‘Why are we exporting billions of dollars around the state?’ The coming showdown over Seattle’s money (Spokane: car registration, houses)

[509]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

I'm not in favor of eastern Washington becoming a new state, in that it would add two more conservative U.S. Senators, but if they want to join Idaho, they're welcome to it - it would be a burden off our back.

If the Democrats win in 2020 and push for statehood for DC or Puerto Rico there is already talk of creating a "republican" state to balance the two liberal Senators from those areas.

The number one candidate is breaking out eastern Washington as the state of "Columbia".

Write the Governor and your state elected officials to start discussing now the split of the state, particularly if you live in western Washington.

If Washington state came with a "official" proposal to split the state it would be a done deal on the national level.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

When dollars get spread around the State, everyone wins. Eastern Washington pays the same taxes as Western Washington. When the economy of Eastern Washington is performing well, it helps the entire State. Additionally, the agriculture and energy sectors help the Western half. The theme that the Eastern half is not important, is complete B.S.

It is eastern Washington conservatives who are, falsely, claiming they are subsidizing western Washington. They are claiming that western Washington provides nothing of value to them. Western Washington liberals aren't the ones threatening to sue for a divorce.

How does the agriculture and energy sectors "help" western Washington? It makes no difference what state they're in - only the federal government can collect tariffs. There won't be border checks at the passes.

All I'm saying is, if they want to leave, fine, but not to form a new state. Joining Idaho, however, is okay with me. They might save some money on their license tabs, but will have to swallow hard and pay a state income tax, since sales and property taxes, alone, won't pay for the bills.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by Transmition

Who do you think buys the food?

Exactly. They are not providing the food for free, we BUY it. They are getting King County tax revenue. We pay for that food, we could just as easily buy that food elsewhere or grow it locally.

[Danbo1957]

The point is that no one is exploiting anyone else. We live in a broad economy which benefits all.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by Danbo1957

The point is that no one is exploiting anyone else. We live in a broad economy which benefits all.

Not true Texas. King county gave Pierce alone a half a billion dollars in one year. Take Pierce out of ST3 and make them pay for their own mass transit.

[rjshae]

Originally Posted by Danbo1957

The point is that no one is exploiting anyone else. We live in a broad economy which benefits all.

Well if Tim Eyman wins, not only will Seattle be funding the rest of the state, but the city won't telling them how to spend it. Heh. Such a deal.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by 509

If the Democrats win in 2020 and push for statehood for DC or Puerto Rico there is already talk of creating a "republican" state to balance the two liberal Senators from those areas.

The number one candidate is breaking out eastern Washington as the state of "Columbia".

Write the Governor and your state elected officials to start discussing now the split of the state, particularly if you live in western Washington.

If Washington state came with a "official" proposal to split the state it would be a done deal on the national level.

The U.S. Senate is already biased toward low-density small-population "red" states. I'd be in favor of a constitutional amendment to:

1) Reduce to one senator states with <2,000,000 population (Nebraska R/R, West Virginia R/B, Idaho R/R, Hawaii B/B, New Hampshire B/B, Maine R/I, Montana R/B, Rhode Island B/B, Delaware B/B, South Dakota R/R, North Dakota R/R, Alaska R/R, Vermont B/I, Wyoming R/R). Current: R=15, B=11, I=2. Total: 28 to 14. Population: 16.4 million.

2) Increase to three senators states with >7,000,000 population (Arizona R/R, Washington B/B, Virginia B/B, New Jersey B/B, Michigan B/B, North Carolina R/R, Georgia R/R, Ohio R/B, Illinois B/B, Pennsylvania R/B, New York B/B, Florida R/R, Texas R/R, California B/B). Current: B=16, R=12. Total: 28 to 42. Population: 210.1 million.

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by Seacove

Is the food free? No, it's not. They grow food for profit and everyone pays for it the same way they would pay for the food grown anywhere in the world. In fact, after all the subsidies, tariff relief and Western Washington tax contributions happen, an apple probably costs about twenty-five dollars. Western Washington could just as easily import food or grow their food locally and perhaps it would be cheaper.



Everyone does not win when Eastern Washington decides to "stick it to Seattle" by voting away Seattle's right to tax themselves to solve mass transit challenges. That article addresses the hypocrisy. People outside of King County say "we don't want to pay for Seattle" and reality is, King County funds the entire state. They give them money for roads they will never drive on. Pierce is the biggest taker and Yakima is right behind them followed by 33 other counties. King county didn't start this argument but if the other counties want to have that discussion, we should definitely have it and perhaps come to an agreement that each county pay their own bills. Take that same money going to those other counties, keep it in King County and King County's mass transit goals could be addressed.

Plenty of Western WA counties voted down the license tab issue.

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

It is eastern Washington conservatives who are, falsely, claiming they are subsidizing western Washington. They are claiming that western Washington provides nothing of value to them. Western Washington liberals aren't the ones threatening to sue for a divorce.

How does the agriculture and energy sectors "help" western Washington? It makes no difference what state they're in - only the federal government can collect tariffs. There won't be border checks at the passes.

All I'm saying is, if they want to leave, fine, but not to form a new state. Joining Idaho, however, is okay with me. They might save some money on their license tabs, but will have to swallow hard and pay a state income tax, since sales and property taxes, alone, won't pay for the bills.

Hydroelectric energy provides an advantage for all of Washington, and for that matter, the entire Pacific Northwest. And guess what? Most of the dams that provide this are located east of the Cascades.

Agriculture is huge in Washington State. Yes, it serves Western WA, but also many other countries around the world. This isn't to say there isn't ag in W. WA, but most of it occurs in E. WA. Fruit, Wheat, Potatoes, Wine. It is huge business and is a positive for the entire State.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

Hydroelectric energy provides an advantage for all of Washington, and for that matter, the entire Pacific Northwest. And guess what? Most of the dams that provide this are located east of the Cascades.

Agriculture is huge in Washington State. Yes, it serves Western WA, but also many other countries around the world. This isn't to say there isn't ag in W. WA, but most of it occurs in E. WA. Fruit, Wheat, Potatoes, Wine. It is huge business and is a positive for the entire State.

That's like me asking, "What would you do without cranberries?"

How would that be any different if eastern Washington were to join Idaho? Can you tell a Washington Potato from an Idaho Potato? I can't.