So,  I walk outside this morning to take my son to the bus stop, and hear a helicopter.

Not a starnge sound, as Frederickson is near Thun Field, McChord AFB, and Fort Lewis.

Then I realized that it was TWO helicopters.  As I squinted up into the sky (this is at 6:30am; pre-coffee) it took me a few seconds to realize that they were News Copters.

When I got back to the ranch, after making sure the young one actually go onto the bus, and was not kidnapped, run over, or otherwise dealt injury, I saw the wonderous footage from the sky cams, showing the remains of a house, just a few blocks away.

Seems that a young man with (at the least) anger management problems had detonated a bomb, most likely killing himself, as well as leveling about 80% of the house.

Many sources on this, including KATU (courtesy of Orbusmax!)

The back story seems to be that this young man was renting a room in the house (which he found when the residents advertised on Craig’s List - not a web site that has seen happy news reports lately).  The roomates had been on vacation, and when they returned, they found him playing with bomb making materials.  They left and called the Pierce County Sheriff’s dept., who were on scene when said young man blew his top - and the hosue along with it.

The first thing that ran through my mind was, “Geez, I would hate to have to make the call to the homeowners insurace company.  Not sure policies cover roomates exploding bombs in the house”.

The second thing was “That is even better than when the Meth Lab up the block burned down a few years back.”.

In retrospect, my main concern with the issue is that NO ONE that I can find properly defined the area of the occurrance as Frederickson.  Most (like KATU) said Puyallup (not true, Puyallup ends at 128th street), and one or two simply referenced it as “Pierce County”, which is technically correct, in a general way, as Frederickson is still unincorporated, but still mildly insulting to my pride as a Fredericksonian (Fredericksonite? Fredericksoninni?)…

Heck of a way to start the day…

Details from Gateway Pundit:

No: 51%

Si: 49%

One wonders if the phone line from Caracas to Olympia and King County elections were burning last night, as Chavez tried to manufacture an electoral “victory”.

I guess it’s always nice to know that Americans can do something better than our South American cousins. 

Maybe Chavez should hire Queen Christine, Ron Sims, and the gang from King County Elections before his next run for President for Life…

The Washington Times reports on a new revelation that, indeed, the Democrat Party is the party of the RICH.

Democrats like to define themselves as the party of poor and middle-income Americans, but a new study says they now represent the majority of the nation’s wealthiest congressional districts.

In a state-by-state, district-by-district comparison of wealth concentrations based on Internal Revenue Service income data, Michael Franc, vice president of government relations at the Heritage Foundation, found that the majority of the nation’s wealthiest congressional jurisdictions were represented by Democrats.

This should come as no surprise to anyone who lives in the Seattle or Portland areas. Indeed, we are reminded of it every election cycle.

My personal theory is that these people (the Money behind the Democrat Party, if not the foot-soliders), are, to a minor extent, Old Money (not so much on the Left Coast as on the East) who have little or no concept of the value of Work and sacrifice.  But far more so New Money, that DO understand the value of work and personal sacrifice - but little else.  Unfortunately, most have been raised and indoctrinated through the schools, and worse, Higher Education, to be souless, amoral, and with only progressive oriented ethics.  Since they are spending a great deal of their time amassing, and maintaining, wealth and possessions (se McMansion), the guilt-load becomes almost unbearable, and they must enlist others to “do good for them” (see Affluenza).

In steps the Democrat Party, and their affiliated hangers on and fellow travellers, willing to take their money to support the Party’s goal of taking more of everyones money, to DO GOOD.

The most egregious case is Warren Buffett, constantly complaining that his Taxes aren’t high enough.  Strange, since I am unaware of ANY law preventing him from paying MORE than the required amount of taxes - or from donating his entire wealth to the government - or better, directly to charity.  What he really means is, everyone should pay more taxes, because the Government is a better arbiter of where your money gets spent than you are.

From GOP.Gov:

Today, House Republicans offered a resolution censuring Rep. Fortney “Pete” Stark (D-CA) for accusing our troops of “blow[ing] up innocent people” and suggesting the President finds “amusement” in the injuries and deaths of our troops. Watch Rep. Stark’s comment in full here.

The censure resolution states:

“Resolved, that the Member from California, Mr. Stark, by his despicable conduct, has dishonored himself and brought discredit to the House and merits the censure of the House for the same.”

But today, 196 House Democrats voted to kill the resolution censuring Rep. Stark. (Vote #986, 10/23/07)

Disgusting.  Even the San Francisco Chronicle thought Stark was out of line:

“A new low point … The Ugly Moment of the Week goes to Rep. Pete Stark, the Fremont Democrat who has made a career out of minimalist accomplishment and optimal bombast.”

