Rees Lloyd: Guide HORSES on Tri Met???

January 27, 2011

SHARE
Excuse me,  I’m new to Portlandia. I need your help in interpreting Portland’s progressive governmental rulers.
I read the Zero’s page 1, lead story today on “TriMet beefs up rules on fare fraud,” i.e., by requiring seniors to have photo identification if they use “honored citizen” passes. 
The article included  the following:
“TriMet says the change is part of its ongoing efforts to update codes and operate smarter. On Wednesday. for example, the agency’s board of directors voted to ban electronic cigarettes and officially recognize guide horses as service animals.”
“Guide horses”? On “TriMet”?
How does that work?
I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a “guide horse.”
Nor did I know that guide horses use the TriMet. 
Where do they sit?
How is recognition of “guide horses as service animals” evidence of operating TriMet “smarter”?
And “electronic cigarettes,” what is the problem? Second hand “electronic non-smoke” ? 
Why is it bad? Does it affect guide horses?
Where do the guide horses go when they are on the TriMet and have to “go”?
Is that less annoying then electronic non-smoke?
Are the guide horses on TriMet eating organic grain that could be eaten by that anonymous child “who went to bed last night without supper” that the food fascists are talking about in advising they are going decide what food citizens like me can eat? 
I want to understand  Portlandian Progressive Governance (and distinguish from plain old European-style democratic socialism)  and I need help processing this information. I hope Victoria Taft listeners or readers can help me to understand these manifestations of liberal progressive governance. 
Meanwhile, I ‘m going to comfort myself by rushing to the local supermarket and buying up all the brownies, cookies, and non-organic fat-rich tasty good stuff before the food fascists attack and remove it in their zeal to govern other people’s lives 
Please advise.
–Rees
Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com