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Politics : The Castle -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: The Philosopher who wrote (35)	11/6/2002 3:27:49 PM
From: Neeka	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 7936

Hello Christopher Hodgkin: Just a little background about me. I was born and raised in Seattle. I am a 5th generation Washingtonian, descended from individuals that traveled the prairie by covered wagon from NY, who sustained grievous loss on their journey, arriving in Colville WA in 1889. I am very familiar with what is commonly called "the pioneer spirit" being raised by folks who were proud of their ancestry. I've always believed that there is a kind of particular rugged individualism associated with those who could do what my ancestors did, and that there were VERY specific reasons for choosing to do what they did those many years ago. I have also always been in absolute awe of their strength and bravery, and proud that the same blood flows through my veins. I was told that one of the reasons they "fled" the east for a new home was because government was becoming too repressive. If I may, I'd like to give another perspective on Referendum 51. You said: The failure of Prop 51 out here is an indication that they sometimes aren't willing to pay for the things they want, or at least that they say they want. What some people can't see is the forest for the trees. As a long time resident, voter, driver and citizen of Washington state I think I have an insight too. It isn't a matter of what "they" did or did not want, it is that there was a particular group of citizens who thought they had a good idea and so proposed a new fuel tax. THEY organized and brought forth THEIR Referendum to the voters. What we all must admit is that it was the wrong referendum and the majority of Washingtonians didn't like it. I read somewhere that since Gary Locke has been Governor (the last 6 years) only 10 miles of new roads have been built here in Washington state. What I hear from regular citizens in my area is that the level of trust of government is at an all time low. That the current administration is only interested in getting as many people out of their cars as possible by advocating mass transit, HOV lanes and the RTA. That the HOV lanes are a joke. That people are angry that they have to pay for them, but can't use them because the attempts to get them to carpool have failed, and as a consequence the HOV lanes go largely unused. That the government will not recognize that failure. That they are really impressed with the multiple lanes available in Tacoma and Olympia, but angry that the state won't provide that kind of highway expansion to the largest cities, Seattle/Bellevue, even though the majority of fuel tax dollars originate in those cities. It is obvious to most taxpayers that government sponsored carpool programs are a resounding failure, and people are not going to give up their cars in favor of mass transit. That gridlock could be greatly alleviated in the greater Seattle metro area by opening up HOV lanes to everyone that paid for them. That they are tired of paying 23.8 cents to the gallon fuel taxes and receiving little or nothing for their money. That another lane has been proposed for the Evergreen Floating bridge to alleviate congestion, but considered irrelevant or on the bottom of the priority list. I really don't remember how many years that I have been paying, through property and sales taxes, for a rapid transit system that hasn't even gotten off of the drawing board. Is it 5-6 years? I voted against the RTA because I live in Woodinville, and Woodinville won't even have access to the proposed system. How many years do I have to fork out money for a project that I will more than likely never use? Why haven't they broken ground for this project? How much more expensive has that project become since it's inception due to delays? Where have the millions of tax revenues gone since the original measure passed? IMO the RTA measure was premature. The originators weren't prepared and it has languished, yet I still pay year after year. Is it any wonder that voter confidence is down? Is it any wonder that voters want a change? Is it any wonder that citizens have lost ALL faith in government? I feel like I've been taken advantage of and have talked to many other people who feel the same. What I am trying to say is that IMO there is a taxpayers revolt taking place in Washington, and elsewhere because voters will not tolerate being taken advantage of any longer. Nor will they tolerate the level of pork, poor planning and poor ideas, at the hands of a sometimes inept government, that they have suffered in the past. Until elected representatives at every level start properly accounting for tax dollars, and until taxpayers SEE positive results, they will continue to defeat tax and spend measures forced on them by special interest groups more interested in their pocket books than providing the services we assume we are buying. Like my ancestors, if there were a place I could go to escape the choke hold government has had on me I would go, but there isn't, so along with other disenfranchised citizens, I will stay here and fight for what I believe is right. The government of the past that said: "trust me, I have your best interest at heart," must come into the 21st century with the mission of convincing me that is so. Thanks for listening. Democracy works. M BTW according to this report: seattletimes.nwsource.com the proposal to expand the Monorail is winning. I'm glad for that.