The COMMUNITY SPEAKS – A Hillsboro Herald Feature Column
GUEST COLUMNIST And LOcal Resident – Chris Christensen
In 1892, the emergence of a new “third” political party known as the Populists took America by storm with a grassroots call for equality and justice. The Populist Party platform, among many other proposed reforms, warned Americans that there would be dire consequences of a country mesmerized into worshiping at the “Altar of Mammon.”
Fast forward to the present day, and it’s becoming increasingly evident that the Populist portent – and the corresponding unchecked greed and avarice that underpin this dangerous omen, is leading America – and Oregon – down a precipitous path.

As the proposed multi-billion-dollar Hillsboro expansion plans of corporate behemoth Intel come to light, it’s apparent that the pursuit of corporate economic profits in our own backyard may, indeed, “propose to sacrifice our very homes, lives, and children on the altar of mammon”, therein endangering the very existence of primarily rural, agricultural Washington County.
In the New Testament, in Matthew, 19:24, Jesus’ reminder to us that it is “easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” reveals a profound and fundamental belief about the destructive nature of greed. This warning, rooted in all faith teachings, reminds us that overly excessive wealth and the limitless pursuit of material gain often lead individuals – and corporations – astray from ethical considerations and social responsibility.
Intel’s expansion in Oregon, which, admittedly, is a technological feat, perfectly exemplifies the pitfalls of unchecked corporate power. As one of the largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world, Intel’s growth has indisputably brought immense economic benefits to Hillsboro and the region. However, this expansion has not been without its costs. Reports have surfaced of environmental and climate concerns, including increased water and energy consumption and air pollution, that have been largely overlooked by Oregon legislators in the blind pursuit of economic profit.
By prioritizing the financial gains of influential corporations such as Intel over environmental sustainability and the well-being of local communities in Washington County, these collective actions reflect a dangerous trend of placing Mammon’s altar above the greater good of our State and its residents.
The roots of this unchecked corporate greed can be traced back to the heart of our society, where the pursuit of wealth has been steadfastly glorified and normalized. The media often celebrates the ostentatious lifestyles of the super-rich, perpetuating the illusion that material possessions equate to happiness and success.
As a result, the pursuit of financial gain is often prioritized above compassion, community, and ethical considerations, leading us further away from a harmonious and equitable society. It is up to our leaders in state and local government and the people of Oregon to hold the line on overdevelopment in areas such as rural Washington County.

The prophetic warning from the Populist Party platform in 1892 is a stark modern-day reminder of the dangers of worshiping Mammon’s altar. The health and well-being of Washington County and Oregon depend on a collective commitment to tempering our desires for profit with a strong sense of social responsibility; It’s not a call to abolish capitalism but rather, a plea to thoughtfully infuse it with ethical considerations, prioritizing the welfare of individuals, communities, and the environment over the unchecked accumulation of corporate and government wealth.
To address these issues, a multi-faceted approach is essential. First and foremost, there is a need for greater transparency and accountability within corporate entities. Regulations should be put in place to ensure that corporations prioritize sustainable practices, ethical decision-making, and their societal impact alongside profits. Executive compensation should be tied to performance metrics that encompass not only financial success but also social and environmental responsibility.
Additionally, education and cultural shifts are necessary to redefine success beyond the accumulation of wealth. By celebrating philanthropy, community engagement, and sustainable practices, we can foster a culture that values social responsibility as much as profit. Media outlets play a pivotal role in shaping public perceptions; they must emphasize stories that highlight compassionate and responsible business practices, inspiring a new generation of leaders who will prioritize the greater good.
In conclusion, the warnings of the Populist Party from over a century ago are just as relevant in society today. Worshipping the Altar of Mammon, fueled by unchecked political & corporate greed and avarice, poses an unprecedented and significant threat to the well-being and future of the region.
The proposed expansion of multinational corporate giant Intel in Oregon should serve as another grim reminder to Oregonians of the dire consequences that may result from prioritizing corporate profit over environmental ethics and social responsibility.
