Chief
12-28-2007, 12:53 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/SeniorChieftain/AlGoreParentalAdvisory.jpg
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/12/12262007_Vancouver-can-be-proud-of-150-years.cfm
http://www.westerndredging.org/cgi-bin/mail.cgi/archive/Local/20071228083115/
In My Opinion
Date: December 28th, 2007
I sometimes wonder if those who write editorials in the Columbian ever read other articles in the Columbian. In his (12/26/07) Cheerleading Edition, Tom Koenninger, Editor Emeritus sang the praises of what he considers wonderful things Vancouver has accomplished over the years. I on the other hand considered the most recent ones wasteful spending of our hard-earned tax dollars.
Specifically he praise the financially failing Hilton Hotel built with 73 million taxpayer dollars and currently being subsidized to the tune of approximately 2,000,000 taxpayer dollars a year. He welcomes the scheduled renovated of the National Historic Reserve with $850,000 EARMARK TAXPAYER DOLLARS. He looks forward to the opening of the Bridge to Nowhere across Highway 14, currently being built at a cost of approximately 21,000,000 dollars, 90% of which are taxpayer dollars. A bridge that, because of our northwest weather will only be used about 3 months each year.
He spoke eloquently about the proposed New Columbia River Bridge, a light-rail platform that could cost as much as 10 billion dollars, comparing it to the Saint Louis Arch, (I had no idea it was a done deal or it would be that high, he must know something that we don’t).
He obviously believes there is a bottomless pit of money in the taxpayer’s pockets. In his article he appears to be lobbying for more taxpayer dollars to develop the Boise Cascade Flood Plain along the Columbia River and another bridge or tunnel to nowhere, along with a taxpayer paid performing art center.
He neglected, for whatever reason, to praise the new tax subsidized Killian Pacific Riverwest/Library that will not only CONSUME millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars, but will through a special taxing district help subsidized the Killian Pacific/Library Project to the tune of 500,000 tax dollars a year for the next 25 years.
I have no problems with him referring to those of us who attempt, without the aid of The Columbian or the City Council, to keep the taxpayers informed about the missteps and problems caused by these tax and spend politicians, as whiners, but as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said,
“those who come to engage in debates of consequence, and who challenge accepted wisdom, should expect to be treated badly. Nonetheless, they must stand undaunted. That is required. And, that should be expected”.
And, we have not been disappointed. It is just one more badge of honor to add to our collection. We have after all, over the years, been called, racist, bigot, naysayers, and hounds of Whinerville to mention a few.
I do however strongly object to his characterization of newly elected Councilman Pat Campbell as a Possible Problem. Problem for who?
In case you are wondering what all the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars, the subsidizing of downtown development, giving away to developers expensive taxpayer property and 10 year property tax breaks along with artificial urban growth boundaries is all about. It is to increase the population density of the downtown area specifically and Vancouver in General. Increased population density is necessary to make the tax and spend guys eligible for huge amounts of tax dollars (grants) and the “Earmarks” discussed in the article “Congress Stuffs Own Stocking” right next to Koenninger’s cheerleading editorial.
Apparently, he failed to recognize that some of his and the Vancouver City Council’s pet projects are included in the 11,000 irresponsible boondoggles (AKA Earmarks) U.S. Representative and Senators routinely add to legitimate spending bills.
PLEASE REMEMBER, GOVERNMENT INCLUDING THE VANCOUVER CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE ANY MONEY, ALL TAX DOLLARS, LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL COME OUT OF YOUR POCKETS. DON’T BE FOOLED BY THE BIG SPENDERS, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FREE MONEY IT IS YOUR MONEY THEY ARE USING. MAKE THEM USE IT WISELY.
And so it goes.
L. M. Patella
CDR USN (ret)
2714 NE 42nd Circle
Vancouver, WA 98663
Tel: 360 750 1186
lmpatella@comcast.net
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/12/12262007_Vancouver-can-be-proud-of-150-years.cfm
http://www.westerndredging.org/cgi-bin/mail.cgi/archive/Local/20071228083115/
In My Opinion
Date: December 28th, 2007
I sometimes wonder if those who write editorials in the Columbian ever read other articles in the Columbian. In his (12/26/07) Cheerleading Edition, Tom Koenninger, Editor Emeritus sang the praises of what he considers wonderful things Vancouver has accomplished over the years. I on the other hand considered the most recent ones wasteful spending of our hard-earned tax dollars.
Specifically he praise the financially failing Hilton Hotel built with 73 million taxpayer dollars and currently being subsidized to the tune of approximately 2,000,000 taxpayer dollars a year. He welcomes the scheduled renovated of the National Historic Reserve with $850,000 EARMARK TAXPAYER DOLLARS. He looks forward to the opening of the Bridge to Nowhere across Highway 14, currently being built at a cost of approximately 21,000,000 dollars, 90% of which are taxpayer dollars. A bridge that, because of our northwest weather will only be used about 3 months each year.
He spoke eloquently about the proposed New Columbia River Bridge, a light-rail platform that could cost as much as 10 billion dollars, comparing it to the Saint Louis Arch, (I had no idea it was a done deal or it would be that high, he must know something that we don’t).
He obviously believes there is a bottomless pit of money in the taxpayer’s pockets. In his article he appears to be lobbying for more taxpayer dollars to develop the Boise Cascade Flood Plain along the Columbia River and another bridge or tunnel to nowhere, along with a taxpayer paid performing art center.
He neglected, for whatever reason, to praise the new tax subsidized Killian Pacific Riverwest/Library that will not only CONSUME millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars, but will through a special taxing district help subsidized the Killian Pacific/Library Project to the tune of 500,000 tax dollars a year for the next 25 years.
I have no problems with him referring to those of us who attempt, without the aid of The Columbian or the City Council, to keep the taxpayers informed about the missteps and problems caused by these tax and spend politicians, as whiners, but as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said,
“those who come to engage in debates of consequence, and who challenge accepted wisdom, should expect to be treated badly. Nonetheless, they must stand undaunted. That is required. And, that should be expected”.
And, we have not been disappointed. It is just one more badge of honor to add to our collection. We have after all, over the years, been called, racist, bigot, naysayers, and hounds of Whinerville to mention a few.
I do however strongly object to his characterization of newly elected Councilman Pat Campbell as a Possible Problem. Problem for who?
In case you are wondering what all the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars, the subsidizing of downtown development, giving away to developers expensive taxpayer property and 10 year property tax breaks along with artificial urban growth boundaries is all about. It is to increase the population density of the downtown area specifically and Vancouver in General. Increased population density is necessary to make the tax and spend guys eligible for huge amounts of tax dollars (grants) and the “Earmarks” discussed in the article “Congress Stuffs Own Stocking” right next to Koenninger’s cheerleading editorial.
Apparently, he failed to recognize that some of his and the Vancouver City Council’s pet projects are included in the 11,000 irresponsible boondoggles (AKA Earmarks) U.S. Representative and Senators routinely add to legitimate spending bills.
PLEASE REMEMBER, GOVERNMENT INCLUDING THE VANCOUVER CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE ANY MONEY, ALL TAX DOLLARS, LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL COME OUT OF YOUR POCKETS. DON’T BE FOOLED BY THE BIG SPENDERS, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FREE MONEY IT IS YOUR MONEY THEY ARE USING. MAKE THEM USE IT WISELY.
And so it goes.
L. M. Patella
CDR USN (ret)
2714 NE 42nd Circle
Vancouver, WA 98663
Tel: 360 750 1186
lmpatella@comcast.net