Census: King County booming, but some counties dying off (Seattle: 2014, quality of life)

[CarlB328]

This won't be surprising to anyone, but I am kind of surprised at how accepting people seem to be nowdays about our state being assaulted with massive growth. Washington has always been a progressive state and I would expect people to be more understanding of the inevitable negative long-term consequencies of unchecked growth on our quality of life not to mention the environment.

Census: King County booming, but some state counties dying off | FYI Guy | Seattle Times

[rantiquity]

The reason King county is far ahead of other counties is because state money is concentrated there. Counties in Western Washington and the Peninsula are forgotten because they don't vote the same way as Seattle. No Rocket Science here, just facts.

[509]

It is more than just state spending.

Federal gas tax dollars have been shifted from eastern Washington to western Washington. According to WASHDOT, far eastern Washington ONLY get 46 cents back for every dollar in state and federal gas taxes, and other transportation fees. So eastern Washington gas tax dollars land in the Puget Sound area.

Western Washington has a large military infrastructure which really helps. Military payrolls and expenses are major in the region.

Then there is BOEING.

When Barron's did an article on Federal corporate welfare spending they split the analysis into two sections. One was ALL FEDERAL corporate welfare programs such as farming, etc, etc. The other was BOEING. Yes, Boeing corporate welfare is equal to ALL OTHER CORPORATE WELFARE PROGRAMS. The date of the article was in the late 1990's, but given recent trends they might be over 50% these days.

[sean98125]

The reason state money is concentrated in King County and (Pierce and Snohomish Counties) is because that is where the majority of people and jobs are in the state.

[PS90]

That's fine with me. I'm okay with sending some of tax dollars away to a far-away place (King County), never to be seen again. As long as that means that the rambling horde of civilization is concentrated in one small place, far away from me.

[Tac-Sea]

Originally Posted by PS90

That's fine with me. I'm okay with sending some of tax dollars away to a far-away place (King County), never to be seen again. As long as that means that the rambling horde of civilization is concentrated in one small place, far away from me.

I agree with this guy.

[Botev1912]

52% of the state population lives in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Also, roads in Eastern Washington are in much better condition and King County has the worst roads in the state.

[sll3454]

Originally Posted by CarlB328

This won't be surprising to anyone, but I am kind of surprised at how accepting people seem to be nowdays about our state being assaulted with massive growth. Washington has always been a progressive state and I would expect people to be more understanding of the inevitable negative long-term consequencies of unchecked growth on our quality of life not to mention the environment.

Census: King County booming, but some state counties dying off | FYI Guy | Seattle Times

I must have already read my free articles for the month. The Times won't let me see this one.

[jm31828]

Originally Posted by CarlB328

This won't be surprising to anyone, but I am kind of surprised at how accepting people seem to be nowdays about our state being assaulted with massive growth. Washington has always been a progressive state and I would expect people to be more understanding of the inevitable negative long-term consequencies of unchecked growth on our quality of life not to mention the environment.

Census: King County booming, but some state counties dying off | FYI Guy | Seattle Times

We can't really control the growth- growth is people moving here, companies expanding as they grow larger and need more workers/facilities. We can't just close the borders and tell people to stop moving here, and we can't tell companies to stop growing.
I do wish we could stop more people from moving here, though, but I feel like a hypocrite saying that since I myself was a newcomer here 4 and a half years ago.

[Olympian2]

Originally Posted by sll3454

I must have already read my free articles for the month. The Times won't let me see this one.

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