But my point here is to note which Washington State Congress-critters voted to Censure Stark:

-Hastings

-McMorris-Rodgers

-Reichert

And those that REFUSED to censure his remarks:

-Baird - disappointing, thought not really surprising, after the beating he took over his comments that Iraq was turning around.

-Dicks - even more disappointing.  Several US Navy installations in his district.

-Inslee - Sub Base Bangor, and Naval Undersea Warfare Center in his district.

-Larsen - Has Naval Station Everett and NAS Whidby Island in his district.

-McDermott - I am only surprised that it was Stark making the slur, not McDermott.

-Smith - This is the guy with Fort Lewis and McChord AFB in his district.

Note that the Washinton State Reps voted by strict Party line.

I’ll say it again - Disgusting.  And the constituents of those voting against censure should remember these D’s supported Stark’s slurs next election cycle.

EHJR 4204 is the proposal to amend the Washington state Constitution to elminiate the Supermajority rules for School Levy votes.

Under current law, school levies MUST pass by at least 60% of total votes cast, or, when the total votes cast is 40% or less than in the last general election, 24% of votes cast in the last election (60% of 40%) in the disctrict.

This essentially means that Property Owners, who directly pay Property Taxes, which the School Levies are part of, have some insulation and protection against frivilous increases in their taxes.

The Columbian had a very nice piece on the Pros and Cons of this proposed amendment:

Cons:

»	The supermajority rule for tax measures was set higher to protect property owners, who more directly pay levies. So was the minimum-voter turnout standard this amendment would eliminate. Simple majority, and loss of the voter turnout minimum, ultimately means taxpayers will pay more.
»	School districts hold non-November levy elections, when voter awareness and turnout is low, to gain more favorable odds. The supermajority is a necessary counterbalance.
»	The supermajority rule holds schools districts to higher standards and requires them to be more accountable to voters. Simple majority weakens districts’ incentive to perform well.
»	Schools could adapt their budget cycles to November levy elections without dire consequences.
»	Few school levies fail beyond a second attempt, even with supermajority rules. When they do, it’s only because of major disconnect with the public that requires attention.
»	Special elections outside of November should remain just that — special — and not be used for routine budget needs. What’s more, simple majority lets the Legislature off the hook for basic funding the state should provide equally to all districts and students.

Pro:

>> The supermajority unjustly rewards a minority who vote “No” and non-voters. All votes should count equally, and, Simple majority determines all elective offices — local, state and federal — and most tax measures, such as those for jails and sports stadiums. School levies should be no different.

While these two points are Democratic, they are counter to our Republican form of government.  They allow the tryanny of the mob (one half, plus ONE) to rule.  Instead of trying to make it easier to pass School Levy taxes, all other tax increases should use the existing rules, as a minimum, to ensure engagement by a plurality of the people, and confirm the need, or community desire, for the tax increases.

>> Modern vote-by-mail ensures all registered voters are aware of school elections. It’s not the 1930s anymore. Most districts run levies at the same time to split election costs; advertising and media coverage makes elections hard to ignore.

Ignorance of the election is not as much of the problem (though I would argue the point, as Junk Mail, SPAM, and the flight of viewers from Local TV and Newspapers had lessened, not increased, the level of awareness of community), and adding yet another task to people (property owners) who are already information overloaded and time crunched, by having special elections at changing and inconvenient times, in what seems to be an effort to keep participation to a minimum.

>> .November levy elections won’t work, because districts set annual budgets in summer and need to know revenue figures by then. Also, county property valuations are updated only at year’s end, making levy rate estimates months ahead of time more problematic.

As noted in the Cons, this is simply an accounting and scheduling issue, not a problem.

>> School resources are stressed and students suffer when districts with majority support are forced to re-run levies to reach the artificially high supermajority standard.

This one takes the Hypocrisy award.  One of the main supporters of this measure is the Teachers Union, whose concern for the Children was made clear to me, in their illegal strike at the start of the chool year in Bethel SD, forcing the School District to take funds from Copier reapair/replacement, to make up for increases to teacher pay and compensation. 

If you cant convince 60% of voters in an election that you need the money, and will use it wisely, then you need to take another look at your track record, and proposal.

>> Washington schools are chronically underfunded by the state, making local levies ever more critical. State per-pupil funding and class size rank near the bottom in national ratings.

The key to this item is The State.  If the State isnt doing it’s share in meeting it’s constitutional mandate, then we need to hold the state Legislature accountable.  Making it easier to punish local property owners by raising their property taxes to compensate for the State Governments inaction is killing your Ox for food for a short time, instead of using him to plow the fields to grow food as you need it.

