Attention Politicians: Manage our tax money more effectively or go!

greenspun.com : LUSENET : I-695 Thirty Dollar License Tab Initiative : One Thread

We've had it with being taxed to the poor house while the politicians want to live like royalty. Get rid of the limos and personal drivers, cut the expense accounts back, and manage the state's money more effectively. What's with all these new buildings? How about affordable housing for those hardworking low wage earners who can't afford a decent apartment anymore, much less a house. The cost of living in this state is quickly outpricing the low wage earner's ability to live here. And what's with this B/O tax for business owners? Wake up politicians!

-- sharon ware (ware99@wa.freei.net), November 08, 1999

Answers

"How about affordable housing for those hardworking low wage earners who can't afford a decent apartment anymore, much less a house. The cost of living in this state is quickly outpricing the low wage earner's ability to live here." You have opted through the UGMA to artificially constrain growth to a smaller percentage of the state than would otherwise be the case. That's what "SmartGrowth" is all about. When you limit the supply of buildable land, you send land values and assessed values for buildings up. That's basic supply and demand. If you want cheaper housing, get rid of "SmartGrowth" and the UGMA. If you keep it, expect higher costs, higher assessments, and higher taxes. Simple as that.

-- Craig Carson (craigcar@crosswinds.net), November 09, 1999.

Stop voting for tax and spend liberals Vote GOP Remember the GOP endorsed 695

Have the character to break away from the democrat media condition.

-- ERAmerican (william.reagor@guidant.com), November 09, 1999.


Craig, Don't forget,the GOP only endorsed 695 reluctantly they were backed into a corner so they held their noses and went along with it because it would have been political suicide to do anything else. Don't think for one second that they will not be working just as hard to undermine the intent of the law as the liberals,they just can't be as open about it. I know that sounds cynical,however I do believe that the road to solving this problem is much more traveled by CONSERVATIVE republicans than by liberal democrats.

ED

-- Ed Wolf (Edwinkle99@aol.com), November 09, 1999.


"Craig, Don't forget,the GOP only endorsed 695 reluctantly " You don't have to tell me. The Pierce County executive, an alleged Republican, whined about I-695 early and often. He has been SOMEWHAT more muted since Pierce County voted 2:1 FOR I-695.

-- Craig Carson (craigcar@crosswinds.net), November 09, 1999.

ATTENTION NO VOTERS:

This is the wrong place to try to influence the elected officials. It may feel good to complain, but that won't change any priorities if you just tell each other. Tell them, at public meetings and hearings, what your priorities are. 695 did NOT do that work for you.

-- dbvz (dbvz@wa.freei.net), November 10, 1999.



ATTENTION YES VOTERS:

That last message was for you too.

-- dbvz (dbvz@wa.freei.net), November 10, 1999.


"This is the wrong place to try to influence the elected officials. " But the right place to see what nefarious schemes they are up to, and decide upon common strategies for influencing them.

-- (zowie@hotmail.com), November 10, 1999.

JR

You write "I-695 has made me seriously question my GOP membership".

I questioned my GOP membership years ago after they won the Congress. I thought that the people of this country would finally get a well deserved tax cut. What did we get? Targeted tax cuts.

Lets see, if your a blind, 6'-10", three toed, one armed, midget with 5 children, live in the Southwest 1/16th of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 5 Township 10, Range 3, then your entitled to an extra $500 deduction on your 1040 Extra Long Not So Easy Short Form.

The state GOP is even worse. Jerry Delvin (R) voted for the last budget because he said he was sleeping. When he awoke during the vote he saw that Shirley Hankins had voted on it so he figured he would.

Great representation of the people that elected you. Lets see, someone nudges you because your snoring to loud. Your startled out of your much needed sleep and accidently hit a button on your desk, causing you too vote with the Democrates. Yea that's the ticket.

Last thing, don't put any confidence into your representatives to start with. Less of a let down in the end.

Ed - only voting on fees & taxes from now on.

-- Ed (ed_bridges@yahoo.com), November 10, 1999.


Yes, the GOP jumped on the I-695 bandwagon once it was headed for victory. But which political party jumped in early, worked their little butts off, contributed money, and helped make it happen? It was the wierd fringe radical Libertarians who want you to keep what you have worked to earn and want government to be limited. Read about them on the internet. No Jackass or pachyderm is even in this class! I-695 was flat out repudiation of politics as usual. I-695 was the most libertarian initiative that has ever been on the ballot. The Libertarians endorsed Medical Marijuana, the Civil Rights initiative and opposed the gun control initiative. The people were with the Libertaians on all of these initiatives, while the establishment was against the people. When will the people figure out who they should support?

-- Art Rathjen (liberty@coastaccess.com), November 10, 1999.

Don't kid yourself - the politicians know what is being said in these type of discussions. Unfortunately, since the only thing that influences a politician is money, only those special interests with lots of money can really get their attention. When we do use the power of our vote, they quickly get in front of the camera and tell us all that we must give up while they test the results of the vote in court. The politicians only need us when it's election time, afterwhich we are cast aside while they serve themselves and mammon. But history is cluttered with nations where this has happened...wonder how it will turn out here?

-- sw (ware99@wa.freei.net), November 10, 1999.


RE: They serve themselves and mammon.

News in partnership with KIRO 7 Eyewitness News

Wednesday, November 10, 1999 Commission recommends pricey Capitol renovation KIRO TV & ASSOCIATED PRESS

(Olympia-AP) -- A proposal to renovate the Legislative Building in Olympia and build an underground annex has won final approval from a blue-ribbon commission. But the price tag is a big one -- $105 million dollars.

The legislative preservation commission met Tuesday in Olympia and adopted its proposal, which will be sent to the Legislature in January for funding.

The commission recommends using timber trust land revenues that historically have been dedicated to pay for Capitol campus expansion and renovations.

Experts say the 72-year-old Legislative Building is overcrowded and plagued by eroding stonework and a strained infrastructure. The building does not meet safety codes.

And experts fear the massive structure could be a liability in the event of a devastating earthquake. SOUNDS LIKE URBAN RENEWAL TO ME

-- (zowie@hotmail.com), November 11, 1999.


Hey Zowie: Experts say the 72-year-old Legislative Building is overcrowded and plagued by eroding ethics and a strained moral code. The denizens of the building do not meet code of sanity.

And experts fear the massive structure of Olympia is a liability that the people of Washington can no longer endure.

-- maddjak (maddjak@hotmail.com), November 11, 1999.


Which political party jumped in early to support I-695? Which party contributed the most money and had the most volunteers for I-695? Which political party endorsed I-695 unconditionally? It was not either of the old parties. It was not the taxpayer or reform party. It was not the American Heritage Party. There is only one party that represents the people. That party also endorsed the civil rights initiative, medical marijuana, and other initiatives that the people overwhemingly supported. You know which party that is. The party of principle. The party of the people. The party of Thomas Jefferson and the party of free people everywhere. Join them! They are the best hope for a free future! Look it up! Which party really embraced I-695?

-- Art Rathjen (liberty@coastaccess.com), November 12, 1999.

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