Voters throwing money away, giving too much control to government
Voters throwing money away, giving too much control to government
The results from the election say two things to me: Voters are throwing their money away and they want the government to control every aspect of their lives. In particular I'm referring to the gas tax that wasn't repealed and the smoking ban that passed.
Who knows what will be next.
Perhaps in future elections the voters will give the government the power to control when we drive to control emissions output in the name of saving the environment. Or, we could be told leaving our houses after 9 p.m. is not permitted to reduce crime and other sorts of mischief known to take place predominantly at night.
Yes, accidents happen on Highway 17. Yes, farmers need to be able to transport goods across Interstate 90.
Raising taxes is not the answer.
The government has all the money it needs. What it should be doing is a better job of reprioritizing the money it already has.
An example of ill use of state funds is the Traffic Camera System, a project overseen by the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Earlier this month, four new cameras were turned on to help WSDOT workers and drivers see more of the roadway. The DOT stated the additions will also allow emergency dispatch to respond more efficiently to emergencies. Two cameras were installed in Everett and two on SR 18 between SR 167 and I-5.
The cameras are one part of the $220 million I-5 Everett Freeway & HOV Expansion project which the state Legislature contributes a hefty sum towards.
Give me a break! Roadway cameras are not a necessity! For years we did without them and I doubt their presence will drastically impact motorists' decisions to travel or make emergency dispatch that much more efficient.
They may seem like a minute cost in the big picture. That's my point. It ALL adds up and we as voters have got to hold the government accountable for tax payer dollars and how they're spent.
Another example is the announcement this month by Gov. Christine Gregoire that Washington's life-sciences industry needs to convince tax payers of the benefits to them if the state is going to organize a $350 million fund to finance life-sciences research.
Gregoire had proposed the funding to the Legislature as one of her economic development initiatives.
As reported in a Nov. 2 Seattle Times article, Washington's funding for life-science research is being collected from additional money Gregoire earned for her role while Attorney General in negotiating a national settlement with tobacco companies. The settlement is worth more than $206 billion over 25 years to states across the country.
The article stated Gregoire has no intention of seeing any part of the bonus money used for another purpose except research as she believes it is vital to the state's economic future.
Supporters are eager to see the fund make grants before the first of 10 annual $35 million bonus payments arrive in 2008.
There is money available but the government, with taxpayers at its side, is giving money to any cause that has a few backers waving their arms high enough to get a portion from the neverending money pit.
Aimee Hornberger is the Columbia Basin Herald's health and education reporter.
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