What I said for Autism Day at the Oregon Capitol Senate

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Erg. No, that isn't why. Starbucks is not a major employer, and hasn't been for a few years. Microsoft is, certainly; but it's far from our only major industry. There's also Boeing, Valve, Amazon, Adobe, and Weyerhaeuser. We also have multiple major biotech and other technology-focussed industries.

There are numerous reasons why Washington State is more economically powerful overall than Oregon or Idaho, it's near neighbors. Our economy diversified widely some time back; while Oregon remained much more dependent on agriculture, wood products, and other natural resources. Most of Oregon's high-tech industry went out with the dotcom bust, and much of the support infrastructure went with it, making it less attractive to newer high-tech companies than California or Washington State. Washington also maintains a much stronger link with overseas economies, particularly Japan, Korea, and more recently China; and hosts the US branches of many major Japanese and Korean corporations, most notably Nintendo USA. We also have a political climate that has been more consistently favourable to business; and new businesses/entrepreneurs in particular. Despite Oregon's heavy spending on education, they still lack the educational stature of their northern neighbor, with only 1 nationally ranked university, and few outstanding smaller schools. Washington, by contrast, has 4 nationally ranked universities, most notably the University of Washington and Washington State University; the former with multiple highly ranked programs including computer science, medicine, biotechnology, and business. There are also multiple smaller schools with well-regarded programs in art, music, science, and law. Of course, we also have one which has become something of a national joke as well.

Also, to correct the previous poster, Washington is geographically nowhere near identical to Oregon. In fact, it's one of the most unusual states in the entire US.

Well, if we're going to be all pedantic about it, it is well to note that the region doing relatively well economically is in fact the Puget Sound area. Much of eastern Washington is being hard hit by the current recession; several counties have unemployment levels exceeding 12%. It's only the excellent-by-comparison Puget Sound region, particularly Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties, that pulls the average up to "acceptable".

actually, I just didn't care to have that discussion in this thread, Luchog. Thanks.

Merle

Yay, Merle!! !

Kudos. :O)

You go Merle!

And Boeing IIRC

EDIT: and Portland metro area isn't as large as the Seattle on IIRC.

EDIT 2: Oh, no discussion here. k

Edit One yeah, Portland is a smaller metro area, for sure
Edit Two, oh, . . K, then.

Well said, Merle ! !
Good for you going out in public like that to be an activist ! !

(I practically live in a cave and only go out when I must ! !)

I bow to you Merle.

WOO-HOO Merle.
You are wonderful.

thanks for all you do. You touch a great many of us across the globe.

What equipment would you need? Do you just need a projector? Or a laptop? Or are you talking more low-tech like a whiteboard and easel or something?

the other testifiers had made a DVD with graphics and music and snippets of home videos. The woman I testified with had an IPhone (she is NLD) and talked through that. Matter of fact, that was the only question they had of us "What is that device?".

Merle

as only a southern gentleman can! Thank you for your support Maddino87.

thank you millie, I wall so much of that off like the good little Aspie I am, and focus on the torment and opinions given by those that would be destructive to our WrongPlanet. I really appreciate words to the contrary so I may restore and refresh my efforts to keep WP a place where we all want to be.

Across the globe. sheesh, who knew? (shakes head in wonder)

Merle

We must maintain positivity Merle. We must strive and try for what is good and fair and kind and balanced. We can all be inspiring role models for each other. I am learning this here on WP.

I naturally tend towards negativity, but I have learned the more i challenge this in myself, the more i find meaning in life and in the wonders of the world.

You do a good job.

and yeah - across the globe......