Author: ~ Paul Berg ~~ Paul Berg ~ Date: Aug 1, 2007 10:11
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From The Hillsboro (Oregon) Argus - July 31, 2007
Webster's Dictionary defines a hypocrite as "a person who acts in
contradiction to his or her stated beliefs."
Roget's Thesaurus lists these synonyms for hypocrite: charlatan, cheat,
con man, deceiver, fake, four-flusher, fraud, phony, quack, shyster.
None of these words seems adequately diabolical to capture the duplicity
of the City of Portland "smart growthers" who last week jubilantly cut
the ribbon on Portland's newest dreaded big box store.
While there is absolutely nothing wrong with big box stores in the minds
of most, Portland's leaders have long decried them as inappropriate for
their little left-wing utopia on the Willamette.
Utter "Wal-Mart" in a group of Portland politicians and they will shun
you as they melt Wizard-of-Oz-witch style into a horrified heap.
Yet, substitute the American company with a Swedish big box furniture
emporium, hang a sign on their building the size of Connecticut (another
violation of smart-growthers' sensibilities), and top it off with the
automobile hater's equivalent of hell on earth (1200 parking spaces),
and Portland's politicians will scurry to celebrate your arrival.
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