Ok., so it's a 'made you look' headline, at least I'm not an ass in an ape suit. Sundays Bellingham Heralds "Our View" Editorial appears to have been written by Dino Rossi's campaign manager. It's a hit piece on Governor Gregoire and Democrats in general. It makes unsupported assumption and jumps to simplistic conclusions. It's analysis of the situation is flawed and its advice sucks.
Instead of reality this Editorial is based on Republican talking-points. It begins: "Gov. Chris Gregoire, bowing to mounting pressure late Monday, has finally called a special legislative session... " and then goes on to say "Gregoire made the right move, but she waited too long."
And Gee-whiz doesn't that sound bad... but at least here the truth slips in for a moment when the Editorial admits it's being a stenographer for partisan rhetoric: "... as the Republicans and Dino Rossi have claimed. Rossi and the Republicans wasted no time in demanding..."
Perpetual candidate Rossi and his Republican pals can make all sorts of ridiculous claims and outlandish accusations because they don't have to face any consequences. They don't have to figure out how to keep things running and produce the services citizens demand. Nor do they have to consider whether their grand schemes would actually work, they can just make grand pronouncements and walk away.
Now, away from the Herald's Editorial and Republican talking-points, in the real world Governor Gregoire has taken the responsible course and looked into ramifications of the Court decision before calling for action. Here in her letter to the leader of the State Legislature the Governor explains: "As you know, the Washington State Supreme Court recently invalidated Initiative 747, the 1% limit on property taxes. I have spoken with the Attorney General and after thorough review, he is not moving for reconsideration. Like you, I am very concerned about the effects of the court’s decision on the property taxpayers across the state. "
We haven't heard any criticism of the Republican Attorney General for not moving for reconsideration... have we! We also don't know how long the Republican Attorney General drug his feet before telling the Governor... do we! But the Editorial says; "The nearly two-week delay makes her seem indecisive, ..."
I guess in the Heralds View, there's no place for careful consideration in the machinery of government. Apparently everything should be based on knee-jerk reaction.
The Herald also said that it was "preposterous" for the State Supreme Court to think that voters might have been confused by the wording of the initiative... Obviously the Herald's Editorial writer doesn't talk to many voters. Voters aren't stupid, (well most of them aren't) but many of them haven't researched initiatives and referendums before they vote and the wording on the ballot is often unclear. A sentence or two on the ballot can't explain the ramification of a seemingly simple change to the law.
The Herald draws conclusions that aren't supported by facts, like: "It’s disturbing that some politicians couldn’t recognize what should be painfully obvious: Voters want to limit government’s ability to raise taxes. "
There's no evidence that "some politicians" don't recognize voters desire to limit tax increases. One of the dilemma's elected officials are faced with is how to provide the services that voters expect (and that are mandate by law) and not raise taxes.
Finally the Herald says; "We’re counting on lawmakers to reinstate the 1 percent limit. It’s a no-brainer. " Hmmm, I guess it's a no-brainer if you've had your brain rotted out by listening to nothing but rightwing propaganda. It sounds to me more like expecting lawmakers to bow to an election year media campaign.
The State Supreme Court ruled "that wording on the initiative was so confusing that voters may have misunderstood how they marked their ballots", so the logical and obvious thing to do is put a clearly worded referendum on the ballot and let the Voters indicate whether or not they were confused. (a temporary 1% cap could be enacted until next November)
Instead of regurgitating Republican propaganda that separates cause from effect, the Herald should be contributing to a serious and reasoned discussion of how to maintain the government services we've all come to count on... like schools & police & roads & clean drinking water(!). Nobody enjoys paying taxes but at the same time, there really is no such thing as a free lunch.
Instead of reality this Editorial is based on Republican talking-points. It begins: "Gov. Chris Gregoire, bowing to mounting pressure late Monday, has finally called a special legislative session... " and then goes on to say "Gregoire made the right move, but she waited too long."
And Gee-whiz doesn't that sound bad... but at least here the truth slips in for a moment when the Editorial admits it's being a stenographer for partisan rhetoric: "... as the Republicans and Dino Rossi have claimed. Rossi and the Republicans wasted no time in demanding..."
Perpetual candidate Rossi and his Republican pals can make all sorts of ridiculous claims and outlandish accusations because they don't have to face any consequences. They don't have to figure out how to keep things running and produce the services citizens demand. Nor do they have to consider whether their grand schemes would actually work, they can just make grand pronouncements and walk away.
Now, away from the Herald's Editorial and Republican talking-points, in the real world Governor Gregoire has taken the responsible course and looked into ramifications of the Court decision before calling for action. Here in her letter to the leader of the State Legislature the Governor explains: "As you know, the Washington State Supreme Court recently invalidated Initiative 747, the 1% limit on property taxes. I have spoken with the Attorney General and after thorough review, he is not moving for reconsideration. Like you, I am very concerned about the effects of the court’s decision on the property taxpayers across the state. "
We haven't heard any criticism of the Republican Attorney General for not moving for reconsideration... have we! We also don't know how long the Republican Attorney General drug his feet before telling the Governor... do we! But the Editorial says; "The nearly two-week delay makes her seem indecisive, ..."
I guess in the Heralds View, there's no place for careful consideration in the machinery of government. Apparently everything should be based on knee-jerk reaction.
The Herald also said that it was "preposterous" for the State Supreme Court to think that voters might have been confused by the wording of the initiative... Obviously the Herald's Editorial writer doesn't talk to many voters. Voters aren't stupid, (well most of them aren't) but many of them haven't researched initiatives and referendums before they vote and the wording on the ballot is often unclear. A sentence or two on the ballot can't explain the ramification of a seemingly simple change to the law.
The Herald draws conclusions that aren't supported by facts, like: "It’s disturbing that some politicians couldn’t recognize what should be painfully obvious: Voters want to limit government’s ability to raise taxes. "
There's no evidence that "some politicians" don't recognize voters desire to limit tax increases. One of the dilemma's elected officials are faced with is how to provide the services that voters expect (and that are mandate by law) and not raise taxes.
Finally the Herald says; "We’re counting on lawmakers to reinstate the 1 percent limit. It’s a no-brainer. " Hmmm, I guess it's a no-brainer if you've had your brain rotted out by listening to nothing but rightwing propaganda. It sounds to me more like expecting lawmakers to bow to an election year media campaign.
The State Supreme Court ruled "that wording on the initiative was so confusing that voters may have misunderstood how they marked their ballots", so the logical and obvious thing to do is put a clearly worded referendum on the ballot and let the Voters indicate whether or not they were confused. (a temporary 1% cap could be enacted until next November)
Instead of regurgitating Republican propaganda that separates cause from effect, the Herald should be contributing to a serious and reasoned discussion of how to maintain the government services we've all come to count on... like schools & police & roads & clean drinking water(!). Nobody enjoys paying taxes but at the same time, there really is no such thing as a free lunch.
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