Comments on: Tacoma is still not hearing wake-up calls

By: Fredo

Fredo — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:39:32 +0000

A good start would be to equalize the B & O tax rates for all businesses, or eliminate them entirely. Communities which emphasize fairness will greatly enhance their long term prospects.

By: Republican By Default

Republican By Default — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:16:13 +0000

I hope I didn’t give the impression that I thought it was a rich vs. poor issue. Personally, I’d like to see a lot more poor people get rich by working hard and taking the risks necessary to build a business or a career. The poor need help in other ways as well, but opportunity should be available to all. It’s then up to them to make the best of it.

There’s no question that this is a failure of leadership in our city. I don’t believe it stops at the city council. I think it’s clear that over the years there have been various groups that have had far too much influence over the city. Tacoma is now too big and too many people are affected to allow the kind of influence that some have had in the past. I think that applies to all special interest groups, not just the good ol’ boys.

Next year (2009) I believe there are 4 council members plus the mayor that are up for reelection. I hope there are some serious candidates that will step up and run against the incumbants. We need a changing of the guard before all of the resources are squandered on bad ideas.

There’s also the issue of changing the structure of city government to delete the position of city manager and force an accountable mayor to be the administrative head of the city government. I don’t know the details of the proposal that has floated around over the last few years, but I think it’s work a look.

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:56:36 +0000

This is not a rich versus poor issue - it’s a leadership issue. We need a proactive, experienced city council.

By: Republican By Default

Republican By Default — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:33:19 +0000

Oh. Got it. I think…

By: Tressie

Tressie — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:52:08 +0000

oops I forgot to to say, that just because you are smart doesn’t mean you are the only one in Tacoma that is smart. Thousands of Tacoma folks think this town is ignoring the common people that built this city….and brown-nosing the wealthy……..So you don’t need to have read ME, for us to be thinking along the same lines.

By: Tressie

Tressie — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:50:13 +0000

dude…I’m talking about the similar thoughts we have on Tacoma issues…and didn’t you get the memo….Inject some humor in your interpretations…..I am always talking ’bout this income-inequality. Have you read the New Testament….seems there was this guy named Jesus….who hung out with hookers and advocated for the poor and oppressed, and I hope I’m not giving anything away here……Then the rich and powerful Killed Him!!……my blog is written in crayon. Thanks for the supporting of the Arts…..I Color My World.

By: Republican By Default

Republican By Default — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:25:06 +0000

How can I copy you if I never read you?

After reading the above comment I went over and tried to read your site, but it seems to be written in crayon. And I didn’t see anything that I wrote here on your blog.

Everything I said above is either in an earlier post on my site or is its author is cited.

By: Tressie

Tressie — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:50:32 +0000

Stop copying me! I agree 100% with about 75% of what you say in this post.
I could come up with a long list of things to spend millions of taxpayer money on to Rise The Tide…..oh, I did that on my post the other day.
I especially love the Green Explosion. Good work, Good wages, and Jesus would smile.