wasting it? If we see the government flush vast quantities of money down the toilet is it wrong to want public servants that will correct the error? (Please don’t interpret that as a plug for dudley, because its not, that’s a general question).

To use your quote:

the role of the government to ensure the welfare of the people- FDR

I ask you this: Is it in the best interests of the “welfare of the people” for the government to spend money irresponsibly? To take the money we entrust them with and then waste it? To take so much of individual citizens’ resources that it cripples their ability to participate in the economy on their terms?

I would think that someone who looks at what the government does, e.g. sees that when they give the government $Z and the government spends it on necessary things $X and wastes $Y then says “Hey! You’re wasting my money! Why should I give you $Z when you only need $X!” and then tries to get taxes lowered to $X is better than someone who says “I’m proud to pay taxes! Here’s $Z, buy yourself a nice jet when you’re done paving my road!”

Again, I don’t think this is a black and white. It’s a gray, and like most things in life, there needs to be balance, not some dramatic swing one way or the other.
P.S. federal budget. just for fun. and by fun I mean ouch.

or, the Bush Crime Family

filled with lobbyists, special interest groups, multinational corporations, et cetera. That doesn’t just apply to Chris Dudley, though, but also John Kitzhaber; it’s pick your poison. Yet, if I lived in Oregon, I’d cast my vote for Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Wes Wagner. I, however, live in Washington, so alas.