Washington State Governor Inslee has suspended background checks for childcare workers, which seems like questionable virus policy at best
Washington State Governor Inslee has approached his virus lockdown policies with a plethora of formal emergency proclamations (see all of them here). Some make sense like suspending abusive regulatory processes that provide little value and increase the cost to provide Washingtonians the goods and services they need – perhaps we can keep those suspended indefinitely. However some of these are just bizarre and should be rejected by everyone. Here is just one example of a proclamation which Inslee should rescind. (Note: *update to article below)
On March 26, 2020 Inslee made emergency proclamation #20-31 (see copy here). As you can read for yourself, this suspends background checks for childcare workers hired to watch the children of “essential workers.” Ostensibly, the excuse is that the people who conduct the background checks won’t be in their offices to conduct the checks. This is just stupid policy, and it should be rejected and rescinded by the Governor’s office.
Seriously, every time I volunteer to chaperone a field trip for my kids at school, I am required to allow the school to conduct a background check (and any parent who has volunteered has the same experience in our state). Plenty of civic groups who focus on working with kids including large organizations like the Boy Scouts have to conduct background checks on all adult leaders who could come into contact with children. Since most of the background check work is done via computer today, is the state seriously claiming they can’t get a state worker (who is being paid whether they are sheltering in place at home or not), to complete this task?
In a time of crisis it is almost certain that bad actors, like child molesters, would take advantage of the situation to harm children. That is what they do. Of all things, why would Governor Inslee pick THIS ONE to waive? Particularly while he is at the same time unleashing a tsunami of early-release criminals, including sexual predators? (see article here, and article here). In Maple Valley, a worker assigned to watch children of first responders is now under investigation for multiple counts of molesting children just a few days ago (see here). It isn’t clear yet that he would have been prevented from being in this position by this proclamation, but it should be a wakeup call to rescind this misguided proclamation policy. These predators are out there. Broadcasting the fact that you won’t be doing background checks on childcare workers is probably not optimal policy, and it certainly isn’t making the world safer “for the children.”
*Update – After I posted this article, multiple Republican legislators contacted me to tell me in their caucus call this morning, they expressed a consensus that this was one of the proclamations they would not support. Keep in mind, Inslee is proceeding as though he doesn’t need their support on these actions anyway.
Every clown who works with kids should have at least a cursory background check. Why rescind this policy just because of a virus?
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
Governor Inslee has created a lot of problems with his virus lockdown policies
Below is an interview with Joel Ard, Patent and Constitutional attorney, reviewing Washington State Governor Inslee’s troubled virus lockdown policies. We discuss moving goal posts, failed models, questionable policy choices, picking winners and losers, and using ideology rather than science to manufacture and invent public health policy.
It may have started in Wuhan, but we will have finish this virus here at home.
Billboard in Washington State located on I-5 near Exit 72
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
In Washington State, if you are driving on I-5, near Exit 72, you will see a private billboard. Known as the “Uncle Sam Billboard” it has it’s own Wikipedia page (linked here), and has been the source of many newspaper articles over the years (see here and here, as just some examples). I remember reading this billboard for the first time when I was a kid in the 1970s, and it often generated fun conversations in the car.
Yesterday, I saw this message on the billboard, and I stopped to take the photo. I thought it was worth sharing. Leave your comments below about your favorite Uncle Sam sign message below. A sign of the times…
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
A common theme can be found throughout Washington State as regular people start to question the decisions and policies of the state and local governments and how they have responded to the Wuhan/Corona Virus crisis. While there are many arguments and debates around the virus impact itself, the focus appears to be shifting to local state government and their failures. As a snapshot in time, these are strange days in every way.
The virus is real, but so are the harmful effects of Inslee’s response
The above image has been floating around in more conservative/libertarian circles to represent the more nuanced approach and concerns that many average people believe. They know the virus is real, they believe the fear mongering has been exaggerated, and they are wondering if a less destructive approach to governing during a crisis can be found.
Apparently not.
One weird outcome of the political polarization that has infected society worse than the Wuhan Corona Virus is how these policy questions become rabidly partisan. Literally, people who hate Trump, reflexively in a Tourette’s Syndrome style response just spout the opposite. Conversely, they will defend the EXACT same policy when pushed by Democrat Governor Inslee. It seems far more reasonable and rational to believe it is possible to have more nuanced public policy debates on this subject.
Those not affiliated with the political elite or billionaires who support them in Washington State, have concerns and critiques which are bizarrely mocked and rabidly attacked by political leaders in state government as well as those who support them. These concerns can be summarized as follows:
The University of Washington fatality models have been consistently wrong every time. Why are we using failed models to impoverish millions of Washingtonians? Perhaps, less radical and more voluntary steps can be taken to protect the most vulnerable without destroying everything and everyone else? If our state has dismantled the emergency tent facilities, shipped ventilators to other states, and generally had plenty of hospital beds open for patients (and they have), why are we continuing down this path without some flexibility? This doesn’t mean everyone wants widespread naked orgies and street parties with the homeless druggies in Seattle (free needles and heroin for all!) – it just means allowing people and businesses to take responsibility for themselves and observe basic precautions. Nobody in Inslee’s circle appear to be even considering this.
Why has Governor Inslee produced word salad announcements with no defined plan (as he did on April 21st) rather than complain about “insubordination” from the very people who he (if he read the State Constitution) actually works for? Why does Inslee (and AG Bob Ferguson) seem more focused on picking political fights and verbal sparring matches with Trump than they are on helping improve the lives of those who live here? The vague and unfocused future statements do not inspire confidence, while the aggressive and harsh one-size-fits-all emergency statements of sheltering in place (or “house arrest?”) seem greatly at odds and irrational.
