Dedicated to the Memory of Matt Driscoll, formally of The Seattle Weekly
It is my sad duty to report that a past ally of the Seattle taxi industry, Matt Driscoll, editorial page editor and columnist for the Tacoma News Tribune, died suddenly at his home on July 22, 2024 of what has been described as hypertensive heart disease. I knew Matt thorough his work at the Seattle Weekly, where he sometimes wrote and reported on our local taxi struggles and me personally. Just this past June 10th, Matt and I exchanged a friendly email, with Matt commenting that "that not much had changed" for Seattle taxi since his time at the Weekly. Too true of course but the loss of Matt is not the kind of change the Tacoma News Tribune or the local writing community needed. His political outlook embraced everyone, whether he agreed with them or not. He was compassionate and just. His empathy will be missed by the entire State of Washington. Goodbye to a good man and writer. There is a GoFundMe account set up to assist his wife and 3 children. I donated. I encourage you to do the same.
Don't Be A Dolt, Vote!
According to Merriam-Webster, synonyms for dolt, are, in part, numbskull, dimwit, dunce, dullard, ignoramus, doofus, chowderhead, buffoon. lamebrain, clodpoll; all very descriptive nouns of someone who isn't particularly bright. And given the history of the United States, if you are foolish to the point of taking the privilege of casting a vote for granted, then you too are worthy of another synonym: idiot.
For those amongst us who could be categorized as "asleep at the wheel," for much of American history, voting rights, and who was allowed to vote, was limited by prejudice, discrimination, racism, misogyny and pure hatred of humanity in general. Much of this animosity remains, illustrated by the continuing obstacles to voting now put forward by GOP allies and conies, doing everything they can to restrict everyone's right to cast a ballot. In our nations's early history, only white, male property owners could vote. I think some would be happy if that still was the prevailing reality, not letting the unwashed rabble have any voice in deciding their own fate.
Across the globe, a vast percentage of the world's population still have little say when it comes to deciding who governs them. Here, for the moment, we still share that right to elect who represents us locally, and at the state and Federal government level. Be glad you have this special privilege.
Back in November 1972, when I was 18, back in Denver, Colorado, I was thrilled to be able to vote for George McGovern for President and Patricia Schroeder for Congress. Schroeder was a great congresswoman, later dubbing Ronald Reagan the "Teflon President" for nothing ever sticking to that not completely honest president. Regardless of anything, vote this election season. Make your voice, your vote count!
And clodpoll is another word for blockhead. Com' on, I know you don't want to known as someone like that! Be a bright, shining star in our twinkling elective universe. Vote!
My Recommendations for 2024, National and Local (Seattle, King County, State) Elections, Part One
As I don't see myself moving back to the State of Washington, for economic reasons if nothing else, this will be my last commentary on what, locally in Seattle, will no longer be a concern of mine. Matt Driscoll, when writing at The Seattle Weekly, commented on my past recommendations, which is how I came to know and appreciate him. I am listing the WA State Initiatives and the Candidates in the order they are presented on your ballot. I do not list the candidates who have no opposition, so in that sense there are a few omissions. I also don't list the candidates that are not in my Broadview/North Seattle district. I did some small research on all of the candidates I have listed, hopefully implying that my recommendations are based upon fact and not bias or misinformation. I might, minus argument, hate everybody in general but I try to be selective with my personal perdition. One must be broadminded!
The Statewide Initiatives: Numbers 2066, 2109, 2117, 2124
What is important to know is that these initiatives exist due only to the effort and money from one man, Brian Heywood, a hedge fund executive (worth approximately 25 million dollars), who created "Let's Go Washington," Heywood funding an army of petition gathers to get the initiatives on the ballot. I will briefly describe each one but I voted against all of them. Why? Because, with these initiatives becoming WA ST law, the over all heath and physical well-being of WA ST residents will be put into jeopardy.
Is Brian Heywood an evil man, looking to kill his fellow Washingtonians, a kind of mass murderer? Of course not but money appears to be behind his reasoning, an as usual response of a rich individual seeking to keep as much money as they can in their own pockets. His pretext is that HE LOVES YOU, you his fellow Washington residents, and by saving him money, you too are saving money regardless of any and all real consequences accompanying an initiative victory. To everyone who says that there is too much money involved in today's political spectrum, that money can't buy an election, "Let's Go Washington" is a case study. "Let's Screw Washington" is more like it, and laugh all the way to the bank!
