NOTE: Our February meeting has been moved to the Old Town Bistro, 3388 NW Byron St. in Old Town Silverdale

BALANCING ACT
by Jo Fox Burr

Sailing is really just a balancing act. When you get it right and the winds are good, you feel like you are flying. When you get it wrong, well... My father and older brother got it very wrong once. They had set out in a friend’s small sailing boat right before a small craft warning had been raised. One held the tiller and the other the sheet, the line that controls the sail. As the wind picked up, they both continued to hold their positions, assuming the other would adjust.

As I watched the boat gradually sink, it seemed to me that to the end neither let go. Fortunately all survived, including the boat – but it took some serious help from other boats in the area. As I watched the US Senate narrowly reject a proposal to create a bipartisan commission to reduce the federal debt, I found myself thinking of my father and brother sinking that sailboat because neither yielded. Some conservatives opposed the bill because they feared it would lead to increased taxes, while some liberals opposed it because they feared it would lead to more social program cuts. Both are probably right about the outcomes, but they are wrong to fear them more than they fear our current course. We are looking at a projected deficit for this year of $1.35 trillion, which combined with our previous debt adds up to $8.8 trillion or 60% of our economy. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, voted against it because he felt it should just be a spending reduction commission. I would like to believe that we could solve all our problems by rescinding Bush’s tax cuts on the wealthy and increasing taxes on large estates, hedge funds, capital gains, and executive bonuses. I am not an expert on the economy, but I fear that in reality neither Mitch nor I are right. Forget about a small craft warning, we are headed for the perfect storm if we do not shift course. And remember China is the only boat out there that can help. Now is a time for courageous action focused more on the economic health of our country than the political fortunes or ideals of either Party.

So it pleased me when I heard that our State Senate voted to suspend that portion of Tim Eyman’s I-960 which required a two-thirds majority of the Legislature to pass any tax increases – with Sen. Phil Rockefeller’s support. I hope that the House will soon do the same. Too many spending cuts have already been made. Cutting needed government services further in many cases only leads to a continual downspin of the economy. As the economy suffers fewer revenues are collected. Without some tax increases, this downward spiral will be hard to stop. The Democratic Leadership within our Legislature, as well as our Democratic Governor, has shown the courage lacking at the Federal level to face this truth openly. Suspending this most onerous part of I-960 is their first step as it will make it easier to raise taxes.

Perhaps the voters are waking up to this reality. Recently all school levies within Kitsap County were approved by over 60%. According to Sherry Appleton, while there are emails vilifying the legislators about suspending the I-960 voting provisions, the greater majority are writing to encourage them to do it.  At a December forum for the 23rd District Legislators, a hand vote was taken at the request of a woman opposing the creation of a state income tax. To everyone’s surprise, 85 - 90% supported an income tax. Only 5 opposed it. I think in the past, people feared a state income tax as they assumed it meant increased taxes. Apparently, this crowd was more interested in creating a fairer taxing structure than they feared increased taxation.

Like sailing, it is ultimately a delicate balancing act to sort out where and how much you can increase taxes with how much you can cut spending. So far we have focused only on cuts. It is time to start balancing these cuts with increased revenues. I applaud our Democratic legislative leaders for recognizing this. I encourage our Congressional delegation to follow suit. If you agree, now is a good time to let them know.

DOLORES DONINGER WINS AWARD

Past President DOLORES DONINGER wins the 2010 Kitsap County Democratic Lifetime Achievement Award.  We are very proud of her!

NEXT KCDW MEETING – FEB 24TH

Chris Endresen, Senator Maria Cantwell’s State Director, will be with us to talk about what is happening in the US Senate. Come let her know what your concerns are about the directions Congress is taking.

GLORIA KENLON, PAST PRES. DIES

Gloria died January 31, 2010 at the age of 84. She was president of KCDW 1997-98. Despite a life long fight with rheumatoid arthritis, she was active in several organizations, including the Central Kitsap Food Bank which she helped to establish.

“To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills. And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership” – President Barack Obama, State of the Union Speech, 2010.

Jo Fox Burr, Newsletter Editor; foxburr@comcast.net