Any ideas for the guv!!!http://www.postintelligencer.com/dayart/19991110/cartoon19991110.gif

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

Answers

This is a great idea - everyone needs to fill this out and mail it in... we need to flood his office with envelopes. Here are some ideas:

1. privitize ferry system 2. privitize metro transit 3. privitize prison system 4. privitize waste removal and recycling 5. privitize/vouchers for public education 6. consolidate our 10 departments of natural resources 7. privitize state liquor stores 8. eliminate sound transit light rail 9. eliminate governor's office for indian affairs 10. eliminate governor's office for asian/pacific-american affairs 11. eliminate governor's office for african-american affairs 12. eliminate washington state commission on hispanic affairs 13. eliminate office for minority and women's business enterprise 14. eliminate washington state arts commission 15. eliminate washington state historical society 16. eliminate eastern washington state historical society 17. elminate washington horse racing commission 18. elminate washington state gambling commission 19. stop bulding unwanted and useless HOV lanes 20. privitize king county airport 21. privitize waste water treatment 22. privitize park management and maintenance 23. privitize road maintenance 24. privitize building maintenance 25. stop subsidizing downtown Seattle (stadiums, parking garages, etc.)

That's just what I could come up with off the top of my head. I firmly believe that we could cut state exenditures by 50% in Washington, and no one would have to notice...

Swell/plc.

-- Paul (ursa@mindspring.net), November 11, 1999.

OK, but you have just scratched the surface. There are hundreds of state agencies, boards and commissions that could be privatized. I could list them all, but they are already listed in state directories.

Why not let the U-dub become a great private university, Like Stanford. Just stop subsidizing it. Bill and Melinda would be happy to take it over and turn it into a world-class university. At no further cost to we taxpayers. We would still have all the benefits, but no longer the economic drag.

We could privatize the ferry system incrementally, as teh state abandons it. If they cancel passenger-only runs, let any entreprenuer be free to start her own passenger-only service. Same for transit systems. Whenever any transit system eliminates a run, allow private jitneys to replace it. This could be fun, and very profitable. The transit systems cost so much now because they are monopolies. But everyone knows what competition does for a product or service - the customer wins with better prices and service.

Allow decent honest American entreprenuers to open liquor stores to compete with the government liquor stores. They would have more convenient locations, extended hours, better service, lower prices.

Did you know that the Washington State Dry Pea and Lentil Commission is not even located in Washington State? Why can't the producers, marketers, promoters, processors, and researchers of dry pea and lentils form their own organization to do everything voluntarily and privately, instead of having a state commission? Without coercion, the only thing that government can add is the imposition of force.

And why does the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development have to maintain expensive foreign offices in Tokyo, Taipei, Valdivostok, Shanghi, Mexico City, and PARIS? Corporate welfare??? Travel perks for bureaucrats?? Why not Rome, Berlin, Manila, or Singapore??

Folks, the state is spending our money as though it doesn't come out of their pocket.

I could go on for about 500 pages, but you get the idea.

-- Art Rathjen (liberty@coastaccess.com), November 11, 1999.

"The transit systems cost so much now because they are monopolies. But everyone knows what competition does for a product or service - the customer wins with better prices and service. " While you're at it, break up the monopoly on taxis by Quadrupling the number of licenses.

-- Mark Stilson (mark842@hotmail.com), November 12, 1999.