Weighing in
A weekly look at reader comments and reactions to the news
Last week’s elections provided a lot of the fodder for discussion at spokesman.com. Readers shared their opinions on everything from Referendum 71 – the measure that approved Washington’s everything- but-marriage law for same-sex couples – to the reshuffling of the Spokane City Council, with newcomers Jon Snyder and Amber Waldref winning seats. The following comments were edited from threads at several stories and blog posts:
southie4573: Thank you, all who voted for Ref 71! Thank you, fair-minded Washington residents who don’t believe that our gay friends and colleagues are second-class citizens.
johnclarke: Thirty-three million for fire equipment? Sure, we can afford that – along with the 100k plus salaries for the fire chiefs. Um, hello, we pay enough taxes for police and fire as it is. Stop it with the bond issues already.
cme: Rather than focusing on the Eastern Washington numbers, which were overwhelmingly against (Referendum 71), focus on those who live here and voted for this initiative. Forty percent for in Spokane County; and 26 percent for in Lincoln County. … If it wasn’t for those very small percentages in Eastern Washington, it never would have passed the state. Yes, sometimes, the minority can win. Yes, sometimes their vote is VERY important.
Objective_Observer: Hopefully, this will not be the end of the fight against property taxes. Personally, I will vote no on every levy and bond that comes my way. I should not have to pay more on these just because I own property. It is the poor who utilize services more and therefore who should pay more.
Spoketucky: It’s the poor and middle class who need a tax break in the U.S., and the only ones who would have received sufficient benefit from Initiative 1033 (the Tim Eyman-led effort to cap government spending increases) were the wealthy. Congratulations, fellow Washingtonians, for sending Tim Eyeache’s latest shill job for the elite to defeat in a resounding … manner!
IHike4Fun: I would like to see a measure to have Spokane County become part of Idaho.
Mr. Natural: Equality and civic duty are still barely alive and well in Washington. Thank you fellow voters for seeing that human rights are for all persuasions and that our duty as citizens to preserve the quality of our community by contributing our fair share to it is the best way to live.