Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Is this who we want running Washington State? Tim Eyman the publicity hound?

Running a state is no small thing. It's serious business. It's not a laugh-a-minute job, and those who think it is often quickly learn otherwise.

I don't think there are many people who would disagree with that. Except this guy:


Tim Eyman delivering petition signatures, 2005 . (Spokesman-Review)


Tim Eyman delivering petition signatures, 2006. (NPI Advocate)

I guess it takes all kinds. Not that you can tell by looking, but both of these callow stunts come courtesy of everyone's favorite initiative monger, Tim Eyman. Eyman doesn't seem to get the basic concept that running a government is serious business, a deficiency that is equally evident in both the content of his initiatives, like his latest work of economic Armageddon I-1033, and the media-stunt tactics he uses to publicize them.

It would be laughable, except that running a government is not a joke. Running the government is not an opportunity for self-aggrandizement. It's not a venue for getting your fifteen minutes of fame. Or at least, it shouldn't be.

Running a government is serious business. Washington's government affects the lives of its estimated 6.5 millions citizens. That's a big deal. It really is. It baffles me that there's somebody out there who wants to tear everything apart. Somebody who just doesn't get that messing with public services means messing with real people's lives. This is not a game.

I get it. You get it. And I don't think I'm being even slightly radical by preferring that my state government be run by the smartest, most sober-minded individuals available. I-1033 is not serious governance . But then, what would you expect from Darth Vader in a gorilla suit?

Comments:

Blogger RobertSeattle said...

To call Tim Eyman an attention whore is to besmirch whores.

October 7, 2009 1:50 PM  

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