Tiger Blood and Union Riots

"I'm proud of what I've created. It was radical," he said. "I exposed people to magic. I exposed them to something they're never otherwise going to see in their boring, normal lives. And I gave that to them. I may forget about them tomorrow, but they'll live with that memory for the rest of their lives. And that's a gift, man."- Charlie Sheen

Sadly this magic doesn't seem to different from whats been going on in Wisconsin. Union busting or fighting for the tax payer? Sadly this fiasco has shown America the true depths of political maturity in America politics today. So you can win a debate by leaving the state and then complain that the Republicans are not "playing far"....really? how does that pan out, if Republicans left during the health care debate would the Democrats, simply say..."Well played sir"....Not likely. Way to much lately it seems that both parties are trying to use every trick in the book to discredit their adversary or try to label them as crazy as possible in order to prove there superiority. This tact seems about just as logical as a lot of the Charlie Sheen quotes plaguing the internet these days.

It seems like Wisconsin legislature is not bi-partisan their "Bi-Winnering", because after this fiasco both sides have them self convinced that they have discredited the other.

But in the end of the day what way real accomplished? The teacher protesters ran out of sick days, students in the public school system got an extra vacation and the senate dems got a mid session vacation.... but is the debit in their state any close to begin eradicated?.....didn't think so......   

With the serous nature of the problems out nations faces i would hope that our officials from both sides  would at least find a way to work together and fight for the preservation of our nation. Just like Charlie Sheen's Magic, the Wisconsin legislature showed the nation..... something they're never otherwise going to see in their boring, normal lives....the senators may forget about the people tomorrow but they'll live with that memory for the rest of their lives. And that's a gift, man!

A Sobering Look at the Budget

Like a lot of things in the government transparency hard to come by. On the topic of "reform" you would be surprised by the diversity of numbers regarding the debt in our state. So the questions beckons;  

What is out States Budget? 

What is our states actual deficit? 

According to the our governor our budget is;

"During the 2011-13 budget period, Washington state will spend about $75.5 billion to provide programs and services to citizens." (Governor Chris Gregoire) 

A sad truth,  (also a talking point for conservative legislatures) is that that number is actual a record profit for the state. So we are taking in more money then ever have before this cycle, but we don't have the funds to cover the short fall. But what is the short fall how much does out state actually owe?  

"The state was projected to have a deficit of $4.6 billion in 2011–13"(Governor Chris Gregoire) 

Overall the number doesn't seem to high but when we look at the overall cost of government its pretty bad. We could cut all the prisons (1.8 billion) all natural resource programs (1.6 billion) and half of the government employees and offices (2.15 billion) and we would just break even. (source:  Governor Chris Gregoire) 


Even tho our shortfall is only 18% of the over all income our state bring in, balancing the budget is going to be  hard thing to do. As we have seen in Wisconsin, balancing the budget can be a very unpopular thing to do.

A Test of Leadership: Budget Cuts

"As a general rule, politicians -- from the local level right up to the presidency -- hate uncertainty. When the public is as deeply divided (or confused) about such a major issue as the budget and the possibility of a government shutdown, politicians are left with no obvious course of action to move forward. In the face of such uncertainty, politicians typically punt -- pushing off the hardest decisions until there is more clarity in public opinion." (Washington Post)

With regard to the potential government "shut down" and the clashes with unions, at what point should our elected officials provide leadership instead of working for group consequences? We often times advocate for our legislature to listen to the will of the people, but when the governed  is divided when should they press on? This is a tough question for any leader to answer. In my view however i feel that out leaders should do what they feel is best especially when the times are as dark as this. Inaction is as dangerous as any option out there, and i would hope that our officials would listen to the people and do what they feel is best for the whole of America.

Government Shut Down and Union Contracts

"By March 4, lawmakers must pass a short-term resolution to continue funding the government, or President Obama and congressional leaders can strike a deal on how to fund government operations for the final seven months of fiscal 2011. Failing to do so would prompt at least a partial shutdown affecting various agencies and functions." (Washington Post) 

With federal government facing a possible shut down, and union protests and riots popping up in America, one has to wonder how is our electorate letting this happen? For a democratic nation there really is not much compromise and democracy going on lately. As we can see in the Federal government and in Wisconsin with the union protests, is seems more of a my way or the highway, in regards to regulation and legislation. I remember during the health care debates a year ago that we had similar party politics and controversy, but our electorate at least played the game and voted no or yes and was at least involved in the fight for Americas future.

