Reader feedback

Writers facts are topsy-turvy

In his Dec. 17 letter to the editor, Dean Jenniges turns the facts on their heads by blaming Governor Gregoire for the $6 billion revenue shortfall Washington faces next year.

Apparently his partisan blinders keep him from noticing that “free market” scams by Republican fat cats have left us all with a global economic meltdown. He must see the facts in an ideological mirror with images reversed.

Gene Bullock

Poulsbo

New Year

A perfect time to come together

I’m writing to say that, as the New Year approaches, it is a good time to reflect as how we move forward as a community, county, state and nation.

The recent election saw the people speak in record numbers.

Some people seem to be unable to move past the rigid ideology of in-your-face, my world, my way or the highway thinking.

Fact is, we are in a significant economic downturn.

Superfluously, ranting and criticizing, blaming county commissioners and our elected officials certainly doesn’t do anything to address the solutions to the problems we all face in times of economic uncertainty.

We need to look to the new year in a spirit of working together to find solutions to problems like trying to balance a family budget, and, making sure senior citizens who no longer have a spouse are covered under a health plan and have a support system. We need to make sure that Social Security is sound so that there is a safety net for those who want to live their lives with dignity.

And let’s find solutions to maintaining a health environment, something we can all benefit from.

Let’s put aside rancor, hostility and intransigence in the spirit of the holiday season and move into the new year with a vision of building a positive future for our community, county, state and nation.

John Eastman

Poulsbo

Electoral college

It’s run the course and it’s time to go

Recently there have been comments that our electoral college system is outdated and unfair. The League of Women Voters has a position that states the direct-popular-vote method for electing the president and vice president is essential to represent government and the electoral college should be abolished. Last June, delegates to the national LWV convention voted to study a proposal that would keep the electoral college in place but would have its count reflect the popular vote nationwide.

This proposal is called The National Popular Vote Compact.

It has already been passed by four states and passed the Washington state Senate last session (SSB 5628). Our local League plans to study this proposal next spring and welcomes new members who wish to participate in our non-partisan study and discussions.

Ellen Fisher

President, Kitsap League of Women Voters

Bainbridge Island

State politics

Maybe Dino Rossi won after all

Perhaps Dino Rossi did “win” after all.

Faced with a “budget” deficit of nearly $6 billion, Gov. Christine Gregoire said she would fund programs and services mandated by the Constitution and not “discretionary” programs. Good call Gov, sounds just like Dino. After all, the scope of authority of the government is actually defined by the Constitution.The “discretion” allowable under the Constitution relates to how mandated functions are completed not how many more functions government might wish to assume or spend money on.

The Gov will find it easy to achieve her “Fund Constitutional mandates” budget objective and find a way to reduce the tax burden on the people of Washington.

Since there is no mandate in the Constitution for GMA she can eliminate that funding guzzler and the departments that feed at the GMA trough (like CTED and Ecology). She could also do away with a bunch of health insurance mandates. A side benefit will be a sharp reduction in the number of lobbyists hanging around the capital.

If the Gov can find the courage to do the job she was actually hired to do, “We the people” get what Dino promised.

Jack Hamilton

Silverdale