How many time do we sit down and read all the rhetoric that arrived in our mailbox prior to a state or national election?

Sadly, I'm in a state that it doesn't seem to matter what the voters do, the governor does the opposite. It all started several years ago when the vote came about to lower car tabs. Great idea and it passed but then the governor started whining about lack of funds to repair roads and keep them in repair. Didn't matter that all the years prior when the car tabs were almost the same as a car payment that the funds were there to essentially repave every road, street and freeway in the state up to a dozen times. Then came the excuse of not having funds and the state was bankrupt, yet construction of new buildings began and the governors plane was refurbished.

Recently, there was a vote to lower gas tax, which any constituent in their right mind would vote yes on. Apparently, that wasn't good enough for the new governor who passed a gas tax that is now one of the highest in the nation.

This last round of local initiatives, saw a new one on the ballot that dealt with renewable resources. Whats funny is how its worded. I don't know how many people read it but it automatically vetoed the use of fresh water sources which produce hydroelectric power. Instead the paragraphs for it stated all this wonderful useless information about solar and wind energy solutions and how fossil fuels pollute the environment. No kidding. We heard that line since the early 1970s so tell us something new. Here's the clincher boys and girls, there are over 1000 dams in this state and out of that number, 9 percent produce hydro power which according to a 1999 Almanac, generates 60percent of the power for the state. This new law that passed now makes it illegal to use that renewable resource and lists tidal, wave and ocean power as alternatives.

Tidal, wave and ocean power have note been implemented as yet. There is one small company around Seattle that had plans to install four test buoys that might generate enough power to light up a 4watt bulb, similar to ones found in outdoor lighting and some flashlights. So far, the installation is on hold pending funds. How could the voters be so gullible or complacent to pass something not even field tested in this state yet?

So what's a voter to do? I'm really looking forward to the increase of expense due to this, especially now that winter is coming upon us. Someone besides myself needs to stand up and educate the general public on what they vote in and don't vote in and guess what people? We all have the power to change what happens, we voted people in office and we can vote them out, this is a democracy and its a 'We the people' not me the government. Change can only happen when the mindless masses pull their head out of their fourth point of contact and realize what they are doing and how it doesn't just affect them now but affects their children.

Learn more about this author, James Maraudovitch.
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