Why does it seem that Inslee (and more importantly, Inslee’s staff crew who do the work and thinking anyway) has used this emergency as a way to reward political allies and punish those who won’t vote for him? Government (union) construction vs. Residential(independent) construction? Keeping pot shops open while closing gun shops, fishing, hiking, jogging, and churches? Releasing violent criminals into the community and continuing to create sanctuary for illegal immigrants (including violent felons)?
Has anyone in the Governor’s mansion even considered the harm and damage (including avoidable/preventable deaths) they are inflicting on the people of Washington State as a direct result of the harsh policies they are forcing on people? How many people are dying because they are not seeking or receiving regular medical care? How many people will die as victims at the hands of the early release violent felons? How much will suicides increase due to the willful destruction of the economy (there is a historic correlation between % of unemployment and increase in suicides)? How many people caught this virus unnecessarily because of reusable bags they were forced to use rather than using the (now-banned) plastic disposable bags? How many people caught the virus on mass transit or in packed homeless/drug addict camps? Is there a single bureaucrat in the state who cares about these or similar questions?
Inslee’s grip and credibility weakens…
Some people are going to shelter in place for many months or years. We are all “Preppers” now. No matter what, it seems very likely that this experience must significantly change how businesses (those that survive the collapse) and most people live and interact with others. However, some highlights of Inslee’s lost influence are as follows:
Multiple counties in Washington State have formally voted to reject Inslee’s restrictions and they are taking more nuanced steps to reopen their economies and communities since the Governor refuses to help them. Chelan, Douglas, and Franklin Counties have been the first three to do this (Franklin being the most dramatic), and more are moving in that direction. Franklin was threatened by the Governor and apparently the weaker Commissioners backed down, however, they appear to still reject elements of the more irrational parts of the Governors orders. Open defiance of the Governor is likely to manifest itself in more places.
Multiple sheriffs and other law enforcement officers have indicated they will not enforce the parts of Inslee’s proclamations or emergency powers that they believe are unconstitutional. See the Snohomish County Sheriff’s statement here for the most visible recent announcement. He is not alone, and more are joining him. If nobody except Bob Ferguson is going to enforce Inslee’s more unconstitutional actions, then they become meaningless.
Empty now, but for how much longer?
While the minority Republican Senate and House caucus leadership have signed off on all of Inslee’s orders so far (which they theoretically must do within 30 days of each of his suspensions of law or the suspension ends), there is significant dissention with a sizeable group in both Republican Caucuses who want concessions and reasonable decisions from Inslee’s office first. Many legislators are starting to demand a special session to challenge some of the more draconian choices and address the collapsing state budgets which now need to be cut dramatically, and this pushback will grow.
Last Sunday’s event where thousands of protestors openly defied Inslee’s orders and demanded the opportunity to work again is merely the first of what appears to be many actions of civil disobedience.
Joshua Freed
A lawsuit against Governor Inslee was filed in Federal Court Wednesday by Joshua Freed (linked here), a former Mayor of the City of Bothell and one of 5 candidates for state governor this year, demanding that Inslee rescind his obviously unconstitutional portions of his stay at home orders as they apply to churches and religious Bible studies. It seems unlikely this will be the only one.
This is just the tip of the iceberg
Symbols of Decay in the state are highlighted
On the Pro-Inslee side of the spectrum meanwhile, it really doesn’t look great either. The Seattle School Boarddecided to give every high school student an “A” for the year, which was so stupid and foolish that they actually had some board dissent in a 5-2 vote (usually everyone stays in the same commune and vote like they are Borgs). The homeless/drug addict camps are expanding and remain unpoliced and well-funded in most urban cores. Oddly enough, the drug dealers and fencing operations are not practicing social distancing, but it doesn’t matter because the law isn’t applied to them anyway. The City of Olympia didn’t even bother to question or discuss a recent $500,000 grant to one of the “approved” camps – they just put it on the “consent” agenda and passed it – business as usual. There is total silence on the obvious failures of the Central Planning State as the empty mass transit system continues to hemorrhage money while moving nobody. The ferry system is approaching radical fiscal collapse as the ridership drops below the levels last seen in the 1950s. Evergreen State College continues to fail and shrink while the school administration brags about getting their “friends” in the legislature to pick up the tab for their endless failures (keep the money pit filled).
The state has been quick to unleash violent felons into the community and even quicker to close parks, fishing, and hiking trails where social distancing is often measured by the acre or the mile. However, they have taken a glacial pace towards addressing the obvious fiscal tsunami coming their way – (will they need to cut $10 billion or more from the state budget?) Inslee is giddy and excited about scheming how to use this fiscal collapse as an excuse to push an income tax, yet slow to recognize there won’t be anyone left to tax if he keeps dragging this thing out. Of course, nobody in state government is willing to even whisper about the inevitable cuts that are coming – they plan to wait until after the election to face that reality.
It is the tendency of government to behave and proceed as though the people are stupid, apathetic and lazy. Most of the time, if the bureaucracy, the special interests, and the politicians keep their actions murky, plodding, and boring, and the tame media support them, they can get away with a shocking amount of incompetence and failure. Most people expect this from government (whether they admit it or not). However, when jarring events create accelerated timeframes with radical change that can’t be concealed – these are the times when unforeseen political change occurs. The Democrats have been openly cheering this in their universal campaign against everything Trump. However, these same circumstances can create political change at a local level which they might not anticipate. In Washington State, this political blowback will by necessity be targeted at the Democrats who control every lever of power in the state and in most local governments. Governor Inslee may become more vulnerable than his advisors or political opponents recognize.
