Budget play
Things were neglected in this state for decades because a certain political party found it a convenient winning formula to be against spending on education and infrastructure, so Democrats have to be responsible now and take action.
Corollary: Conservatives, media outlets and reactionary think tanks don't get to kvetch endlessly about "selling the kids short" and then start trashing the budget when someone tries to do something to improve math and science scores. Well, they do get to do it, because we have free speech, but it should be obvious to anyone who has followed things over time that one reason the 520 bridge is just going to sink one day is because of the GOP's and Tim Eyman's endless kvetching. Despite efforts to increase teacher pay and lower class sizes, there's still some work to be done on the education front as well.
Being in the kvetching business myself, I have a certain fondness for it, but really, who the hell cares about a minor shortfall that may or may not happen in 2011 or whenever? Those economic forecasts change every ten minutes anyhow. I'll fix your revenue stream for you, pal-- in one easy constitutional amendment. Right here.
This is a serious budget to deal with serious problems that have built up over time. People want their kids to be properly educated and they want to be able to get home from work to see them before bedtime, and they have always wanted that. Too bad we didn't do more things starting in say, 1990. But it was easier to kvetch endlessly about taxes than actually do something. Anyone remember when the House was tied?
Things that some conservatives don't like are not waste simply because they don't like them. Media outlets and conservative think tanks should think longer about who they put forward to kvetch and whether the kvetching has any merit. Otherwise the best thing to do is pat them on the head and tell them it will all be ok in the end.
You know, the same thing you do with the kids. "It's okay, the grown-ups will handle things, you just go play with your grant money and see if that nice Seattle Times fellow will show you his inheritance tax."
And wash your hands, I heard those right wing think tanks have cooties.
Corollary: Conservatives, media outlets and reactionary think tanks don't get to kvetch endlessly about "selling the kids short" and then start trashing the budget when someone tries to do something to improve math and science scores. Well, they do get to do it, because we have free speech, but it should be obvious to anyone who has followed things over time that one reason the 520 bridge is just going to sink one day is because of the GOP's and Tim Eyman's endless kvetching. Despite efforts to increase teacher pay and lower class sizes, there's still some work to be done on the education front as well.
Being in the kvetching business myself, I have a certain fondness for it, but really, who the hell cares about a minor shortfall that may or may not happen in 2011 or whenever? Those economic forecasts change every ten minutes anyhow. I'll fix your revenue stream for you, pal-- in one easy constitutional amendment. Right here.
This is a serious budget to deal with serious problems that have built up over time. People want their kids to be properly educated and they want to be able to get home from work to see them before bedtime, and they have always wanted that. Too bad we didn't do more things starting in say, 1990. But it was easier to kvetch endlessly about taxes than actually do something. Anyone remember when the House was tied?
Things that some conservatives don't like are not waste simply because they don't like them. Media outlets and conservative think tanks should think longer about who they put forward to kvetch and whether the kvetching has any merit. Otherwise the best thing to do is pat them on the head and tell them it will all be ok in the end.
You know, the same thing you do with the kids. "It's okay, the grown-ups will handle things, you just go play with your grant money and see if that nice Seattle Times fellow will show you his inheritance tax."
And wash your hands, I heard those right wing think tanks have cooties.
