Washington State has gradually, inexorably moved away from 'consent of the governed.' (Seattle: for sale, real estate market)

[travis t]

The phrase "consent of the governed" was not an American invention, but was one of our bedrock principles. The phrase is found in the Declaration of Independence.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

I argue that Washington State has been gradually moving away from this. It's little-noted that anti-tax activist Tim Eyman got his start after the Seattle Mariners stadium debacle. A tax funded stadium was put to a vote in King County. The vote failed. The state legislature subsequently rammed through a modified version. A young watch salesman incensed by this, and so began a long career of activism.

His first project was an initiative for 'no car tab tax,' which failed. He came back with $30 car tabs in 1999, which passed by a healthy margin of 56-43%. But a public sector union promptly sued the voters, and got it thrown out. But a frightened legislature and governor enacted a similar measure anyway.

Over the years, the fright has faded. I-976 was passed by a healthy margin, and again the voters find themselves being sued. This time not by a public sector union, but by the government itself. Last year an initiative to block so-called 'safe injection sites' was proposed in King County. The courts said no.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...injection-site

One last example for partisan balance: voters in 2018 approved initiative 1639 by 59-40%. This put certain restrictions on assault rifles statewide. This time a group of at least 8 county sheriffs announced that they would not enforce this law.

'Consent of the governed' is gradually, inexorably, being chipped away.

[NWbyNW]

Any little gain made by the moderates and conservatives, the leftists quickly call out with 'isms' or call it unconstitutional. They want to penalize something the people voted for.

It's horrible seeing how far gone this state has become. You just have to look at Seattle to see where the policies have left us. It's sad.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by NWbyNW

Any little gain made by the moderates and conservatives, the leftists quickly call out with 'isms' or call it unconstitutional. They want to penalize something the people voted for.

It's horrible seeing how far gone this state has become. You just have to look at Seattle to see where the policies have left us. It's sad.

The Seattle metro is subsidizing the rest of the state, not the other way around. Large parts of Eastern and Southwest Washington are economic basket cases.

The huge Trump tax cuts have fueled speculation in the real estate markets, inflating housing prices and rents far above what would be normal appreciation. That's where average workers and middle class families are getting slammed in the keister.

[rkcarguy]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

The Seattle metro is subsidizing the rest of the state, not the other way around. Large parts of Eastern and Southwest Washington are economic basket cases.

This doesn't give the Seattle area any right to dictate the laws and policies of the rest of the state.

Furthermore, I ask..."show me the money".....I want to see a link to a state document that shows taxes collected vs. taxes spent by county. I have no doubt that there are "welfare counties" that suck up more than their tax base, but I also know that our *transportation* taxes are not spent evenly (at last look-cant find that report now) around the state either with only about 43 cents per $1 spent in Eastern WA and somewhere to the tune of $1.30 per $1 being spent in the Seattle Metro area despite it already being a huge tax base. So far no one has produced any hard proof of what the numbers actually are.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

The Seattle metro is subsidizing the rest of the state, not the other way around. Large parts of Eastern and Southwest Washington are economic basket cases.

So, are you proposing that Washington state should be a plutocracy (a government controlled by rich people) and not a democracy?

Why should rich Seattle get to tell the majority of the state's citizens that their votes are not important?

That sounds very intolerant and un-liberal to me...

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by rkcarguy

This doesn't give the Seattle area any right to dictate the laws and policies of the rest of the state.

But it is alright for the rest of the state to dictate what the Seattle metro can or cannot do to solve its mobility crisis? Give me a break. The rest of the state is paying no state taxes for Sound Transit, except for sales taxes when visiting (and they aren't included in I-796).

If you want to blame someone, blame Timmy, who has suckered you once again and is laughing all the way to the bank.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by PS90

So, are you proposing that Washington state should be a plutocracy (a government controlled by rich people) and not a democracy?

Why should rich Seattle get to tell the majority of the state's citizens that their votes are not important?

That sounds very intolerant and un-liberal to me...

See my post above ^^^^^^^^

The premise of this thread is entirely the other way around.

[Transmition]

Originally Posted by rkcarguy

This doesn't give the Seattle area any right to dictate the laws and policies of the rest of the state.

Furthermore, I ask..."show me the money".....I want to see a link to a state document that shows taxes collected vs. taxes spent by county. I have no doubt that there are "welfare counties" that suck up more than their tax base, but I also know that our *transportation* taxes are not spent evenly (at last look-cant find that report now) around the state either with only about 43 cents per $1 spent in Eastern WA and somewhere to the tune of $1.30 per $1 being spent in the Seattle Metro area despite it already being a huge tax base. So far no one has produced any hard proof of what the numbers actually are.

Here you go:
https://ofm.wa.gov/sites/default/fil...s_revenues.pdf


Published last month that has the values for 2016 and since these things don't last forever in the same online location I've extracted the data and put it below. Ranked by revenue generated by each county for the state, and lists the amount of money they get back per dollar.