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
Background articles and documents:
Inslee may find it harder to get this type of reflexive support in the near future
This investigation and exposure of State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler began with a complaint drafted and submitted by this author on February 12th, earlier this year (see original complaint here). Based on my research, it appears that Mike Kreidler for many years had been diverting campaign finance money (over $12,000) mostly for his own personal benefit. The most overt violation was the illegal distribution of a $500 contribution to Democrat Congressman Denny Heck’s political campaign in 2017 (see original complaint details linked here). As a 40 year veteran of Washington’s political landscape, Kreidler knew this was not a legal use of his personal surplus funds (See RCW 42.17A.430(8) and also WAC 390-16-234(3)). Kreidler also knew it was unlikely anyone would ever confront or expose him for his illegal activity.
Based on the kid glove treatment he received from the PDC, their willingness to extend the benefit of the doubt (rarely extended to Republicans), and their willingness to suspend disbelief on the misuse of the rest of his $12,000 on personal drinking binges, dining adventures around the country, and odd softball tournament activity indicates a politically negotiated settlement in this case. It is also helpful to hire attorneys to negotiate these things. It is unlikely that a serious fine would ever be imposed on any statewide officeholder affiliated with the Democratic Party particularly in an election year. That treatment is normally reserved for Republicans (see the Kim Wyman case from 2016 as an example).
The rules don’t exactly apply equally to all
However, it is good to expose the truth, regardless of the backroom deals which might mitigate full exposure or equal treatment. This was the second complaint I filed against the globe-trotting Kreidler. The last one resulted in an unserious “reminder” letter instructing him to at least pretend to follow the law next time (see here). A small fine like this recent one is a slight escalation up the punishment scale from a toothless reminder letter. Mike Kreidler and the office of Insurance Commissioner certainly deserves a lot more attention and scrutiny than he currently receives, and it seems worthwhile for good government activists to dig a bit more.
Kreidler wasn’t alone in breaking the law…
On a related note, a few of the complaints I’ve filed over the past few years against various politicians and PACs have settled with fines of one kind or another over the past few weeks. It might be worth writing about them in more detail in the near future. Here are a few more recent examples:
Disgraced former State Rep. David Sawyer (29th LD – Democrat)
Disgraced former Democrat Representative David Sawyer (29th LD), from Tacoma was fined $1,000 based on a 2017 complaint I filed against him with the PDC (See file documents below, or download them from here). This was mostly for his habitually deficient and late campaign finance reporting. He also acted like the law was never intended to apply to him. This matched his Ethics Fine of $1,000 for the #MeToo investigation which was finalized last year after he lost re-election (see here).
The Washington State Conservation Voters Action Fund PAC was wrist slapped with a $300 fine based on two different complaints I filed against them (see here and here) in October and November 2019. These were mainly focused on shady, secretive, strategically late filings they made to obscure and conceal some of their last minute political activity. The PDC staff gave them the benefit of the doubt and imposed a minor fine. Partly, this was influenced by earlier warning letters this well-funded PAC had received for historic campaign finance violations (see here). A pattern has been established, but it might take a few more fines to correct this habitual lawbreaking.
The Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants PAC was fined $2500 based on a 2017 complaint I filed against them. This included a laundry list of random violations mostly involved with late reporting, concealing from the public, donations made to Governor Inslee and others for many months. Unlike the Conservation Voters Action Fund PAC, this one also gave to Republicans, so they had a larger fine imposed. However, these guys are supposed to be the professionals, and if they can’t follow Washington State’s glorious and wonderful campaign finance laws, what hope is there for the rest of us?
For a complete list of the last 65 politicians, PACs, judges, and others who have been fined based on my complaints, and a list of the 93 PACs and politicians who have been publicly and officially exposed for violating these laws go to this link and see the complete list, including direct source links to the original documents. You can mock me for my hobby of exposing these guys, but there are worse and far less productive hobbies out there.
Everyone needs a hobby. Might as well make it a productive one. Confronting politicians, PACs, judges, and others for their law breaking can be beneficial to everyone
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
Governor Inslee wanted to be President, believes he is savior of the world, acts like he is king, and some people believe he is a dictator. However, he remains a Democrat in good standing, facing a little rebellion now and then.
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On Sunday, several thousand protestors (2,500 +/-)gathered at the Washington State Capital campus. They were mostly focused on protesting Governor Inslee’s programs shutting down the state economy during the Wuhan/Corona Virus pandemic era. The Governor was a bit surprised that people don’t like losing their jobs, homes, businesses, or economic future if it can be avoided. Parking was challenging, particularly since the State Patrol would not open the empty state employee parking garages to attendees. Many sympathetic drivers were waving flags and honking horns during the protest.
The State was keeping an eye on the unruly peasants below
The weather was beautiful, the state’s helicopter was hovering at 500ft, and at least one rogue drone was buzzing overhead (presumably getting some unofficial video of the crowd). Many homemade signs were on display, various Republican political campaigns were in evidence, and palpable anger directed mostly at Governor Inslee was to be found everywhere. There were no official speakers or sponsors in evidence in the main area typically used for protests between the Capital building and the Supreme Court, although Tim Eyman (a Republican candidate for Governor) brought a handy megaphone which served him well addressing the crowd.
