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POLITICS
The politics of disgust and disillusionment
By Adele Fergusen |
| President Carter called it malaise and became a one termer when Ronald Reagan promised the people the dawning of a morning in America instead, but I think it’s the right word for the mood of the populace today, malaise meaning a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being... (Full Article) |
DAVID CLARK
National Clowns |
| We are quickly moving towards a time when nobody can say a single thing. The newfound and ever-growing culture of being offended is thriving and multiplying rapidly, like a bad mold in a pile of wet towels... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SBA |
| Is the Small Business Administration (SBA) and local Chambers putting themselves in competition with local businesses... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Advantage Nissan |
| I am writing this letter to let you know of a business in our community that deserves recognition. The business is Advantage Nissan in Bremerton, and I am probably the last person that would write such a letter. I have worked as an Insurance Fraud Investigator for over a decade, so let’s just say that the letters I write are of a different nature than this... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Free Speech |
| You might recall when the so called “Fairness Act” first surfaced as a response to radio commentators on KVI who expressed their views on I-912. Democrats overwhelmingly disagreed with I-912... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Free Speech |
| Democrats support the Fairness Act. That sounds nice, right? I like fairness, so something called the Fairness Act would probably be something I support. I mean, after all, what average citizen would look at that title and say, “No, I prefer unfairness!” No one would... (Full Article) |
The Last Word by Lary Coppola
NASCAR, SEED, and Hardball Politics |
| “We just don’t see any point in beating our head against the wall any more,” lamented Grant Lynch, vice president of International Speedway Corporation (ISC). He said that in a pre-announcement courtesy call to tell me ISC was shutting down its efforts to build a NASCAR-style speedway in Kitsap County. The company will also take a charge against earnings of between $5 and 6 million for its efforts... (Full Article) |
POLITICS
Bend over —
the Legislature has its way with the taxpayers
By Adele Fergusen |
| Presumably, your life, liberty and property are once again safe since the Legislature is no longer in session, but don't bank on it... (Full Article) |
We can’t afford to neglect
children’s dental health
By Scott Bosch, President and CEO
Harrison Medical Center |
| There is a growing sense of urgency surrounding the dental health of Washington’s children. In observance of Children’s Dental Health Month in February, we need to focus attention on increasing rates of dental disease among young children. We can’t afford to neglect this vital part of our children’s health... (Full Article) |
Knockoffs knocking down
the U.S. economy and our jobs
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business |
| If you came home after dinner and a movie to find your front door kicked in and all your valuables stolen, you’d be horrified and call the police. Burglary is a crime covered by specific laws. When the perpetrators are caught, chances are they’ll go to jail... (Full Article) |
DAVID CLARK
Hard Questions... |
| Certain people have said that certain armed conflict in certain Middle Eastern areas would result in oil reaching $200 per barrel almost immediately. It’s estimated that this would result in $10 per gallon gasoline... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
NASCAR |
| As this legislative session drew to a close, I must convey the extreme disappointment of thousands of Kitsap constituents regarding our local legislators’ lack of interest and negative action on the handling of ISC/NASCAR for our South Kitsap/Bremerton area. They allowed politics to come before people and have greatly disserved the business and labor communities, let alone the thousands of constituents that supported this... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
NASCAR |
| They might as well change the name of this place to “Loser County” and its slogan “Never Ready for Prime Time.” Not that I didn’t see this coming. All that talk about the “green racetrack” that I heard in the last few days was totally beside the point. The kind of racetrack the greenies want is no racetrack... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
NASCAR |
| I just came back from an Easter trip to the Midwest, to visit with my family near Joliet, Illinois. While I was there, we talked a lot about the proposed NASCAR track here, and they related what a positive economic force it has been for their area. When I told them our elected officials chased it away, they were speechless. They thought I was joking... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Budget |
| Democrats in Olympia are referring to their spending spree as a “Families budget.” I’m not so sure that my family can stand many more of these types of budgets. How is it anything but reckless to grow government spending 33 percent in just four years... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Budget |
| Interesting that the writer assumes it’s a “big day” when the House budget writers earmark funds for local projects. It’s also a big, bad day for taxpayers! Too bad the writer views growth in government spending as something positive... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Budget |
| The Seattle Times headline after the legislature adjourned made me laugh out loud: “Democrats spent big but showed restraint... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Schools |
| Our state Senate has just passed a bill that forces school districts to determine whether students have health insurance. The districts are required to provide the students information on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance programs for those children who do not have insurance... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Westpark |
| More than half of Americans believe our country is on the wrong track when it comes to affordable housing, according to a recent survey by public opinion research group Zogby International... (Full Article) |
The Last Word by Lary Coppola
Random thoughts on this, that, and other stuff… |
| In recent conversations with people familiar with the workings of the local Republican Party, I’ve been told perennial candidate Lois McMahan, and fellow right-wing religious extremist Ron Boehme, are planning to run as a “team” for the two 26th District House seats up next year... (Full Article) |
POLITICS
What’s the problem?
