After tax savings, how about energy?

We’ve been given yet another chance to afford a decent living in Washington state. Tim Eyman, I thank you.

Eyman’s tenacity has once again served us well and the pendulum has been relocated to a position of common sense. We wouldn’t be doing this if not for unbridled greed enveloping certain sectors of our government.

Our auto registration tabs were once outrageously high. Now they are ridiculously low. Funny how pendulums work. Next item – we just received a whopping 20 percent increase in our property tax assessment for 2002. This bites the heels of our Arlington school bond, which resulted in a 66 percent increase in school district taxes for the next 20 years. This was necessitated due to inordinate growth – which in fact was supposed to result in lowering our individual tax burdens. No problem. Initiative 747 has brought us some relief thanks again to Tim!

Now for the energy provider networks. Electricity rate increases have yet to be bridled – 33 percent in October 2000, an additional 18 percent effective this October, which results in a cumulative figure of 57 percent in Snohomish County! Energy costs have been decreasing across the nation for the past few months, so I now question the integrity and morality of our suppliers and decision-makers. How about it, Tim?

I know he’s busy, but I wonder if he has given thought to utilizing his talents in this arena? California is proposing a law which imposes a 100 percent tax to any electric utility company that charges more than a certain rate – a rate that is lower than we are at now.

If we are indeed a democratic society, it is imperative that we take control of the democracy. We’ve made significant headway with the initiative process, but it’s a shame we have had to constantly monitor and suppress the self-serving natures of some public-serving entities.

By the way, God bless America for allowing us the opportunity to fight for our basic needs.

Arlington

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