Hillsboro, it’s time to re-examine our values, look back to the roots of this region as a thriving agrarian community with rich, fertile soil, realign our priorities, protect our valuable Greenfields from unchecked or irresponsible overdevelopment, and work collectively towards a society that shuns the worship of Mammon, and instead embraces a more compassionate, equitable, and sustainable future for all Oregonians.
Pictured: Intel’s manufacturing facilities in Hillsboro, Oregon, are reportedly about to undergo a significant expansion in operations thanks to quid pro quo political policies such as a $90 million dollar handout from Oregon taxpayers, as well as the federal Chips and Science Act passed in 2022, which allocated more than $280 billion of taxpayer dollars for new funding in domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors in the United States.
This is an article written by Greta Thunberg for non-existent “Monopoly Guy”. Portent, avarice, precipitous used in only the beginning of the essay. As far as the subject matter – what is the combined exploration of airquality monitoring since before Intel and its expansion – namely BullsEye Glass and what has resulted from that oversight mistake – I think not a much of tangable result. What about Oregon businesses fleeing the dangerous homeless/ill-willed tresspassers on their property, or Homeless camps in general that pollute the soil in which we need to grow flowers; there are no Public Bathrooms in Hillsboro or Portland anywhere – why do you think this is OK? Or the triannual sewage runoff into the Willamete. Intel is not the problem, in fact thank you Intel for being in Oregon. The problem is with the City leadership embodying multiple roles in one position, existing plethora of city codes with worker shortage of clean-up crews and machinery to service these crews; and as a result the City in general. The City is understaffed for over a decade now, and somehow we all think this is normal.
I did not write or reearch the story- but I do know that Intel will not allow anyone to monitor the emissions it puts into the air at the source. Based on my reading and reaearch of various Fabs, that sort of monitoring would lead to Government intervention. Intel has been caught not reporting dumping 9 tons of very dangerous flouride gas into the air a few years back and for years prior to that-
https://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/2013/09/intel_has_been_emitting_fluori.html
https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2023/02/intel-emissions-risked-significant-environmental-harm-oregon-regulators-say-because-safety-equipment-was-turned-off-for-9-weeks.html
and the Aloha Fab was so badly contaminated that it is now listed as a superfund clean up site – this is absed on what they put into the ground- https://www.homefacts.com/environmentalhazards/Oregon/Washington-County/Aloha/Superfund-Intel-Corporation-Aloha-Campus-Ord060591963.html
Thank you for your input!
Dirk
Exactly.
You make a lot of good points. Those are issues that also need to be addressed. However, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Those are all issues, AND Intel is allowed to operate, largely unchecked, because of the economic impact they bring to the area. Yes, as a Hillsboro native, I do appreciate some aspects of the change that Intel has brought to the area. But that does not negate the bad. They should have to adhere to the guidelines that have been set in place to keep our area safe. No amount of economic contribution should change that.
You are correct — or at least I strongly agree with you. One need look at the end results of the drive for corporate profits to understand what the greed of a very few people wrought upon us.
1) Cigarettes/Tobacco executives that knew, and covered up, how they were killing us with their products,
2) Ford Pinto and how Ford executives decided that it would save money to allow people to be burned to death rather do a recall and install a very inexpensive piece,
3) Leaded gasoline, tires that pollute leave deadly residues,
4) Horrific cruelty to other species and to humans
6) Global boiling the fossil fuel executives sentencing our children to an ever worsening environment, ill health, an ever worsening standard of life and possibly (literally) extinction.
Thank you for this piece — someone needed to say this and you did a great job!
