School bonds need second thought – -although you wouldn’t know it from the voter’s guide

Election day is just a little over a week away.

Normally – at this time – I’d tell you not to vote.  I’d tell you that you’re ignorant and don’t know the issues.  I’d tell you that if you haven’t voted by now then you really don’t care.

I’m not going to do that this time around.   I”m not going to tell you not to vote.

But, I am going to tell you to vote your conscience.  I’m going to tell you to vote what you really think.   I’m going to tell you not to believe anything you’ve read in your voter’s pamphlet because its all slanted and one-sided – – and I think so – – on purpose.

What you have on you ballot this time are local school districts asking you to tax yourself so they can build new facilities, up-date old facilities and bring in new security measures.

North Thurston is asking for $175 million for that purpose  while Tumwater is asking for $135 million for the same things.

Bear in mind that this money will be used to build new educational facilities,  up-date older schools, supply new technology and put in place security updates.

Not a single penny will go to teachers for salary increases – – or to reduce class size.   Not one single penny.

There’s something about these educators that makes them think children can only learn in new buildings, with state of the art classrooms and the newest and most expensive technology.

When study – after study – – after study has shown that kids learn best when they have good teachers and support at home.

School facilities have little to do with good education.

While we want out kids to have good schools they don’t need new schools every decade or so.

If you approve these two school bond issues, you will take more than $300 million dollars from the local economy and put it into the hands of school officials.

I want you to think about the uses this $300 million dollars could do to help  our community.

These bond issues are for obscene amounts of money.   The requests have nothing to do with need and everything to do with the fact that they think they can get these bonds passed this time of year.

No one’s really paying attention – and besides – – they have the Thurston County Auditor and her slanted voter’s guide to help.