Your|Letters
Published on Mon, Oct 18, 2010Read More Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor
Great, let’s all jump up and down because Congress finally figured out that renewing an expired R&D tax policy might be a good idea for a few businesses.
However, for the average Ma-Pa small business, it’s meaningless.
What is the struggling homebuilder supposed to do with an R&D credit—reinvent the nail? Or the struggling neighborhood restaurant, invent a robot waiter?
Small businesses are hurting and full of future concerns because of all the regulations, possible tax increases, certain tax increases, definite Obamacare cost increases, new banking regulations making it more difficult to get loans (assuming you can qualify and pay back a loan), and more.
The question for typical small businesses that employ most people in the U.S. is when are my average Bubba customers going to return? This isn’t about more and more government. More government isn’t the answer, it’s the problem.
Fred Chittenden, DDS
Lake Stevens
We can’t afford Dunshee any longer
Dear Editor,
It’s time we bid farewell to Hans Dunshee. Many of us have seen Mr. Dunshee campaigning alongside our busy roads. Perhaps in past years vigorous campaigning was reason enough to vote for a state representative; but not this year. Our state is facing its worst budget crisis ever.
The recent tax increases on candy, and other food items, are impacting families and small businesses and are not coming close to patching the holes in the state budget.
As Chairman of the Capitol Budget Committee, Dunshee has had the chance to do something about the massive state budget shortfall. Instead, he sponsored legislation that adds roughly $1.5 billion in new spending.
He reasons it will make our schools energy efficient and add new jobs. What he doesn’t say, is those jobs are temporary and the state can’t afford it.
There is no guarantee the energy savings will ever reach $130 million per year as he claims. Dunshee’s plan to ramp up spending shows he just doesn’t get our current economic situation.
Dunshee vigorously supports Referendum 52 on the ballot this fall. The referendum asks voters to let Olympia lawmakers issue $500 million in new State bonds beyond what our constitution currently allows, and it extends the recent taxes politicians promised would expire in 2013.
On August 3, the Seattle Times editorialized it is “time for a change” in the 44th District. Said the Seattle Times, “…veteran state Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, is intelligent and hardworking but he is also emblematic of the excessive spending that has characterized Olympia in recent years. Dunshee [does] not seem to recognize the need to reprioritize state government, to make it smaller.” I agree with the Seattle Times, we can’t afford Hans Dunshee in office for another term.
Barry West
Lake Stevens
Why voting is essential in this country
Dear Editor,
Perhaps if we were to respect and sanctify the act of voting, we wouldn’t let it be corrupted, compromised, bought, sold or duplicated by those who have assumed power over us.
For our system of government to work at all as a “representative republic,” the citizens need to take responsibility for what the government does since it is the act of voting that created the government. In addition, citizens need to remain “independent” in thought at all times in order to discern a candidate’s or elected officials true beliefs.
Voting requires the citizens educate themselves about what actually motivates a candidate’s platform.
Is it driven by special interests and PAC’s because the candidate gets money in exchange for voting for legislation that benefits that interest? Patty Murray is the second highest recipient of PAC/Special Interest funding of all candidates.
Rick Larsen has received over 55.8 percent of his campaign funds from PAC/SI’s while John Koster has a mere four percent.
A candidate is supposed to represent the “people’s” voice not the Special Interest’s voice in the government.
Even if we work in an environment which takes part of our money in dues and donates to PAC/SI’s, remember Adam’s statement, our vote and our loyalty should not be for sale but rather it should be cast as a responsible, knowledgeable citizen for a government which respects its citizens and believes in its country’s greatness and its Constitution.
Catherine Paxton
Arlington, WA
Prosecutors support Roe for Snohomish County Prosecutor
Dear Editor,
The three of us have served as Snohomish County Prosecutor over the last 25 years. While we represent different political parties and, at times, have campaigned against one another, we all agree that Mark Roe is clearly the most qualified and experienced candidate for Snohomish County Prosecutor.
Mark has earned the trust and respect of the law and justice community, including law enforcement, victims’ rights advocates, public defenders prosecutors, and retired judges.
Over the 22 years of Mark’s service at the Prosecutor’s Office, we each entrusted him with many of the most challenging responsibilities including: serving as the Chief Criminal Deputy, effectively managing the entire Criminal Division, as well as being responsible for its budget and supervision of attorneys and staff; serving as lead attorney of both the Violent Crimes and Special Assault (sex crimes) units; acting as the decision maker on issues involving police misconduct, officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths; and handling several Aggravated Murder and Death Penalty cases.
We urge you to support Mark Roe for Prosecutor. His opponent is not qualified to serve in this important role, and has not practiced law in Snohomish County. Mark Roe has the experience and qualifications to serve as our Snohomish County Prosecutor.
Janice Ellis,Snohomish County Prosecutor, 2002 – 2009 Snohomish, WA • Jim Krider
Snohomish County Prosecutor, 1994 – 2002 Everett , WA • Seth Dawson Snohomish County Prosecutor, 1982 – 1994 Mukilteo, WA
Establishing a Task Force could mean big savings to Washington
Dear Editor,
The Governor should immediately institute an Executive Order establishing a Privatization Task Force similar to that of Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey. The Task Force in New Jersey has identified over $210 million in savings annually from using a set of privatization tools and strategies.
A primary recommendation of the Task Force was the creation of a centralized privatization entity, similar to that established in Florida by then Gov. Jeb Bush which has led to $550 million in savings through over 130 privatization and competitive initiatives.
The possibilities on where efficiency and taxpayer savings would be a great starting point on this state getting its financial house in order and not one tax would be raised.
The Legislature would have to really look at the Task Force’s recommendations and decide which ones should be followed. The ball is in the Governor’s court; now let’s see what she does.
Lake Stevens
Remembering which party created the recession
Dear Editor,
The current campaigns trash talk is so frustrating, both sides contribute. It’s gone on forever and I suspect will continue. But why are so many listening this time?
Everyone is down with so and so, blame Obama, Murray, blame democrats. Where is the majority that just voted for change two years ago?
It takes a full term to get much progress. And why in the world has everyone forgotten that we were $8 trillion in debt when the current party took over, with trillions more committed to local budgets at all levels and over seas?
It took eight years to create such debt. The length of Bush’s term in office and Republican control over the house and senate to be specific.
The current recession was caused by the previous parties practices, that voted and signed away so much debt.
The big money guys have already published that the lowest part of the recession was in June of 2009. And it started before Obama took office and the House and Senate changed parties. We may be having a slow recovery, but we are having one.
We have spent two years mopping up a mess and trying to right the wrongs, and here we are listening to the trash talk and blame it on the current party. Like we don’t remember who created the problem. I do.
I haven’t given up on change, no one ever said change would be easy. I hope people see the lies and propaganda being told. There must be others who remember the facts from the fiction. I hope they get out to vote because if we vote us right back to where we were, forgetting which party created the problems. We are in big trouble.
Julie Tabor
Granite Falls