How sad is it that sense a year ago, we have gotten to the point where compromise is worse then complete failure. Instead of working to find the middle ground, we try to starve our political adversaries. The fact that state senators could just pack up and leave to stall a vote to me is just a slap in the face of America politics. As i see it, acts like this illustrate the servility of the times we are in. I only hope that when things start getting worse more people will start waking up. And maybe just maybe, we can start working to fix the problems of our nation, instead of trying to pin our failures on the backs of our opponents. But then again I'm a realist, so batten down the hatches and hold on time, these next few years are going to be a bumpy ride. 

Union Debate

Should government employees be allow to unionize? In Wisconsin that question is on the chopping block. But ironically to the dismay of the republican majority the Democrats took the chopping block out of state. ( i wonder what would happen if they did that for healthcare reform?)

"Debate in the State Senate over Wisconsin’s controversial bill to cut collective bargaining rights for public workers ended, at least temporarily, on Thursday morning before it began. As the session was due to begin, Democrats failed to appear in the chamber, leaving the body without a quorum and leading the Republicans to send capitol officials in search of the Democrats." (New York Times)

Despite the stunt  by the Democrats in Wisconsin, the question beckons, should government employees be allow to unionize? The danger with having government employee unions is that they can lobby and effectively fight for the preservation of their jobs even if the regulation or the program that congress created no longer has a purpose. That can be very harmful especially when the government has to make drastic cuts to the budget. But with out unions the employees of the state would not have the collective bargaining abilities that they do now. So how else would they be able to voice their option or concern about regulation or issues relating to there employment? What ever your views his push from reform is a very telling sign of the hard times to come.

So once they find the Democrats what will happen to the governments unions and could this be the begin of national reform?

Stories From the Nanny State: Monopoly 2.0

My heart sank after i read this article in the New York times. Hasbro has come out with Monopoly 2.0, but this time there is a computer watching your every move and insuring there is no funny business with the banking, or modifications of rules. It even watch how many space you move. ..


"Hasbro showed a preview of the new version, called Monopoly Live, at this week’s Toy Fair in New York. It is the classic Monopoly board on the outside, with the familiar railroads like the B.& O. and the development of property. But in the center, instead of dice and Chance and Community Chest cards, an infrared tower with a speaker issues instructions, keeps track of money and makes sure players adhere to the rules. The all-knowing tower even watches over advancing the proper number of spaces." (New York Times)

So big brother is even watching over the comical board game of free market enterprise. This truly is a sad day for Monopoly players everywhere. I remember as a child having to do the math in my head as to the cost/revenue figures of property owner ship. Or creating investment plans with my friends to get the highest yielding returns on my property investment. Now with the All Knowing Computer watching over the game the experiences will never be the same. All we need know is the bailout button and the game will be a direct representation of our current economy. I just hope they don't try to change anymore of my childhood board games. Apples to Apples the PC version? Risk the UN addition? The future of board games looks bleak indeed.

Higher Education: Cutting Spending

"In the past two years alone, WSU's tuition has increased 30 percent as the university has attempted to plug the shortfall of millions of dollars in state funding, said Joan King, executive director of planning and budgeting. The amount of support WSU receives from the state has decreased by 30 percent - or $133 million - in the last 18 months."(Daily Evergreen)   

Across the state programs are getting cut drastically because of our state's deficit. Higher education is not alone in feeling the brunt of the cuts, but as the question arises should higher education be cut as much as it is? With cuts as drastic as this the student across the state are starting to wake up the the reality of the state of our government.

Students are confused and angry at the increases in tuition costs for their education. The universities and education union often bus students to Olympia from across the state to lobby for increase spending on higher education, often my means of tax increases.

But propping up education at the expense of businesses  provides our state with more college graduates but creates more post education unemployment. So the real question is what can the students of Washington state do to reduce the cuts in education, without damaging the working environment post education?   

On my blog i try to advocate for realistic solution or to at least propose ideas to drive the conversation to something more productive then just political posturing and banter. If your interested in making a real impact i have posted info on higher education bills that are in the works, that you could get involved in. Check it out, contact your legislature and get off the bench and fight for your future.

(Link to Bill information )