Sound Politics: Priorities of Government, Seattle-style

February 23, 2010

Priorities of Government, Seattle-style

The Seattle City Council has released its 2010 Priorities.

At the top of the list is a promise to "act to improve Seattle's business climate", yet many of the other priorities will only poison the business climate through higher taxes, overregulation and frivolous waste, e.g:

"develop a coordinated strategy to grow green jobs and businesses"

"Adopt a carbon neutral goal for Seattle with specific milestones and implementation steps"

"renewal of the Families and Education Levy in 2011." (there is little, if any, evidence that the $100,000,000+ already spent has actually accomplished anything)

"Take action to promote racial and social equity in city government actions" (as if Seattle city government is lousy with Klansmen)

"Implement the Local Food Action Initiative,"

And a "Transportation Choices" agenda which lavishes money on, for example, electric trolleys, but offers nothing to make it easier for the vast majority of us to move around the city conveniently and cost-effectively.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at February 23, 2010 10:59 AM | Email This

Comments

1. Hilarious! Seattle's Marxists don't have a clue that their collective policies accomplish nothing except to drive private-sector business and jobs away.

Posted by: Saltherring on February 23, 2010 11:26 AM

2. Good catch. It had to have the "improve Seattle business climate" priority. But, none in leadership have a clue how to go about it. I am afraid it is going to take a total meltdown of the Seattle economy before the climate changes (pun intended).

Posted by: swatter on February 23, 2010 11:32 AM

3. Seattle - A great place to not live and to never visit.

Posted by: Andy on February 23, 2010 02:15 PM

4. I have notice through the years that where there is any organization that has an elective body, generally speaking, the vast majority who seeks those elected positions are the Fools of this World. This doesn't mean that these people are bad people although, a number can be, It just, means that Fools seem to have a Stronger Calling to seek such positions. I have dealt with people on the inside of Social Organizations. Seemingly nice people but, they don't have a clue as to the over all picture with which they are dealing with. These Social Organizations/Clubs have been seriously declining for many years. Yet again, they haven't a Clue as to how to slow the decline or to turn it around. They just, continue to sink into oblivion. The same is true with our Government. If it wasn't for our GOD inspired Constitution, we would have collapsed a long time ago.

Posted by: Daniel on February 23, 2010 02:32 PM

5. Seattle, let us know when you achieve Utopia. Actually, it was probably in the early '60s, before the liberal *hitcloud blanketed our cities.

Posted by: Matt M on February 23, 2010 03:31 PM

6. Local Food Initiative? What are they going to do, buldoze Ballard and turn it into a turnip patch?

Posted by: Mike336 on February 23, 2010 07:44 PM

7. Hmmm... Let's think like a business.

Green jobs in Seattle? Clean energy? Seems we have too little sun and too little wind here to do much of either. We have plenty of resources for hydro, but since that's no longer considered green...

Another levy? Great - then at least I know how much more per employee I have to pay, to compensate for the increased tax burden.

Racial balance? Will my business be expected to have some certain racial balance as well? You mean I can't hire the best person for a given job, regardless of race?

Food action initiative? I'm hoping to pay my employees enough that they can enjoy the great restaurants and local grocery stores rather than any Government-sponsored food giveaways.

And hey, light rail? You mean I have to locate down in the Rainier Valley where no other high tech, green businesses are located?

Yeah, I think I'll pass. Wait, I already did! Glad I got out of Seattle in 2004...

Posted by: Shanghai Dan on February 24, 2010 08:23 AM

8. It's funny how one of the City of Seattle's goals is to "Take action to promote racial and social equity in city government actions".

A few months ago I an every firefighter in the Seattle Fire Department had to attend an 8 hour class on Race and Social Justice. With budgets being cut, how can this class be justified? We need regular training that will benefit us as firefighers, and help the citizen we serve.

Our budget has already been trimmed, and I fear it will go further. But I'm sure phase 2 of the class will happen.

Frustrated in SFD

Joe Firefighter

Posted by: Joe Firefighter on February 24, 2010 11:17 AM