Initially there were no organized speakers, but Republican candidate for Governor, Tim Eyman, grabbed a bull horn and spoke anyway
Eventually, after an hour of milling around the area, occasional chants of “Inslee’s got to go” or equivalent chants on the same theme, the group moved over to the fountain area of the capital campus and listened to a variety of speakers. Needless to say, this wasn’t a crowd happy with Inslee. Sometimes photos speak louder than words, so I’ve attached a bunch of photos below which better illustrate what attendance at this event looked like for those who did not attend.
I doubt this drone had permission to fly here, but this wasn’t a day people were asking for permissionanyway
This was a remarkable turnout considering the fact most people during this pandemic panic are under the practical equivalent of house arrest either complying with Governor Inslee’s directives to stay home, or they are concerned about catching the virus. It should be noted that many people in attendance were wearing masks and/or gloves. In addition, this event was not organized by any major official organizations (although a variety of grass roots groups endorsed it), and this always makes the practical process of getting a crowd of this size more challenging. This should put some political leaders on notice, but politicians are rarely ahead of the curve.
Governor Inslee, of course, didn’t care and mostly ignored the event, although he did tweet out a snarky message later. Inslee apparently views the shut down as a key opportunity to boost his flagging popularity, and the Democrat Governor’s polling seems to indicate he is getting positive marks the longer he shuts down the economy. Mainly this is because he believes he is “saving lives” the longer it drags out, or at least this is the poll tested narrative at this time.
As a political bonus, Inslee earned recent national attention by attacking President Trump, claiming Trump was fomenting “rebellion” and insubordination among the people when Trump encourages the reopening of the economy. Of course, as Republican Representative Jim Walsh helpfully pointed out, Governor Inslee might want to read the state constitution at some point. If he did read it, he might discover that he actually works for the people and not the other way around. A little rebellion now and then can indeed be a good thing and a helpful reminder.
Inslee was an attorney in his pre-political life
Many people are obviously angry about losing their jobs, their businesses, and they view their economic future sinking fast under the current lock-down policy. Inslee owns this lock-down in its entirety, but the Governor feels it helps him politically. He also recently linked his decision to end the lockdown on the California and Oregon Governor’s policies. Outsourcing this decision to these states is not very popular in Washington.
This might seem very shortsighted, but this guy is a lifetime politician very detached and insulated from the consequences of his decisions and policies. As a former slip and fall attorney, he doesn’t know what it takes to run a real business. If his political allies and donors are selectively protected by his lock-down policies, then he doesn’t really care about the other people who are hurt. His re-election is all that matters to him right now.
We are living in strange days. A genuine economic crisis combined with a pandemic and health panic is creating an unprecedented cultural and economic experience for all Americans. Binge watching Netflix and rioting over toilet paper once a week at Costco gets old quickly. This is only the beginning. Most people who will lose their jobs and businesses this year haven’t lost them yet. However, many know it is coming and people sense the looming storm will be bad.
The bureaucrats and politicians appear unconcerned about this tsunami of chaos and economic collapse. In fact, some of them like Governor Inslee seem practically giddy about their rising poll numbers and how the chaos and the opportunity to make more people dependent on government welfare will help him get reelected. The political opposition to Inslee is fractured and not organized effectively yet. However, Inslee is right about one thing – a rebellion is brewing, but he can’t blame this one on Trump. Inslee will be forced to look in the mirror for the source of this one.
Signs of the rebellion are posted below.
Not everyone wants a Master to tell them what they can do
A Common Theme at the Event
Not everyone was impressed with the failed Virus models, which were all wrong
Not everyone likes Inslee’s effort to shut down the wilderness – where social distancing is measured by miles not feet
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
In a recent Thurston County Board of Health Meeting, the bureaucrats have decided to conceal information from the elected officials. The Thurston County Health Department has been troubled for years, and the staff infection means the public can no longer trust them.
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In a crisis, some bureaucracies and bureaucrats demonstrate why they need to be removed or replaced. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I want to believe that honest people have the ability to rise to leadership roles in bureaucracies. My hopes of discovering honesty in bureaucracy are regularly dashed by reality. Still, I keep trying. In Washington State, the Thurston County Health Department clearly provides a very relevant and current example.
Here is the most recent Thurston County Commissioner/Board of Health agenda setting meeting from Tuesday, and while it is long-winded, rambling, and a bit boring, there are critical issues exposed about the bureaucratic cultural attitude and how this sabotages rational policy making processes, even at a local level:
Thurston County’s Commissioners are also Thurston County’s elected Board of Health – Agenda setting meeting, Tuesday April 7, 2020
For the first time in many decades, the entire nation is experiencing an honest-to-goodness pandemic-level challenge.Thurston County is in the middle of this drama too. Sure, the impact is far less than the scary models presented to us a few weeks ago. At least this isn’t the usual “100-years from now, the earth will warm one degree and you will all experience global warming and die” hyperbole. People are actually dying in America from the Wuhan/Corona Virus. Not in 100 years, but right now.
Okay, yes, according to information reluctantly released on Friday, it looks like Thurston County had 80 tested and proven cases of the virus to date. Fortunately, 58 people have recovered. A little over a dozen people have been hospitalized, and one person died last Saturday (over 80years old, with unspecified “underlying health conditions”). So far. (See the State Dept. of Health stats linked here by county) Right now, the odds of a Thurston County resident becoming a victim of one of the criminals the county or state released early from prison are higher than dying from this virus. I’m sure those numbers will grow. We had 6,800+ people in the county file for unemployment last week, and I’m sure those numbers will grow too.