So, you wrote a lot about an overarching concern but you didn’t share any specifics. As a former, long time Intel employee, I can tell you Intel works hard at being “green”. I wonder if you did any actual research, because you didn’t share any. :\
David –
I did not write or reearch the story- but I do know that Intel will not allow anyone to monitor the emissions it puts into the air at the source. Based on my reading and reaearch of various Fabs, that sort of monitoring would lead to Government intervention. Intel has been caught not reporting dumping 9 tons of very dangerous flouride gas into the air a few years back and for years prior to that-
https://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/2013/09/intel_has_been_emitting_fluori.html
https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2023/02/intel-emissions-risked-significant-environmental-harm-oregon-regulators-say-because-safety-equipment-was-turned-off-for-9-weeks.html
and the Aloha Fab was so badly contaminated that it is now listed as a superfund clean up site – this is absed on what they put into the ground- https://www.homefacts.com/environmentalhazards/Oregon/Washington-County/Aloha/Superfund-Intel-Corporation-Aloha-Campus-Ord060591963.html
And the list goes on – they emit a large amount of glass fiber into the air, 10 times smaller than asbestos. No one monitors the effluent that goes into the sewage systems. Intel employees over the years have reportedly told staff memmbers that the “Solution To Pollution Is Dilution” which was reported in the book Boling Frogs which documents the situation in Corrales and Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The EPA took specific actions against Intel and subsequent reports Correlate complaints and illness of nearby residents with Intel emission events. The company itself has mutliple Fab sin California that are Super Fund sites, all of which are well documented. This is not a “clean” industry as you well know- anyone that works there knows what the emergency and evacuation plans are. IN a catastrophic earthquake or something like an airplane or jet hitting one of the fabs, all bets are off. The emergency plan for that does not exist from what I have been able to research. Intel spends more money on their cleanimage then they do to help our community- in fact outside the jobs they provide, which are menaingful, they have done very little to help towns like Hillsboro whne we view the increase in housing costs, traffic, and the carbon and heat they emit.
ALl sides are welcome here at the Herald and I certainly appreciate yours!
Thank you for your input!
Dirk
Additional reading here- https://www.wc-can.org/issues/IntelDEQ/articles/Jeff%20Radford%20-%20Corrales%20Comment.pdf
I appreciate your response. Intel has created a lot of jobs, but with it, and the influx of people from outside of the area, you are absolutely right. Housing costs, traffic, and all of the other undesirable changes have been hard to deal with. I was born and raised in Hillsboro, and I still live here. So I have had the opportunity to witness it from the beginning. That being said, my daughter and her husband both work for Intel. So I see both sides. And for the record, they have both worked there for years, and I have not heard them say that Intel I was trying to be a green company. Lol.
With all due respect, Dirk, you work in real estate and don’t just sell agricultural land to other farmers, so I’m not so sure that you’re not part of the development of Washington County. Also, tons of Oregon is still agricultural and the percentage decrease, on the whole, is just not that big. It’s just that a *metropolitan* county such as WashCo is seeing its agricultural footprint shrink. So, I guess if you look only at the borders of Washington County, then yeah, it may not be good – in your view – but it’s part of the Portland metro area. It was bound to grow as Portland grew. For what it’s worth, my parents moved to Dakota County, MN, when they first got married in 1972. It was rural with lots of farms at the time. Today it’s a suburban county south of Minneapolis with very few farms. Why? Well, the MSP area grew! A lot. This stuff happens everywhere, and not even just in the USA.
In terms of Intel’s expansion…I’m not a huge fan of the company itself but their expansion in this round is part of the CHIPS Act, which is expressly NOT a greed or profit play. It’s a national-security play. The whole purpose of the Act is to reduce our reliance on foreign semiconductors, which was laid bare during the pandemic. Will Intel benefit? Sure, but it’s part of a *government* strategy to reshore some critical manufacturing. Someone has to manufacture these chips and they have to do it somewhere.
Maybe I just have a different view of all of this having not grown up here. But I’ve been here for 10+ years and seems fine to grow the area as long as there is abundant housing (yes, this is a problem).
Jeff,
You may have a very different view of corporate/City growth if your home was in the potential crosshairs of the sweeping pen of Governor Kotek.
Not easy and easy task to pick up, move and try to replace what was lost and still have a manageable commute time to work.