Priorities

  

Living in the Pacific Northwest, we enjoy the beauty of mountains, ocean and inlets, parks and National Forests. It seems a luxury to look out, year-round, at evergreen forests, snow capped mountains, and endless waterways (Of course, this comes with a lot of rain and overcast days. You can't have it all). But, to keep the parks and forests open to be enjoyed requires money, mostly tax money. Those governmental and business types across the country in the "other Washington" don't seem to consider these natural resources as priorities.

Forest Service roads and trails are not being cleared after storms. The National Parks are not being adequately staffed or maintained. We owe a huge vote of thanks to the many volunteers who have "jumped into the breech" to help in these areas. The last presidential administration in that "other Washington" saw fit to give massive huge tax cuts( Approximately $1.5 trillion), mostly to those in the top income brackets. The tax cuts were paid for with, Guess what?- Borrowing money and increasing the National Debt. Strange priorities.

On another level, schools in Washington are cutting sports, music, art, drama, and other programs, while consolidating school districts and trimming teachers and staff. There are the usual outcries among taxpayers that teachers are paid too much; that there are too many administrators; that frivolous subjects are being taught; and that money is being wasted. Then, there are the residents of upscale senior communities that see no reason they should be taxed for schools when they don't have children in school. I doubt these folks know many teachers personally.

As I travel around this state, I see numerous gambling casinos, with hundreds of cars outside on all days and times. Some of these establishments have entertainment, eateries, and even hotels. It's nice that Indian tribes are receiving support from some of these casinos. If so many people seem to want to spend their money in this way, perhaps we should have some new casinos to fund the schools ;-).
Strange priorities.