However, at least these elected public health officials know what is going on, right? The health department bureaucrats are keeping the elected officials (who are the designated health officers for the county) informed, I’m sure. For many decades, the public health department has been preparing for a public health emergency and their plans are all ready to go, right?
Unfortunately, this assumption isn’t accurate. In last Tuesday’s Thurston County Commissioner meeting, the Commissioners (who are the elected Board of Health) wanted to have more data on the vulnerable communities in Thurston County. How many beds were being used in the hospital? Did they really need more money and county tax dollars deployed for tents, cots, hotel quarantine rooms, emergency supplies? The Health Department has been asking for a lot more resources (plus requested bonus “hazard pay”). However, despite the fact that every single medical facility in the county reports on a regular (daily) basis all the data about ICU and hospital bed inventory, the head of Thurston County’s health Department still would not provide requested information to the elected officials who are theoretically mobilizing the county resources to deal with an emergency (see from 17:40 – 45:00 of the above video).
Thurston County Commissioner Gary Edwards
Staff were not surprised with these questions. Seriously, what the heck are they doing right now that takes priority over tracking this pandemic data? Apparently, Commissioner Gary Edwards had been asking for this information repeatedly, and staff has decided elected officials don’t need to know. Staff explicitly is censoring the data they provide to the elected officials, in the middle of a crisis. This exposes the heart of the bureaucratic cultural rot. The residents of Thurston County are fortunate to have an elected official like Gary Edwards willing to ask these questions and challenge staff – most elected officials have been conditioned to blindly follow staff, convert their spines to spaghetti, and not think for themselves. We need more elected officials willing to ask tough questions and confront this staff infection.
Thurston county staff regularly demonstrate why they can’t be trusted
This is the EXACT same health department which has been confronted by this author and others in the past for falsifying data, cherry picking information, and lavishly funding studies to justify the “crap tax” on septic systems over the past few years. Despite the fact that they have been repeatedly confronted (and forced to admit) that the “14% failure rate” for septic systems was a fraudulent study, faked by Thurston County health department staff. This fake “study” was used to create a phony and false narrative for the State of Washington to justify massive unneeded regulatory taxes, fees, and increasing bureaucratic bloat. Staff still pretend to prioritize “science,” “math,” and “public health.” The staff care about none of those things if the truth revealed does not fit staff’s pre-determined agenda.
The primary wastewater treatment facility in Thurston County is LOTT (Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater Treatment), which has accidently dumped millions of gallons of raw sewage into Budd Bay in the recent past, and always gets a bureaucratic gold star plus millions of dollars.
This is the same local government agency that refuses to confront the local wastewater treatment monopoly (named LOTT) when they dump millions of gallons of raw sewage into Puget Sound in Olympia. This is the same group of bureaucrats who look the other way as extensive homeless/drug addict camps dump raw human waste, drug needles, and other toxic surprises into salmon streams just a few miles from their office. Staff actively ignores real pollution and health challenges in Thurston County, while they spend vast sums of taxpayer dollars and staff time to invent and justify techniques to punish and tax rural property owners for rural living. This bizarre obsession by this agency while willfully ignoring real pollution problems is well known by local government watchers.
What’s upstream in Olympia? Homeless addicts dump trash into salmon stream in City of Olympia – the Thurston County Health Department ignores (Photo 1/15/2019 – Percival Creek)
On top of this, this department has been caught falsifying water quality studies in the Scatter Creek Watershed (since at least the late 1990s) and repeatedly attempting to fake, falsify or just lie about well water quality and watershed studies in the Scatter Creek Watershed. It is a reflexive habit for health department staff to falsify or cherry-pick water quality studies, septic system analysis, or any other action they have taken in the last 20 years in south Thurston County. In North Thurston County they refused to allow DNA tests on fecal coliform samples on Woodland Creek because the results would have disproven their claims that septic systems were the cause (and therefore they forced a massive, costly sewer expansion in that neighborhood).
The Thurston County Commissioners are also the County Board of Health
I recognize it is standard practice to fake reports, falsify studies, and ignore real sources of pollution in Thurston County. This is just how the staff infection spreads. However, there was an underlying presumption (naïve on my part) when a real health emergency comes along, they will be at least marginally functional and capable of providing basic information to the elected officials so semi-rational policy decisions are possible. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Incompetence and alternative agendas are woven into the cultural fabric of this bureaucracy.
Budget cuts are coming to Thurston County. They will be significant. Regardless of how well the community has flattened the curve of the infection rate, the local economic climate has certainly been flatlined and crushed. Cleaning house in the Thurston County Health Department is a good place to start with the cuts. Firing all upper management (no senior manager appears salvageable) should be the first step. They have been stress-tested, and they failed. What would happen if this had been a much more serious emergency, with death rates above 1 in 275,000 residents? If this legendary incompetence can’t be fixed, outsourcing key functions to real professionals will become a policy and budget necessity. In a world of pandemics, we no longer have the financial luxury to tolerate useless, politicized, agenda-driven, and failed departments like this.
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
Governor Inslee's policies have forced us all to become armed, homeschooling preppers now. Inslee has accidently become a true change agent in Washington State, but probably not the way he planned.
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Whether or not Washington State succeeds in “flattening the curve” on the Wuhan/Coronavirus pandemic, the state’s economy has successfully been flatlined. This will become obvious to everyone, even the bureaucrats in Olympia when they are forced to face the budget cuts coming their way. However, flatlining the economy isn’t the only lasting achievement of recent government policies.
