Saturday, November 3, 2012 • Whidbey News-Times
Vote for those who improves finances “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Edmund Burke Such truth in 15 words: words that can make the difference between enthusiastic liberty and a life of apathy. We are now at a historical juncture that can affect generations. Our state and nation are encumbered with entitlements and horrific debt. My involvement in politics began 46 years ago with a Republican mother and Democrat father, both unabashed patriots. My father, a World War II vet, marched at Bataan and was a prisoner of war for more than two years. He changed to the Republican Party about the same time as Ronald Reagan and was a strong supporter of Reagan ideals, especially the character of America. Through study I realized that success and happiness in the human condition are built upon self dependency and faith in God. Getting out of debt cycles and not viewing government as our benefactor is critical. We must be thinkers and problem solvers and teach our children to be the same. Someone once said, “The soul is seldom sold in one great auction. It is bartered away in a thousand tiny trades, a little bit at a time.” The same can be said of nations. We must vote for those who will lessen financial dependencies, make a positive future for our children and allow us to maintain the Judeo Christian ideals of our forefathers. We are “one nation under God.” Now more than ever, may God bless America. Rosi Isbell-Hendrickson Freeland
Research ALEC before voting I recently watched an episode of PBS’s “Moyers and Company” that dealt with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is a corporatefunded organization that puts lobbyists together with legislators from around the country in order to write “model” legislation that the ALEC members take back to their various legislatures and introduce as their “own” bills. This, of course, puts the corporate influence into the bill before it even gets to the
state legislature. The show featured an interactive map that allowed viewers to see if any of their legislators were ALEC members. The map indicated that Barbara Bailey was a member of both ALEC and an ALEC task force — health and human services. I called Rep. Bailey’s Oak Harbor office to ask if the map information was accurate. The person who answered the phone said yes, she did in fact hold those two memberships, among many others. I would strongly urge anyone who is concerned about corporate influence and money on the democratic process to research ALEC and how it does business. “The United States of ALEC” may still be viewed at billmoyers.com. Richard Johnston Coupeville
‘Dynamic duo’ has wrong priorities Island County commissioners Homola and Price Johnson have their priorities mixed up in more ways than one. They deem an additional planner has a higher priority than what a sheriff’s deputy would provide for public safety. Public safety is required by the Constitution, whereas the planning function is not. When Whidbey Camano Land Trust acquires property for public use, it is removed from the tax rolls and the tax burden is then indirectly transferred to the taxpayers. Does that justify the dominant duo in the commissioners’ office taking thousands of tax dollars from the Conservation Futures Fund to fill the Land Trust coffers? That money came from the taxpayers for purposes other than bailing out a nonprofit organization! The county health department has a mandatory annual inspection required of non-standard septic systems, while standard systems have inspections once every three years. Using that schedule, we owners of non-standard are charged three times more than standard system inspections. This discriminatory treatment our commissioner duo ignore, since they consider income of greater importance than making the tax burden easier for taxpayers in difficult times. Since their tenure in office, commissioners Homola and Price Johnson have drained what surplus funds there were to further programs that have insignificant value.
Thus there are budgetary problems while the county acquires more assets via transfers by the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. Have the dominant duo thought of divesting the county of assets to be able to fund the budget without creating another tax or fee to saddle the taxpayers with? It would seem logical that a public disclosure of where the Conservation Futures Funds are disbursed is necessary so the taxpayer can voice concern as to the use. Besides the solar panel and ornate gate on the Trillium land approach, how much of the funds given to the Land Trust went for salaries and other purposes that the public is unaware of? Please refrain from the euphemism, “It is for the common good.” That is so pompous sounding and disgustingly false! Robert Turner Clinton
Vote Johnson to go backwards A drive through Oak Harbor reveals volumes about the District 2 Commissioner race. It seems that almost every empty lot, owned by only a few developers, has an oversized Jill Johnson sign. These are some of the same people who want to extend urban sprawl out over farmlands and forests. Rewind to the last election when voters were clear about their concerns for our farms, open space, property values and public health and safety. They elected Angie Homola because she understood the effectiveness of transparent government, and had the visionary planning ability to develop our economy and maintain our quality of life. A vote for Jill is a vote to return to an age of cronyism and backroom government, where the interests of a few will usurp the desires of many. I prefer a commissioner who puts citizens first. Maintain your voice in county government. Re-elect Angie Homola. Rose Kinnebrew Oak Harbor
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