Observations on the news

Washington Governor Jay Inslee cares about the Orcas, about the Washington Education Association (which got him elected) and about running for president of the United States. He doesn’t care about the taxpayers of Washington State, particularly the small business owner, who will see his Business and Occupation Tax double for all those service businesses which keep our community running.

While the Timberland Regional Library Board wrestles with closing under-performing branches and renewing its contract with the library chief, it has forgotten the conflict with the major cities of Thurston County. Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater branches account for a majority of the circulation and a majority of the customers and yet have very little say in how the system operates. The entire regional concept needs to be reviewed with an eye towards “equality”.

While the Seattle metropolitan area continues to spend tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to solve the homeless problem, it has had almost no impact whatsoever. Homeless in King County has increased by four percent and shows no sign of slowing. In Thurston County, some 32 non-profit organizations deal with the homeless situation in some form or other, and yet they have made almost no dent in bringing the problem under control.

It’s time the federal government stopped making pennies. It cost the government more to make a penny, than a penny is worth. Last year the government lost $89 million making nickles and pennies. I’m NOT advocating that we do away with the penny as a medium of currency. I want us to keep the penny. I just want the government to stop making pennies. Americans have billions of pennies stashed away in jars, cans and piggy banks. Stop losing money making pennies, and these stashed pennies will soon emerge from their hiding places and back into circulation.