Democrat Governor Jay Inslee has managed to turn every Washington State family into homeschooling preppers. In addition, he helped motivate a large percentage of state residents to become new gun owners. Inslee also has set the foundation for the greatest downsizing in state government ever seen in Washington State history. Republicans can’t be blamed or take credit for this cultural shift.
Government’s virus policies have made rural living far more attractive today
In the City of Seattle, the always entertaining Socialist Councilmember Kshama Sawant attempts to distract people by attacking Amazon with more threats of a “Head Tax.” To my knowledge, nobody has proposed a “Foot tax” for all those residents who will be abandoning the city to more sane jurisdictions.
Stockpiling canned food is expected today
A few months ago, “Prepper” was an epitaph with negative connotations. The idea of storing enough supplies and food at home to survive a civil crisis was viewed as “extremist” by the enlightened elite. A few weeks later, after stressing the Costco and Wal-Mart supply chain, everyone is stockpiling what they can at home, hunkered down for an uncertain duration. The “shelter-in-place” orders will condition the vast majority of Americans to become preppers now. This seems unlikely to change even when the orders are lifted.
Everyone is Homeschooling now
Shutting down the schools has also exposed the public education system in a way which would never have been predicted. With the whole family at home, “sheltered in place,” education has become a family affair. Now that school has been officially cancelled for the rest of the school year, many families will adapt their education strategies and planning accordingly, and this will inevitably weaken the monopoly of public education. Sure, the parents who use education as a babysitting service will be relieved next fall when (presumably) the children are back in school, but for now everyone is a homeschooler.
I think I will take two….just to be sure
A radical and sudden increase in gun ownership rates in America, as evidenced by the sudden increase in first time gun owners over the past few weeks is an unintended consequence of the government’s virus policies. The foolish decision by many municipalities to release violent offenders, the increasing burglary rates in Seattle (87% increase), the decisions to not enforce most property crimes, and the criminals receiving the clear message this is open crime season with get-out-of-jail free cards in Washington State, inspired a larger number of citizens to take charge of their own self-defense. These government policies come after years of declining quality of life policies combined with experiments in subsidized urban blight in many cities of Washington as local politicians shifted hundreds of millions of dollars to bloat the Homeless Industrial Complex, encourage and support the druggie lifestyle, and mythologize the homeless camps throughout the state. People who don’t want to be victims of crime are arming up.
Historically, the best way to increase gun and ammo sales is to elect Democrats. No type of politician has helped grow the firearm industry more than anti-gun Democrats (which is how most Democrat political leaders identify today) , as evidenced by the radical increase of gun sales under their watch. However, gun ownership itself is obviously not limited to Republicans, and based on conversations with many gun shop owners around the state, the increasing rate of firearm ownership by those who identify as Democrat demonstrates a widening cultural shift between the political elite (who preach “no guns”) and regular Democrats who don’t aspire to be victims any more than their Republican neighbors.
After mainstreaming prepping, forced homeschooling, and increasing firearm sales, the next political/cultural impact of Governor Inslee’s policies appear to be the collapsing state government budget. Maybe state government can kick the can of these inevitable budget cuts down the road for a few months, but they are only delaying the inevitable. The Rainy Day Fund is gone. The recent token mini-cuts Inslee made to the current state budget barely scratch the surface. The Federal grants won’t be adequate (and will be mostly focused on unemployment, health care costs, etc). No politician alive today has ever experienced the size of local and state government cuts that will be required. The appetite for increased taxes is gone (and with the flatlined economy, the money isn’t available for new taxes anyway). All the usual budget games won’t paper over the crash this time.
Over the next 12 months, major state budget cuts are inevitable, and leave only two primary questions. How big the cut? Which agencies get hit the hardest? Not even the most aggressive small-government Republican politicians could have planned this budget outcome in their wildest dreams. It appears that Democrat Governor Jay Inslee after flailing and failing in so many areas will create a lasting legacy after all. The Republicans, on their own, failed to turn the state politically “Red” for several decades. Inslee might be the guy to make Washington State go “Republican” instead. I guess somebody finally had to do it.
Someone had to do it
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
State Government’s Tax Eggs are Mostly in one basket
In Washington State, like all other states, extreme budget cuts are coming very quickly. There is no way to avoid them. Tax receipts are collapsing, which is what happens when you essentially shut down the national economy for shelter-in-place lockdowns months at a time. Unlike the Federal Government, states and local governments can’t print their own money out of thin air. However, these sudden cuts will produce a series of predictable actions which bureaucrats will take to fight the inevitable cuts coming their way. I detail the top six games bureaucrats will play in the following video:
However, if you prefer to read about this in more detail, we’ll
explain the logic and predictability behind these games, focusing on Washington
State as our local example. This will be
happening in all 50 states over the next few months and years, and the same actions
will be occurring at a local (city and county) level as well.
First Stage – Denial
Under normal circumstances, the denial phase would last many months and even years before this game is up. However, due to the sudden and extreme nature of the shut-down orders, spike in unemployment claims, combined with crashing economic indicators, this stage will be short-lived and is probably vanishing already in most quarters of government. Nevertheless, it is worth addressing.
