Evolution

[Kai Wallin]

What is the biggest challenge you face in making it work in Jefferson County?

[Rev.Raikes]

Honestly...it's mostly me. Of course there is the usual resistance to change and new ideas/faces in the marketplace, but I haven't fully taken advantage of the resources to starting my own business. I graduated with an AA in Business Administration, but never put my knowledge of creating a plan to work and going out to get a loan.

If it weren't for a little luck and bugging every contact (read that as friends, mentors, colleagues) I had and joining local groups, I wouldn't have the job I now have. That's the best advice I could give: join stuff, make connections, learn new things and turn your hobby into a passion.

[Shelby Alexis Smith]

I think right now my biggest challenge is finding good, affordable health insurance. I'm really pretty comfortable working here and there, engaging in cool projects as they come along and getting by on odds and ends...but someday soon I'd like to start a family. I make too much money to receive subsidized health insurance, and I don't make enough to be able to comfortably afford to buy a decent plan on my own. Are there other models out there? What about a local cooperative? For those of us who are comfortable being a little more entrepreneurial, a little less in the traditional career path, health care is a difficult piece to pull into place. I don't know the ins and outs of creating an alternative for folks like me, but it seems like there's got to be a decent option out there somewhere.

[alison sneed]

The health insurance issue is a national problem but in Jefferson county there are fewer employers that offer it, also making it a local issue. It's incredibly important in this election year to pay attention to the candidates at all levels and vote for the ones whose platform includes a workable national healthcare policy that takes for- profit healthcare out of the hands of the insurance companies. We have as our model many other countries who have national healthcare already in place. It's not like we have to reinvent the wheel.

[Matthew Adair Orr]

Mass transportation seems scheduled for the nine to fivers heading into Port Townsend, but I've never had nor would want a nine to five job and I'm sure there are a lot of us out there who would love to utilize the bus system if there were earlier runs. I want to rid myself of the need of personal automotive transportation.

[Kyle Alm]

Jefferson County isn't set up for people to work. It is a playground for the lazy rich and retired.

My biggest obstacle is transportation. Getting to and from the larger metro areas where the goods and services are. Plus it is expensive to be so far off the beaten track.

I am also feeling the health insurance problem, I can get insurance through my broker, but I don't know how good of a value it is. Premiums are high, deductible is high, what am I paying for exactly?

[Rev.Raikes]

As one of the lazy, rich and retired, I am highly offended...
actually, things couldn't be farther from the truth. I can't really disagree with you on any of the points you made. These are dark days indeed.

How do we counter-act this stasis, though? I'd like to be all cheery and say that we can do it by pulling up our boots and jumping in, but it's hard.

As far as living in the boonies, I do too. I think if we had something that was bike-able, like a small market between tiny-towns and the Tri-Area/PT, it would be at least a little easier on the pocket-book.
For services, I think it's more palatable to people to contact a company than individuals. Maybe people can start virtual companies through this movement and start providing needed things to the far-flung areas (I can never get a furnace guy out to where I live).

[Jesse Thomas]

The virtual company idea is great, and so is a tangible company that makes furniture or whatnot.
We here folks seem to be very educated, intelligent, compasionate people. We have the talents to bring more kick ass jobs to the area by starting our own companies, or even by soliciting outside companies or investors to set up here.
We are not in the boonies, we live on the shipping lanes to the pacific ocean!
And with a virtual company setting up here is benefitial in that it has the quality of life standard, which = happier employees and more creativity.
Org's like the Organic seed alliance, Copper canyon, Wooden boat school, etc., are progressive little companies with super intentions and contributions to our economy and in many ways, the world.
Imagine a quasi chamber-of-commerce set up to encourage sustainable, progressive micro-companies to come set up here.

[Blair]

I do agree about the gentrification of our county, and it becoming a "playground" so to speak. However, what goods and services are offered elsewhere, and not here? I've found it fairly easy to acquire the goods I need locally, and if not, online.

[Rob Sanderson]

Making it work? I wish that I, or any of my friends that live and work hard in PT - without parental assistance or access to their wallets - could afford to buy land/house here in PT. Like in town! Not in the surrounding area - which is beautiful - but here in PT. I don't have one friend that could buy a house in town on their own accord... And they are working fulltime jobs with a stout skill - they could go elsewhere and buy, cause they'd make more and there are options. Our city council is designing the future of this town. Name a town that can survive without young people doing the young people jobs, and bringing future vision and filling in the gaps when the oldies retire? When you live in a town, work hard in a town but can't afford to buy in a town - you don't feel like that town is appreciative of the work you to. We ain't passin thru! We live here.

[Gabriel Bernier]

Hey, i kinda wanted to reply to shelby's comment about health care: any models for cooperative buying of health care plans, i mean, have other communities looked into parroting the increasingly obsolete company policy model? people don't stay with company very long anymore. what about a group of thirty community members going in on a policy?
~gabriel
ps. i know i don't live in jefferson county, but i'm trying to look beyond the invisible wall...
and oh, biggest challenge to living just west of jeffco.: not breaking bones while i'm riding my bike between aggressive car drivers (no health insurance)... and staving off the naysaying...

[Kai Wallin]

Let's start our own cooperative health care plan! How hard can it be? My mom's a nurse, I'll start by asking her. As for bike safety, I think some Critical Mass action could get the wheels rolling toward more bike lanes and even better, paths completely free of petroleum hogs altogether. (It's First Friday of the month in PT, what about PA?) Finally, just say no to the Negative Nancys! It's time to show this wonderful peninsula just how much you can do with a little energy, enthusiasm and CAN DO attitude. For example, the First Annual Jamestown S'klallam Food for our Futures Summit!?! Anyone??

[Matthew Tyler]

My biggest challenge is finding a person with a great attitude, willing to learn and work hard to be a part of our great County Parks and Recreation Parks Maintenance Crew and have a steady job at $14/hour. Will train the right person.