Letter from March 26, 2008

Tax increases

It’s not OK

Wow! We have similar, simultaneous shows ongoing in government, here in Kitsap and there in our state capitol.

In our 2007 general election, 36 percent or less of us said it’s OK — two of our elected public officials here in Kitsap can increase taxes beyond the ordinary without a vote of the public or misuse public monies.

At the same time, 63 percent or more of us said those same elected public officials don’t get it. It’s not OK to increase taxes beyond the ordinary without a vote of the public. It’s not OK to misuse public monies. Et cetera.

I’m with the 63 percent or more. It’s as if most of us here finally have reached the mountain top, knowing what we are supposed to do and doing it.

Meanwhile, the shows go on.

I see Port of Bremerton (POB) Commis-sioner Bill Mahan has yet to get it. And, I see POB Commissioner President Cheryl Kincer is struggling.

I see a messenger from Olympia now enters on stage and reports, “Despite business appeals to her to veto that section of the broad climate change bill, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the legislation without striking the limits on miles traveled.” And, “Those we elect to office should have more faith that people are capable of doing the right thing without being spanked by a costly new government bureaucracy set up to enforce and (sic) ill-conceived law.”

I see Christine Gregoire is our fourth sequential Washington state governor who doesn’t get it. Best wishes for all.

GENE

Bremerton

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