—————————

In my opinion, EHJR 4204 is nothing less than an attempt to “game” the system.  Special Interests (WEA & other Unions, Politicians) will band together with well meaning folks (PTA, etc) and schedule obscure out of the way elections, to maximize turnout of their voters, while trying to minimize the turnout of voters that believe that just throwing money at a situation is not always the answer.

The only real answer to the problem, is complete privatization of the schools.  But of course, that will not happen, as their are too many special interests feeding at the trough of Education.  Too bad they are the ones intercepting much of that per student spending before it gets to the kids.

Thanks to the American Thinker, we learn that:

Congressman Mike Pence (R-Indiana) has been a stalwart supporter of the American-Israel alliance. He recently introduced an amendment to the foreign aid bill that would prohibit groups that deny Israel’s right to exist from receiving American (taxpayer dollar) foreign aid. The amendment passed 390-30.

Of the 30 members of Congress who have no problem with giving money to groups that advocate and plan for the destruction of Israel, 27 of them were Democrats.

State Senator Rosa Franklin (Prime Sponsor of 31 Bills this session, Seconday Sponsor on over 120) wrote a piece that appeared in today’s New Tribune, advocating an Income Tax for Washington State (SJR 8209 And SURPRISE SURPRISE, Sen. Kohl-Welles is a co-sponsor!, and SB 5150)

With our tax structure so heavily dependent on the sales tax, we have a double-edged sword. When times are flush, as they are now, we grow a reserve. When times turn lean – and make no mistake, they will someday – we face daunting budget choices.

Of course, what the good Senator seems to miss, is that in lean time, the people face daunting budget choices too.

Look, too, at what this means for families. Remember that the sales tax rate is the same for you and me and for everyone else in Washington, with very slight variations for local jurisdictions. Right now, those who earn less than $20,000 a year pay nearly 16 percent of their income in state and local taxes. On the other hand, those making more than $150,000 pay roughly 4 percent.

And again, the Senator misses the point, that a Sales Tax, as we current enjoy, is a CONSUMPTION TAX.  And with items such as Food not subject to sales tax, it falls predominantly on people with disposable income.  But, as they say, follow the money:  the last line of that statement says it all; citizens making over $150,000 are not paying as much in taxes, as a proportion of their income. 

It’s unfair that those who are least able to afford to pay are paying at a higher rate than those who can. It was unfair 20 years ago, and it will still be unfair 20 years from now. I’m not the first one to point this out, but I’d sure like to be the last. Fairness aside, doesn’t it make logical sense to tax according to income and not consumption?

First, a correction:  everyone pays the same RATE.  Lower income people are paying a higher PROPORTION.

As to logic, where is the logic in punishing achievement and investment?  A consupmtion tax that exempts essentials like food and medicine is the most fair and logical tax possible.  You buy a car, you pay some tax.  You buy a $2M yacht, you pay some tax.  You buy some peanut butter and bread, you pay no tax…

In a nutshell, this year’s measure, Senate Bill 5150, would lower the state sales tax to 3.5 percent. It would eliminate the state’s share of the property tax. And it would impose a graduated income tax on personal income of individuals, estates and trusts.

This is nothing more than an effort to finally move to what is (wrongly, in my estimation), a Progressive tax system.  That is to say, in plain english, The More You Make, The More You Pay.

What never seems to occur to the money grabbers is that if they were really concerened about the people on the bottom of the ladder, they could just exempt them from the sales tax completely.  Adjust the sales tax up about 1/2 a point (or whatever it would be to equalize the revenue) for the rest of us, and everyone wins.

Well, everyone but the bureaucrats and politicians who see a cow in the field, and can’t help themselves from trying to get some more milk out of it.

The Senator then throws in some meat, offering to also lower the state property tax a bit, and assuring us that only a vote of the people could change tax rates (like they can’t get around that).

I’ve been marching along the road to tax reform for a long time. I may not get to my destination this session, either. But if we continue to talk respectfully with clear minds, with taxpayers and with business about what’s fair and predictable and stable, we all can arrive at a better and stronger tax system.

Let’s hope she has to keep marching for a long time…

And just to inject a dose of reality into this (having just worked on my taxes earlier this week), courtesy of the IRS:

…you have the option of claiming either state and local income taxes or state and local sales taxes. (You can’t claim both.)

So, if the good Senator gets her way, theoretically, you could choose between deduction Sales Tax OR State Income Tax from your federal taxes, but not both.  Might as well move to Oregon, where you only get hit from one side…

Many thanks to Mr. Postman for this classic picture:

You KNOW the guy in back: Joseph Stalin, Patron Saint of the Democrat Party.

You may NOT know the lady woman politician in front: Sen. Jeannie Kohl-Welles. Not my favorite politician in the State of Washington.

Stay tuned for updates concerning her. She was worth several posts LAST session!