Government can’t be businesslike
We all agree our state’s financial situation — like nearly every other state and local government in the country — is in a real bind [“There has to be a better way,” Opinion, March 12]. But please, especially given the past year of bail outs for big business, can we once and for all just drop the tired cliché, “Why can’t government just operate like a business,” as if that would be the answer to our problems?
I guess not because that’s exactly what Sen. Rodney Tom says, “If you look at corporate America, they are making those tough choices. They are slashing their payrolls 10 to 30 percent. What are we doing?” And columnist Kate Riley says that’s a good question.
For goodness sake, it is not at all a good question. If Tom and Riley haven’t figured it out by now: During a recession, corporate America lays people off because the demand for their products falls. It’s not like they have to make a “tough choice” about laying people off while the demand for their products is increasing. It’s not a tough choice at all.
It is not at all like what happens to government services during a recession. A recession is exactly the time when demand for many government services increases — the needs for more job training, public-works projects to employ more people, food stamps and housing for people who have lost their homes all increase. Even libraries see a lot more use during a recession.
So, in fact, cutting the state payroll just when the demand for services is at its peak is in fact a genuine tough choice.
— Kim Drury, Langley
Balance budget, but don’t raise taxes
The budget crisis is caused by the Democrats pushing onto the public the price of their — the legislators — overspending in boom times, using up the reserve fund and the inability to pull back enough spending to balance the budget.
The continued spending by the legislators is growing faster than the general rate of growth. Consider that 20 to 25 years ago the sales tax was 5 percent or so with a population of 2 to 2.5 million and today it is about 10 percent with a population of about 6 million. Where is the money going if not to roads, education, and general welfare?
I’m as liberal as the next Seattleite, but if they can’t solve the budget without raising taxes again, throw the bums out at the next election and get some fresh liberals who can balance a budget and get Washington back into the lead as a state to be proud of.
— Robert E. Karns, Bellevue
Fix federal deficit with constitutional amendment
We have a massive spending problem and neither the Republicans nor the Democrats seem to fully embrace fiscal restraint! I’d like to call on the American people to start pushing for a constitutional balanced-budget amendment — balanced year-to-year or every bi-year [“Fiscal reality (states) and fiscal fantasy (feds),” Opinion, March 12].
This amendment should require a two-thirds supermajority vote to unbalance a budget — for emergencies — to increase taxes above inflation or to borrow money. It should also contain language that states that congressional members who vote to break a balanced budget without an approved two-thirds emergency vote should not be allowed to run for their seat in the next election cycle — creating accountability.
It’s time that the American people force fiscal responsibility on our elected officials. We need to stop this madness of pursuing reckless, irresponsible fiscal policies that are destroying the country and we need to stop offering up indentured servitude of our children to the government.
— Kerry Flint, Seabeck