Clinton fired all 93 federal prosecutors.
By Adele Fergusen |
| One of the first things I learned when I started writing politics in 1961 was that naming federal prosecutors is part of the political patronage that goes with being elected president. Those are political plum jobs like postmasters and liquor store managers. Every lawyer who got a federal prosecutorial appointment knew that while he had a four-year term, he served at the pleasure of the president and could be let go at any time without being given a reason... (Full Article) |
The grass may not be greener
in Massachusetts
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business |
| Remember your dad warning you when you were a kid that, “...the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, so be careful... (Full Article) |
DAVID CLARK
Where One Fits... |
| Thomas Paine was a pamphleteer back in the Colonial Days. He wrote a little pamphlet called "Common Sense," which has often been referred to as "the first shot of the Revolution... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Seaquist |
| I, like many of you, believe that when we elect an individual to represent us that is what they will do, represent us. It is unfortunate that from time to time one of these elected officials proves to all of us they have absolutely no business being in office. To this point I present to you Rep. Larry Seaquist... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
More Seaquist |
| Representative Larry Seaquist stated during last year’s political campaigns, that he would be “the most conservative Democrat in Olympia.” Rhetoric or Fact? Can Larry share his proposals to slow down the growth in state government? Seaquist appears silent about tax increases and more regulations being imposed on the residents in this state... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Felons |
| All of a sudden, Governor Gregoire is “outraged” to learn that felons are being released from jails in King County prior to completing their sentences for violating conditions of their release. Yet, as our Attorney General in 2003, she was well aware of a new Corrections Department policy to quietly downgrade felons to a status requiring minimum oversight (if any) for those rated highly likely to re-offend... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Eickmeyer |
| What kind of mistake did we make? In this last election we picked people not because of issues or integrity, we picked them for political affiliation. Rep. Bill Eickmeyer is clear proof, we made a mistake... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Business Climate |
| As expected, our Washington State Legislature (a Democrat majority) continues to do everything within its power to devastate small businesses in our state. The latest assault comes in the form of the mandatory Family Leave law that now extends to businesses with less than 50 employees... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Poulsbo City Hall |
| According to Poulsbo City records, the Long Range Planning Committee is working with the City Attorney on a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new City Hall. In a desperate attempt to raise money for construction, it was proposed that the RFP be revised to include consideration of a public/private partnership. It was stated that several entities have expressed an interest in such a partnership... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Pro NASCAR |
| I am writing in support of the proposed Motorsports and Multi-Use Recreational Facility in Kitsap County... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Mullenix Family |
| I see the Illahee wolf-pack, “Don Jahaske and 8 others,” aren’t through with the Mullenix family yet. They confessed publicly in a local newspaper that they illegally trespassed on private property “at the invitation of a neighbor... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Prosecutors |
| When Bill Clinton took over the office of the President he fired all 93 U.S. Attorneys, yet nothing was mentioned in the local newspapers when this most recent firing by the Bush administration took place until several days after it hit the front page... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Tax Hikes |
| Don’t be fooled by the apparent attempts of our Democrat controlled Senate to raise the property tax homestead exemption to $75,000. While it sounds nice on the surface, it’s largely symbolic and will actually do nothing more than shift more of the tax burden... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Blog |
| I really enjoy reading your internet blog, West Sound Politics. It seems like it’s an extension of Lary Coppola’s column, only much more timely, informative, detailed and definitely more “pointed” than what he writes here in the Business Journal. Keep it up!
Denise Norman
Silverdale
(Editor’s Note: Thank You! You can find it at www.westsoundpolitics.blogspot.com.)
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The Last Word by Lary Coppola
Random Observations… |
| Will Rogers said, “There’s no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.” That sums up my feelings about a lot of what’s happened around here lately... (Full Article) |
POLITICS
Appleton’s bill punishes citizens, not Eyman
By Adele Fergusen |
| The war between the taxed and the taxers has begun. Tim Eyman, who led the initiative drives that gave us $30 car tabs and limited property taxes, no sooner filed his Taxpayer Protection Initiative of 2007, making it tougher to raise taxes, then the Legislature struck back with a bill banning payment of signature gatherers per name for initiatives and referendums... (Full Article) |
A promise made is a promise worth keeping
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business |
| Remember four short years ago when Gov. Locke and legislators established incentives to lure Boeing’s new 787? The company’s unions lobbied hard to pass that legislation... (Full Article) |
MY TURN
Paradigm Shifts and Innovative Choices
By Doña Keating |
| While discussion becomes more heated on the proposal to build a motor sports facility in the region, one can’t help but notice the rhetoric and sound bites from both sides on the issue... (Full Article) |
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