Thursday, October 8, 2009
Tim Eyman says "Leave it as it is!" with initiative 1033
What a cap on government spending? No way! Personally , I think it is a great idea. I support the concept limiting new spending to match the percentages of growth for an area...To a point. The real problem with Tim Eyman's initiative 1033 is that right now, our State sucks! Our budget is running under its needed threshold. Our services are all short. There will be no improvements generated keeping our budgets under par.
Across the state we are cutting back on parks, teachers, human services and more. The State of Washington is lowering the bar in so many areas that taxpayers will be forced to pay in other ways. As it is the school budgets are so tight, that some schools have gone to "All Walking". They do not even care what age the children are. My friend has a six year old expected to make the mile long trek, down roads without shoulders or sidewalks. Here parents are paying their school taxes, only to have to use more money to deliver their children to the school. Frankly, that is Bull!
It would seem that, Tim Eyman wants the schools to perform at a level where the students fail to gain an education. Class sizes and expansion for example. As it stands right now the schools are limited to class sizes that can not multiply by 4%. They have to go up by a full room and a full teacher at a time. If a class is to have 30 students and 5 more move into that class, the school can not buy a sixth of a classroom teacher. Lower testing scores make another example. As it is, the Everett school district is performing below standard in a few places, and has done so for two years running. So is it the right answer to freeze the school system's income below par, and always keep them under funded? NO!
Public services have been cut as well. The State has set up a system to attempt dumping the disabled on the federal government as soon as possible. People with a disability can still get aid, provided they are in step to get S.S.I. . Most people will be declined for S.S.I. . The system is designed that way. I have known people that have applied for years, only to hire attorneys and be approved in months.
The Washington Economy was largely fueled by the housing market. The sad thing is that, right now, Seattle and Vegas are the two lowest (big) cities for housing market improvement. Both of these cities have had a steady decline in house values, while other cities are very slowly recovering. Are the incomes of the state not directly related to sales tax? Do new home sales not generate a large percentage of the states income?
In order to improve on Washington State We have to strive to be a better place to live. Both now and in the future. That is what brings in population and CASH FLOW! In our current fiscal crisis, we are at the bottom of our game. We have nothing to gain in any set up intended to keep even with inflation and expansion.
There will be no improvements generated keeping our budgets under par. There needs to be a better way and I 1033 is NOT it.
Will somebody please buy Tim Eyman a Sim City Game? Maybe he can practice screwing up a virtual state before he screws this one up!
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way to go you took the hook. the government always hits us where it hurts schools,police, fire sations,parks,etc
ReplyDeletewhy didn't they legalize marajuana, sell unneeded state accesss,lay of the excess government form filers, take pay holidays for the top officials, stop going to japan and china to exchange flowers,go to paperless balets, charge tolls on the roads in seattle,etc. the bottom line is if they hit us where it hurts we will give the government even more money and control. get a council of small business people envolved they are asked to make a living with nothing. surely they could balance this budget asap
There is no doubt there is room for reform. Lots of room for reform. Unfortunately, all of the points you made were valid.
ReplyDeleteGovernment scare tactics are always the route they take. Several of your revenue generating ideas are good ideas.
Stopping spending in a ton of areas are a great idea. One of Seattle's Mayor elects has come out and suggested trimming many programs of their individual human resource departments, and I.T. departments. Both of which are on track with your suggestions.
That still should not be accomplished by forcing each city to be on a struggling budget. The removal of redundant services should create surplus, not balance.
I see where many people feel the blank check does not motivate spending reform. I do not support a blank check either. I only claim that Tim Eyman's proposal is self destructive and will cause greater problems for the area.
Any proposal limiting funding, to the city or State, needs to be much more thought out than this one is.