Chief
08-27-2007, 02:30 PM
August 24th, 2007
A little long, but some interesting tid bits here.
Larry
You have got to just love the Columbian. Not only are they the Undisputed Champion Cheerleader for Tax Increases, they are now attempting to convince the voters with their “A THUNDERING NO” editorial, the voters did not send a message to politicians everywhere that our taxes are too DAMN HIGH and that the Port’s outrageous 132% property tax increase was only defeated because the Port didn’t talk nice to us. What a Crock! Newspapers and Most politicians, once they start believing their own press releases become consumed with their power fall out of touch with the people .
I suggest the Columbian Editorial Board, Larry Paulson and the Port Commission, Royce Pollard, and the Vancouver City Council read all the articles the Columbian Publishes. Specifically, they need to read the two by Thomas Sowell that appeared in section “C” the past two Tuesdays.
The main thrust of his articles is that at all levels of government; there are sufficient funds to do what needs to be done. However, political greed and an insatiable appetite to remain in power causes politicians to spend our hard earned tax dollars on what he calls Political Incentives. Political Incentives are described as the need to spend taxpayer dollars on things that will enhance the politician’s chances to get re-elected.
He points out, there is enough money available to maintain bridges and other infrastructures, (schools, roads, and the numerous other things that need to be maintained, my words). To Quote Mr. Sowell, “that same money can have a bigger political payoff if spent on building something new instead of repairing and maintaining the existing structures”.
According to Mr. Sowell, when money is spent on building a community center, a golf course, or anything that will be newsworthy, there will be Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies, and the politicians who cut the ribbons can expect to see their picture in the Newspapers and on TV.
After reading Mr. Sowell’s article, I could not, help but think, during my daily 3 mile walk over pot holes, crumbling and missing sidewalks, weeds growing in the cracks, the gutters and public right of ways, trash littering the streets, speeding vehicles and inoperative street lights, he could have been talking about Vancouver/Clark County.
I thought as I walked, locally we have had our fair share of Ribbon Cutting Photo Opportunities with more to come. Our hard earned tax dollars have or will be spent on:
1. building a new Community Center (Firstenberg);
2. Convention Center (the peoples Hotel of Vancouver);
3. financially fail parking Garages (Existing and the yet to come Riverwest);
4. Heritage Place & Vancouver Center (Blessed with Legal Ten Year Property Tax Kickbacks, AKA Tax Breaks);
5. the Bridge to No Where (the Royce Pollard Memorial Bridge over highway 14.);
6. Ester Short Commons,
7. the Indoor Farmers Market (A publicly Subsidized Boondoggle that Failed Financially and is now Closed);
8. Destruction at taxpayer expense, of the105 year old Monterey Hotel (the property was sold at a loss to Killian Pacific);
9. the relocation of a perfectly good Library to Killian Pacific’s Riverwest Boondoggle (that’s where the new parking garage will be built with taxpayer dollars);
10. Clark County Health Center (on 4th Plain);
11. the Clark County Admin Building (on Franklin Street);
12. the sale of the Murdock building and the old downtown police station to favorite Downtown developers at prices well below the assessed value,
These are but a few of the local waste of tax-dollars Mr. Sowell was talking about.
And while all this lavish spending is going on, the city, the port, the County, and the state are telling us if they don’t raise taxes we will have to cut police and fire protection, they won’t be able fix our roads (existing gas taxes collected to maintain roads is being spent on Light rail, bridge studies and unused bike lanes), nor can they maintain public schools, other building and parks because they are too busy building new schools, new building and buying more and more land for parks they can’t build or maintain.
And it this isn’t enough click on the Seattle Times article below. You will see what our tax and spend democrat legislators are doing to insure that your property taxes will never drop. Wonder why the Columbian didn’t print this article before the levy vote?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003842627_nobleed19.html
Shame on the Columbian for not keeping us informed. And please don’t buy into their spin trying to convince you that you don’t mind paying taxes as long as the tax and spend guys talk nice to you. Can you believe that? The Columbian should take note that our taxes are too damn high and getting higher. We must turn up the heat. In November, we have a golden opportunity to throw out a lot of the rascals that continue to ignore the people. Let’s not let this opportunity get away.
As for me, locally I will, in the November, Vote for Charlie Stemper, Jerry Oliver, Pat Campbell, and write in someone to replace Leavitt. I urge you to do the same. We need people who can manage our money and prioritize its spending.
We must continue to reinforce our message that we are tired of being ignored and we will not be taxed out of our homes.
