We all know we are in an “off” year for elections. With fewer ballots being returned, fewer people paying attention to what is going on, and with the growing movement of “Why should I vote, my vote doesn’t count” ongoing; we will continue to see more negative changes affecting everyone. With city council races, school boards, fire districts, and hospital districts happening this year, just to name a few, we should be more actively involved, rather than less. So much change can happen and has happened at the local level.
You may have heard the term “bottom-up government” rather than “top-down”. This simply means that at the local level, there is the power to regulate what is going on in our communities by people who actually live in them. However, what we see is the attitude of “if it doesn’t affect me…” then people don’t care. It is affecting everyone; whether or not you are feeling it now. You will. Look at the cap and trade – a gas tax that isn’t a gas tax – every quarter, there is an auction for ‘carbon credits’. After the auction happens, the gas prices go up. (30% increase since the first of the year!) Perhaps you haven’t noticed that Washington State now ranks number one (#1) with the highest gas prices in the country! You don’t have to believe me – just drive to another state – any other state. People are paying less – and we aren’t paying attention.
It is for our own “good”. They (the government) know what they are doing. They care for us, they wouldn’t raise prices if they didn’t need to. Currently, Washington state boasts just shy of a 70 million dollar ($70,000,000.00) budget. However, our rainy day fund will last less than a month. This means that our state government can only keep things rolling for that time – unless they transfer money from another fund or raise taxes. Our tax dollars are not hard at work; at least not for us. When surplus money is used for special interest projects instead of being returned to residents to help where needed, there is a problem. A problem we aren’t acknowledging.
What does this mean at the local level? Cities and counties now have the power to raise taxes without a vote of the people or even letting them know. (Taxation without representation!) We need people in these positions who care about our communities, not special interests. The local level can help to ease some burdens people are facing by reducing taxes and reducing wasteful spending. They can reduce the cost of building permits and/or create ways to make it more affordable for people to build with less regulation and cost. They can stop giving raises to workers when they aren’t needed as they are doing less, not more.
Our local school boards have the power over curricula that is being taught to our children. They should look at them, determining what is in the best interest of our children rather than accepting the “provided” curricula” by the OSPI [Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction]. Without people in positions that can think for themselves and who will stand up against the mainstream to push back on negative learning ideals; perhaps we would see a rise in our state testing rather than the freefall it’s in.
Now, take a breath, not all Dems are bad. Some of them share the same concerns we have for the future of our children. While they may not agree on everything we hold dear, there are those who side with us and realize that things can and should be better. Once upon a time, Democrats and Republicans worked together for the best interest of the people. It is time we stop listening to those who say “Your vote doesn’t count” since it will never count if you don’t vote. Yes, we recognize there are issues with election integrity. There are real things that need to be addressed and challenged. However, with the way things are going with people not voting, soon they won’t need to worry about that at all. Since there will be no votes to challenge the changes being made.
Every election is important, no matter if it happens during a presidential year or an off year. In order to see change, we need to make it happen. The alternative is continuing to suffer under bad policies and higher price increases. We will become numb to them. So used to having a heavy burden on our backs that we won’t be able to worry about making change, only surviving. Some people are already there; making choices on how they can continue to live. Being homeless is now an option that is not only considered, but done. Living out of cars, ruined RVs, and tents. Living off the government is more cost-effective than having a job. Those of us who are still working have the increased burden of paying for their support through our taxes.
Consider making a choice. VOTE whether you believe your vote matters or not. Make those who continue to straddle us with higher taxes, gas prices and food costs work harder to try and push these costly, yet ineffective policies upon us. Who knows, maybe it will be your vote that WILL make the difference.