Report title:
State Expenditures and Revenues by County: Fiscal Year 2016
November 2019, OFM Forecasting and Research Division

Revenue ($thousands) 2016 Expenditures to Revenues
King_________ 8041.9 0.63
Snohomish____ 1826.8 1.02
Pierce_______ 1804.4 1.28
Spokane______ 1052.9 1.33
Clark________ 869.7 1.43
Thurston_____ 569.1 1.24
Whatcom______ 483.1 1.04
Kitsap_______ 481.3 1.30
Benton_______ 467.7 1.18
Yakima_______ 431.0 1.92
Skagit_______ 345.7 0.92
Chelan_______ 219.6 0.95
Cowlitz______ 202.9 1.47
Grant________ 200.4 1.49
Franklin_____ 157.5 1.75
Lewis________ 145.1 1.42
Clallam______ 128.9 1.44
Island_______ 128.4 1.22
Grays_Harbor_ 112.1 1.71
Walla_Walla__ 107.4 1.50
Kittitas_____ 102.5 0.99
Douglas______ 91.5 1.22
Mason________ 77.7 1.88
Whitman______ 77.4 1.27
Okanogan_____ 68.1 2.07
San_Juan_____ 58.5 0.53
Jefferson____ 57.7 1.00
Stevens______ 53.4 2.00
Klickitat____ 41.7 1.20
Asotin_______ 33.5 1.73
Adams________ 33.3 1.98
Pacific______ 31.5 1.67
Pend_Oreille_ 17.6 1.73
Skamania_____ 15.7 1.40
Lincoln______ 15.1 1.92
Ferry________ 10.0 1.72
Columbia_____ 7.8 1.24
Garfield_____ 4.8 1.26
Wahkiakum____ 4.8 1.78

[leastprime]

Oregon increase the 2 year "tag" fee from $86 to $112, Jan 01,2018. The increase fee was researched and debated for 3 election cycles. Primary reasons was population growth resulted in congested highways and roads and better gas mileage. Oregon is #3 behind WA and CA in hybrid and full EV, in conjunction with better ICE engines. The gas tax was raised previously but that revenue was inadequate and did not account for future hybrid and EV.

No one likes taxes but Washington missed the opportunity to have inexpensive light rail and is now paying for congestion, and a very high catchup game.

Oregon the older state is looks further out than Its younger cleaved state.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by Transmition

Here you go:
https://ofm.wa.gov/sites/default/fil...s_revenues.pdf


Published last month that has the values for 2016 and since these things don't last forever in the same online location I've extracted the data and put it below. Ranked by revenue generated by each county for the state, and lists the amount of money they get back per dollar.

Report title:
State Expenditures and Revenues by County: Fiscal Year 2016
November 2019, OFM Forecasting and Research Division

Revenue ($thousands) 2016 Expenditures to Revenues
King_________ 8041.9 0.63
Snohomish____ 1826.8 1.02
Pierce_______ 1804.4 1.28
Spokane______ 1052.9 1.33
Clark________ 869.7 1.43
Thurston_____ 569.1 1.24
Whatcom______ 483.1 1.04
Kitsap_______ 481.3 1.30
Benton_______ 467.7 1.18
Yakima_______ 431.0 1.92
Skagit_______ 345.7 0.92
Chelan_______ 219.6 0.95
Cowlitz______ 202.9 1.47
Grant________ 200.4 1.49
Franklin_____ 157.5 1.75
Lewis________ 145.1 1.42
Clallam______ 128.9 1.44
Island_______ 128.4 1.22
Grays_Harbor_ 112.1 1.71
Walla_Walla__ 107.4 1.50
Kittitas_____ 102.5 0.99
Douglas______ 91.5 1.22
Mason________ 77.7 1.88
Whitman______ 77.4 1.27
Okanogan_____ 68.1 2.07
San_Juan_____ 58.5 0.53
Jefferson____ 57.7 1.00
Stevens______ 53.4 2.00
Klickitat____ 41.7 1.20
Asotin_______ 33.5 1.73
Adams________ 33.3 1.98
Pacific______ 31.5 1.67
Pend_Oreille_ 17.6 1.73
Skamania_____ 15.7 1.40
Lincoln______ 15.1 1.92
Ferry________ 10.0 1.72
Columbia_____ 7.8 1.24
Garfield_____ 4.8 1.26
Wahkiakum____ 4.8 1.78

Donor counties (% of revenues received back):

1. San Juan 53%
2. King 63%
3. Skagit 92%
4. Chelan 95%
5. Kittitas 99%

Although, to be fair, the last three don't cover the state government overhead, so are in effect "recipients".

The top ten "welfare queen" counties:

1. Okanogan 207%
2. Stevens 200%
3. Adams 198%
4. Yakima 192%
(tie) Lincoln 192%
6. Mason 188%
7. Whakiakum 178%
8. Franklin 175%
9. Pend Oreille 173%
(tie) Asotin 173%