Beware passing costs onto kids

Oscar Wilde suggested that a cynic is “A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

I have been following the election coverage this year by the politicians, the pundits, and in the letters to the editor. Repeatedly all three have stated their disapproval of certain policies or programs. The reasons usually have not been because the policy or project will not work, will not solve the fundamental cause of a problem or even that it is not the “right thing to do.” Instead the reason given is usually that it will cost too much.

For example, opponents of light rail do not focus on the need for light rail nor on the benefits. Instead they complain about the cost. A similar argument is used to delay enacting improvements to our education funding. The list of examples could go on and on.

I know money is tight for most people. Just increasing taxes is not a good answer — that would hurt a large portion of people. I also know there is no easy answer. If there was, our elected officials would have been able to figure out a solution. However, opposing a good or even necessary project just on the basis of the price tag only passes the cost onto people we love — our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Gary McCaig

Lynnwood