Drugs Homelessness Homelessness Politics Seattle Socialism Socialism Socialism for the rich

The non sequitur in Seattle is Dying

The KOMO documentary Seattle is Dying is a powerful  and angry film, denouncing the city council and courts for allowing homeless camps, tents, filth, and crime to fester. It depicts the low-functioning homeless who are drug addicted, mentally ill, and/or criminal. It condemns the inability or unwillingness of the police, courts, and city council to […]

Capitalism Economic Inequality Socialism for the rich

Quickie Link: Walmart Workers Cost Taxpayers $6.2 Billion In Public Assistance

Report: Walmart Workers Cost Taxpayers $6.2 Billion In Public Assistance Walmart’s low-wage workers cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $6.2 billion in public assistance including food stamps, Medicaid and subsidized housing, according to a report published to coincide with Tax Day, April 15. Americans for Tax Fairness, a coalition of 400 national and state-level progressive groups, […]

Economic Inequality Education Socialism for the rich Taxation Washington State Politics

Senator Reuven Carlyle explains why he voted against the McCleary deal: the entire burden is placed on the middle class

Video: Sen. Carlyle’s McCleary Floor Speech (Excerpts) 70% of low income people in King County are going to see a tax increase. There is a perception that this is about taxing rich folk in the big cities [but it’s not so]. There is not one business in this state that does not win in terms […]

Education Socialism for the rich Washington State Politics

Refusal to re-balance taxes hinders schoolkids

It’s day 23 of a second special session in Olympia, since legislators couldn’t agree to a state budget before the end of the regular session. Now they have only 16 days left until the new two-year fiscal term. It will be hard to start that without a budget! The cause for delay is a disagreement […]

Accountability Boeing Economic Justice Jay Inslee Socialism for the rich Washington State Politics

What are we getting out of Boeing’s tax breaks?

As a young girl, my daughter had a fear of flying. She overcame this through a thorough study of airplanes and landed on the 737 as her preferred means of transportation in the air. So naturally, she asked for a Boeing T-shirt for a present. It says, “If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going!” So […]

Economic Inequality Economic Justice Socialism for the rich

Quickie link: Tax evasion as a matter of principle

The Tax Evasion Double Standard: How US CEOs Are Withholding Revenue by Thom Hartmann If I refused to pay any taxes until the US government lowered my taxes to a so-called “fair rate,” I’d almost certainly be arrested for tax evasion. But when The Washington Post asked Apple CEO Tim Cook about the billions that […]

Boeing Economic Justice Socialism for the rich Taxation Washington State Politics

Legislators have another chance to fix tax breaks, keep Boeing jobs in WA

I recently purchased a T-shirt from the Boeing store for my daughter, who is fan of the 737. It says, “If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going!” That may be true for her — but Boeing jobs are certainly on their way out of Washington. How can this be? The Legislature met for a three-day […]