L. M. Patella
CDR USN (ret)
A little long, but some interesting tid bits here.
Larry
You have got to just love the Columbian. Not only are they the Undisputed Champion Cheerleader for Tax Increases, they are now attempting to convince the voters with their “A THUNDERING NO” editorial, the voters did not send a message to politicians everywhere that our taxes are too DAMN HIGH and that the Port’s outrageous 132% property tax increase was only defeated because the Port didn’t talk nice to us. What a Crock! Newspapers and Most politicians, once they start believing their own press releases become consumed with their power fall out of touch with the people .
I suggest the Columbian Editorial Board, Larry Paulson and the Port Commission, Royce Pollard, and the Vancouver City Council read all the articles the Columbian Publishes. Specifically, they need to read the two by Thomas Sowell that appeared in section “C” the past two Tuesdays.
The main thrust of his articles is that at all levels of government; there are sufficient funds to do what needs to be done. However, political greed and an insatiable appetite to remain in power causes politicians to spend our hard earned tax dollars on what he calls Political Incentives. Political Incentives are described as the need to spend taxpayer dollars on things that will enhance the politician’s chances to get re-elected.
He points out, there is enough money available to maintain bridges and other infrastructures, (schools, roads, and the numerous other things that need to be maintained, my words). To Quote Mr. Sowell, “that same money can have a bigger political payoff if spent on building something new instead of repairing and maintaining the existing structures”.
According to Mr. Sowell, when money is spent on building a community center, a golf course, or anything that will be newsworthy, there will be Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies, and the politicians who cut the ribbons can expect to see their picture in the Newspapers and on TV.
After reading Mr. Sowell’s article, I could not, help but think, during my daily 3 mile walk over pot holes, crumbling and missing sidewalks, weeds growing in the cracks, the gutters and public right of ways, trash littering the streets, speeding vehicles and inoperative street lights, he could have been talking about Vancouver/Clark County.
I thought as I walked, locally we have had our fair share of Ribbon Cutting Photo Opportunities with more to come. Our hard earned tax dollars have or will be spent on:
1. building a new Community Center (Firstenberg);
2. Convention Center (the peoples Hotel of Vancouver);
3. financially fail parking Garages (Existing and the yet to come Riverwest);
4. Heritage Place & Vancouver Center (Blessed with Legal Ten Year Property Tax Kickbacks, AKA Tax Breaks);
5. the Bridge to No Where (the Royce Pollard Memorial Bridge over highway 14.);
6. Ester Short Commons,
7. the Indoor Farmers Market (A publicly Subsidized Boondoggle that Failed Financially and is now Closed);
8. Destruction at taxpayer expense, of the105 year old Monterey Hotel (the property was sold at a loss to Killian Pacific);
9. the relocation of a perfectly good Library to Killian Pacific’s Riverwest Boondoggle (that’s where the new parking garage will be built with taxpayer dollars);
10. Clark County Health Center (on 4th Plain);
11. the Clark County Admin Building (on Franklin Street);
12. the sale of the Murdock building and the old downtown police station to favorite Downtown developers at prices well below the assessed value,
These are but a few of the local waste of tax-dollars Mr. Sowell was talking about.
And while all this lavish spending is going on, the city, the port, the County, and the state are telling us if they don’t raise taxes we will have to cut police and fire protection, they won’t be able fix our roads (existing gas taxes collected to maintain roads is being spent on Light rail, bridge studies and unused bike lanes), nor can they maintain public schools, other building and parks because they are too busy building new schools, new building and buying more and more land for parks they can’t build or maintain.
And it this isn’t enough click on the Seattle Times article below. You will see what our tax and spend democrat legislators are doing to insure that your property taxes will never drop. Wonder why the Columbian didn’t print this article before the levy vote?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003842627_nobleed19.html
Shame on the Columbian for not keeping us informed. And please don’t buy into their spin trying to convince you that you don’t mind paying taxes as long as the tax and spend guys talk nice to you. Can you believe that? The Columbian should take note that our taxes are too damn high and getting higher. We must turn up the heat. In November, we have a golden opportunity to throw out a lot of the rascals that continue to ignore the people. Let’s not let this opportunity get away.
As for me, locally I will, in the November, Vote for Charlie Stemper, Jerry Oliver, Pat Campbell, and write in someone to replace Leavitt. I urge you to do the same. We need people who can manage our money and prioritize its spending.
We must continue to reinforce our message that we are tired of being ignored and we will not be taxed out of our homes.
L. M. Patella
CDR USN (ret)