I am not in love with paying taxes, but accept taxes as the price we pay for a civilized society, and I do pay what is asked for what has democratically been determined for the common good. As I hear and read about the losses from fires in Eastern Washington, I recall the number of times I heard about how the folks over there think they are supporting the folks over here and the want to divide the state (kind of like the old Freedom County movement). Now we have an enormous emergency drain on the state resources, and federal, possibly due to inadequate supply of equipment and personnel for an early response. It makes me think “too little, too late” and “you can pay me now, or pay me more later.” As the people sit there and look at the charred remains of their houses and belongings, or the empty tourist facilities in Chelan, I wonder, how many of them will vote for another of Tim Eyman’s initiative to cut the state sales tax revenue 15 percent (from 6.5 percent to 5.5 percent) to further reduce available resources for the next fire, knowing lightning does sometimes strike twice as it now has in Twisp.
Bill Severson
Stanwood
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