Self-interest, waste go hand-in-hand

Regarding the March 6 article, “Waste alleged in ferry system”:

This is yet another example of government waste, and taxing the public. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, chair of the Transportation Committee, states it succinctly: “But a lot of us have known for a long time there has been some abuses. We can’t afford to keep paying this.”

Stating the obvious: government waste exists; it’s recognized by those responsible; it is acceptable; it will only change when there is a budget crisis, or when they are caught. Another example: The I-5 cement barriers. The state originally agreed to pay $26 million to install them, and now it’s “only” costing us $18 million.

Government has grown to such a consuming, self-interest business it’s becoming nearly impossible to stop its waste and ineptness. One major block to government change is campaign spending and career politicians, a mutually inclusive relationship fed by special interests. Budget caps and accountability are unfamiliar to our elected officials; this would be intolerable in the private sector.

Democracy in this country is broken. The public is rightly disgusted and distrusting of its elected officials, and their feeding desire to relentlessly tax us. I sense the Tea Party concept is just the start of tax revolt, and governments will ignore the will of the people until the situation becomes a crisis. Indeed, unless things change quickly, I think the train has left the station.

In the meantime, I am no longer voting for any incumbent, for any position. I’m going back to the foundation that elected officials are statesmen, not career politicians whose power and influence grows with every term. I will continue to examine who is sponsoring each candidate. Thank you for your term of public service; now back to real life. Besides, there is always the parachute of a ferry job to those voted out after their term of “service.”

Rob Dietz

Arlington

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