There is no skating away from these budget cuts
As we’ve already discussed, a substantial percentage (roughly 70%) of Washington State’s tax receipts come from sales tax, B&O tax, and special excise taxes – all of which are directly reduced by the current economic downward spiral in the state. The increased grocery spending has zero tax benefit since most food purchases are not taxed. Shelter in place collapses economic growth and distorts the economic numbers in a way never seen before in modern times. Massive job losses make it worse (and increase local government costs due to unemployment, etc.). Even when the shelter-in-place order is lifted, not too many people will be flocking to movies, taking cruises, planning their dream vacation, or eating out three nights a week. Essentially, these government orders have turned everyone into a prepper and home schooler overnight, plus a lot of Americans just bought their first firearms. The world has changed. It is going to take years before we see spending (and tax receipts) get to the pre-Wuhan/Corona Virus level. Many small businesses are not coming back. The only question yet to be answered is how large this drop in tax collection will become.
Governor Jay Inslee
Roughly, the state’s biennial budget is about $55 billion right now, which is an annual budget of about $27.5 billion. While it is impossible to predict the tax collection collapse, it is massive and larger than any drop anyone has seen before. Even Governor Jay Inslee, who habitually and instinctively squanders tax dollars like they are fake Monopoly cash, made some spending line item vetoes (of about $500 million) in the budget recently passed by the legislature a few weeks ago. The Rainy Day Fund which was mostly created, defended, and promoted by the Republicans and had been raided by the politicians, is officially gone – $1.6 billion (roughly) is vanishing as you read this sentence. Federal Grants? Sure, just like all the other states. Billions, I am sure. It won’t matter, and it won’t be enough – it is already spent.
Second Play – OPM – Let’s use other People’s Money
This is the reflexive choice of the bureaucrat and the special interests who thrive on government cash. Normally, this works well. It doesn’t work out great for the taxpayer, but the bureaucrat and their cronies get to live well on the hard work and cash from others. This phase is probably being planned as you read this article. To avoid cuts or even slow-down the bloat, the bureaucracy will do anything, say anything, and excuse anything to get more tax dollars. Government is good at very few things. Finding unlimited excuses and methods for new taxes happens to be the one category in which government excels.
The challenge this time around is the fact that the general public is in no appetite to pay higher taxes. In fact, there was already a growing tax revolt in Washington State against the recently increased property taxes, a total repudiation in last November’s election of the excessive car tab fees, and a growing anger at the effort to impose a state income tax. The current economic free-fall creates a climate where most voters will respond with anger and derision at any politician stupid enough to take this road. Sure, the Seattle Socialist crew will blandish their “tax the rich” slogans, but nobody is listening to them, and everyone is paying too much already. The tax gravy train is not leaving the station right now.
Third Angle – Live High Today – Make Our Kids Pay Tomorrow
While the Federal Government has decided to make future generations pay for today’s government programs, the states will have a harder time doing the same
This is essentially the push to go into debt to keep the government bloat alive today and shift the cost to future generations. After all, interest rates are as low as they can get, right? Democrat State Senator Hobbs will probably float this one, and he won’t be alone. This is the equivalent of a regular person racking up credit card bills to pay their daily expenses and they hope someone will bail them out tomorrow. For the state, that someone will be our kids. This is a terrible plan, and beyond the morally questionable aspects, there isn’t enough bonding capacity (or appetite in the bonding marketplace) to make this a viable option.
There might be some confusion on this point, because the Federal Government has obviously done essentially this for decades to keep the bureaucracy and special interest gravy train going for decades. However, at the state level, this is not possible. The states which have taken this path already – California, Illinois, New Jersey, etc are about to experience complete fiscal disaster and insolvency on a scale not seen in America before. It is not the road Washington State can or should take, and while the bureaucrats may clamor for it once they realize the magnitude of the cuts which are coming, this should be a short-lived phase, which passes like a bad nightmare.
Fourth Stage – Punish the Taxpayer, make the people suffer
The bureaucrats would rather release this guy in your community than cut their budgets
This is a particularly nasty game that the bureaucracy always plays, and they are experts at the narrative. From their perspective – “ok you skinflint taxpayers, you won’t keep giving us all your money? See how you like this.” They will then make absurd, first line budget cuts like releasing and unleashing sex-offenders and violent criminals on the community, so the bureaucrats can plead poverty as the excuse for not doing their job. They will close parks and cut back on even near-zero cost expenditures for services and programs which are popular and used by the community. All this, in an effort to gin up support for more taxes or more taxpayer cash.
This game is played often because it works, and it takes serious budget analysis and a deeper than average understanding of government budgeting in order for the public to realize that there were 100 programs, unseen and unnoticed and uncared about by the public which could have been cut first, but they employ a lot of political insiders and special interests love them. The government bureaucracy WILL NEVER willingly cut THOSE programs first because once cut, they may never come back again. These are the programs that have grown in darkness, bloated over the decades, and utilized skillful lobbyists, and careful political negotiations to create. They often have zero practical value to the community, but they carry strong political weight. So, it is better to block off access to the parks, shut down the campgrounds, release sex offenders, and stop issuing permits to the public. THOSE things the general public actually use and they might care enough about them. The bureaucrats believe they can convince the public to impoverish themselves a bit more to keep the bureaucratic game going.
The bloat of Government is never willingly reduced
This will be the game which must be confronted by the public
and those politicians who have an eye on the budget and a willingness to
confront the bureaucracy. This will
start happening by early next year if not sooner, and it will take exceptional
political leadership and publicity to prevent it from becoming policy.
Fifth Game – “Across the Board Cuts”
Essentially, this is when the Governor and Legislature knows they have a budget shortfall of 10%, so they say they will make an “across the board 10% budget cut.” This is actually just another version of the “Punish the Taxpayer” game, but it is based on the logical fallacy that all government programs are equal. Lazy politicians like this game, because they can close budget shortfalls without doing the difficult work to dig into the labyrinth of the bureaucracy and make programmatic cuts.