For the sake of brevity, I am only providing the initiative numbers and not their full title. Also, my explanation will also be brief. For more detailed information concerning the initiatives and the candidates, please consult the WA ST voter's guide along with doing research online yourself. What I don't recommend is being lazy, voting all Democrat or GOP while knowing nothing about the person you have used your precious vote on. Be an informed voter. All I am providing here is a primer, and not anything that should be regarded as the full story.
Initiative #2066
If this initiative becomes law, it would prevent local and state officials from barring natural gas ranges and usage in your kitchen. Why would anyone think of doing that, taking away your ability to fry your breakfast omelette or pancakes with natural gas? Because countless studies show that the gas is filling your kitchen, thus your lungs, with toxins. Here in New Mexico, my stove is fueled by propane, which probably isn't much better than natural gas. Before voting either yes or no, I encourage everyone to examine all the science regarding this. If I end up living here permanently, I will go solar and everything, stove, water heater, heating, will be electric. Yes, gas is great for cooking but do you want to be limiting your life expectancy while frying that steak? Maybe not.
Initiative #2119
What this does is repeals the Capital Gains Tax on certain earning above $250,000. This is a fat cat's money grab, something most of us will not have to worry about. The reason the State of WA needs this kind of revenue is because there is no state income tax. And this year, the WA ST House and Senate passed a bill prohibiting the State from implementing a state income tax though there were no plans to do that in the first place.
Everybody wants a free ride! Who wants to pay for anything? No one is the answer but at the same time everyone wants paved roads, police protection, etc. Does anyone want to pay for all these services? No, it should be free, allowing everyone to eat at MacDonald's every night, go to Seahawks games with all that money they no longer have to provide to local and state governments. And Brian Heywood will keep getting richer and richer. But he will be eating at the Canlis Restaurant, sipping one-thousand dollar a bottle vintage wines. You, you'll be drinking Bud Light! Ha! Ha!
Initiative #2117
Heywood says he believes in carbon-based climate change then laughs, and chuckles, "produce more oil!" What this initiative does is prohibits the carbon tax credits that are at the center of the 2021 State of WA Climate Commitment Act (CCA), embracing a goal of reducing emissions by 95% by 2050. Ask all the current flood victims in the American SE battered by Hurricane Helene if they believe in carbon-influenced weather alterations?
What has happened since the CCA was passed is that BIG OIL is passing on the costs to the WA ST driver at the gas pump. In some recent publicity stunts, Heywood has given individual gas stations $1000.00 to temporarily lower the gasoline to $2.99.9 per gallon to make his point that Governor Jay Inslee is to blame for the high cost of gasoline, discrediting the effort toward reducing car-based emissions. What Heywood is ignoring, along with many others, is that much of the high taxes related to gas prices in Washington is due to an unbalanced funding system filling state coffers. The money to provide basic services has to come from somewhere. From Heywood's personal pockets? No, no, that can't happen!
Initiative #2124
The goal of this initiative is to allow workers to opt out of the WA Cares Act, a kind of State of Washington supplement to, if you will, to Federal Social Security programs, acting as an aid to cover future medical and nursing home costs. The automatic contribution from a paycheck is 0.58 percentage points. For some historical context, the GOP is still furious with FDR's creation of Social Security way back in August 14th, 1935. As anyone knows, medical costs of all kinds in the USA and the State of WA continue to rise. Having a "nest egg" to cover those costs is not a bad idea.
Here is what you will read if you open the WA Cares Act website:
"Helping You Cover Your Tomorrows"
The WA Cares Fund ensures all working Washingtonians can earn access to long-term care when they need it."
All this sounds good, at a VERY minimum cost. Not unlike the Russian serf during the reign of Catherine the Great during the 18th Century, where the Russian peasantry were expected to work and then die all for the benefit of the landed gentry and royalty, Heywood wants YOU to remain complacent, and when falling ill, suffer, unable to pay the bills. His objection to the WA Cares Act is political, holding a grudge against government-mandated assistance programs. What happens to you the worker, he has no real concern. That's his bottom line.
And concerning Heywood, do you have any idea what a Hedge Fund is and what it does? Investigate and perhaps understand that Hedge Funds might be the worst instrument of the Capitalistic Economic model governing our lives. What I am hinting at, is that Heywood very likely is not your friend. If you think he is, call him and ask for one of those 1000 dollar bills he is handing out. Tell him you need the money to fill up your gas guzzling GIANT pick-up truck you have no good reason to be driving.
NEXT WEEK: Part Two----the Candidates and Seattle Proposition # 1