Senior political appointees and upper management also prefer this option because they are typically given the latitude to cut front-line staff (who often actually do real work) and keep their own bureaucratic nest feathered. This is how you have departments where there are more managers than workers. This creates absurd scenarios where an agency will lay off all the janitors and the receptionist, but not one person in upper management, despite the fact that upper manager has a taxpayer cost in excess of all the front line staff, and the agency could still do their statutory job without the upper manager.
The Sixth Phase – “Hunger Games in State Government”
Due to the sudden extreme collapse in tax revenue, the unlikelihood of any solutions without major cuts, and the fact that these other bureaucratic games probably won’t work this time, this is the phase I expect state government to enter by early next year. Essentially, this is a game of musical chairs, and the music has stopped. The bureaucrats will have to fight each other for the few tax dollar chairs left, and they will have to fight to the bureaucratic death to have a seat. Oddly enough, this is the phase which has the potential of doing the least harm, and possibly even some good.
A lot of secrets are likely to be exposed by other bureaucrats
If there is one group of people who know where the bodies are buried in state government and who know which programs are scams and failures more than anyone else – it is other bureaucrats. When they see the bad programs surviving the initial wave of budget cuts, and they realize they are on the chopping block next, their reluctance to expose the truth will fade away. There will be nothing left to lose. The long knives will come out and they will start stabbing each other in the back to keep their turf alive. It might be ugly and there inevitably will be bad choices made during this time, but this is when a lot of dead wood and programmatic cuts can be made. The smarter and craftier bureaucrats already see this coming, and they are preparing. The arrogant and politically connected are calling in favors and preparing for the siege.
However, regardless of what games the bureaucracy plays, the cuts are coming and it will be up to the taxpayers, fiscally prudent politicians, activists, and what is left of the media to keep their attention focused on the priorities of government. We must retain only what government services are truly critical at this stage to weather the economic blizzard, avoid doing more harm, and help average people get back on their feet. This might take a while.
Cutting State Government is hard work and a messy job, but it needs to be done
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
A handful of Washington State Treasurers have decided to delay property tax due dates without penalties for over a month or more. The rest should do the same.
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One silver lining on the dark cloud of Washington State Governor Inslee’s emergency declaration was that it empowered the elected county treasurers to delay the due date for paying property taxes. RCW 84.56.020(8) is the statutory authority for these actions, and is detailed below:
“During a state of emergency declared under RCW 43.06.010(12), the county treasurer, on his or her own motion or at the request of any taxpayer affected by the emergency, may grant extensions of the due date of any taxes payable under this section as the treasurer deems proper.”
County Treasurers rarely receive public attention. They don’t command a lot of political authority or power most of the time. However, this is one of the rare situations where they can unilaterally make a decision which has a real positive impact on the lives of local property owners. Normally, the due date for the first 50% of a property owner’s tax is at the end of April (the second half due in October). Many property owners have their mortgage company pay the property tax monthly along with their mortgage payments. They may be less aware of the significance of the state’s property taxes and the recent increases, but if the property tax is paid with the mortgage, they can’t take advantage of this deferred payment.
The Washington Policy Center had recently posted an article calling for the treasurers to take advantage of this emergency provision and help property owners suffering under the shelter-in-place orders by Governor Inslee by postponing the date property taxes are due (see article here). On Monday, many of these treasurers officially announced these due date extensions. Here is the current list of seven counties (out of 39) who formally made this policy decision:
Thurston County extends deadline to June 1, 2020 (see official announcement here). Note: they do reference the incorrect legal subsection (should be subsection 8, and they use “10”, but close enough).
King County extends deadline to June 1, 2020 (see official announcement here). Note: King County is a Charter County, so the County Executive makes the decision here.
Snohomish County extends deadline to June 1, 2020 (see newspaper article here, there was no official announcement on their website).
Pierce County extends deadline to June 1, 2020 (see official announcement here). Pierce County is also a Charter County and they have an elected Assessor/Treasurer (only one in the state).
Spokane County extends deadline to June 15, 2020 (see newspaper article here, couldn’t find an official announcement anywhere else). This is the longest extension so far in the state. Positive recognition to Treasurer Michael Baumgartner (former Republican State Senator) for extending this deadline the furthest (so far) for cash strapped property owners.
Whatcom County extends deadline to June 1, 2020 (see KGMI article here)
Pacific County extends deadline to June 1, 2020 (see newspaper article here). They appear to be the first county to make the announcement on March 26th
This is a good policy decision. There could be some benefit in extending these property tax payment due dates as long as the state of emergency exists in Washington State. Based on some of the numbers presented by various treasurers, it only amounts to about 25-30% of the property taxes due in April, but every bit helps. The other 32 counties should consider implementing the same tax deferment policy and even pushing the deadline out into July, August, or later.
Keep in mind, this doesn’t eliminate the property tax itself, but the delayed payment (without assessed penalty) can make a huge difference for someone just trying to survive the shock of the Wuhan/Corona Virus pandemic shelter-in-place policies and the inevitable economic crash caused by grinding the local economy to a halt for a few months. Many people including property owners are going to suffer as a direct result of this downturn, and it seems almost certain that tax defaults are going to increase. Maybe this policy gives a small bit of breathing room for some property owners to hang on and survive a tough financial time.
It is nice to be able to write about a good local government decision like this.
OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.” IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.” UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…
