I’ve been meaning to comment on Tim Eyman’s brilliant post-election analysis. In referring to the overwhelming defeat of both I-892 (Slots for Tots) and I-884 (Education Trust Fund), Tim made the following remarkable observation.
“I think voters really liked half of both the proposals. If we could lower property taxes and increase funding for education, clearly we’d have a major winner.”
Well… duh-uh!!!
But then, doesn’t that just epitomize the rhetorical philosophy that has characterized all of Timmy’s initiatives… offer voters something for nothing.
In fact, there is a way to dramatically improve performance at our public schools while simultaneously cutting taxes, which I outlined last year in a modest proposal: “Cut Taxes to Improve Schools.” Though I suppose the fact that it involves eating the stupider children, might turn off a few voters.
The point is, both I-892 and I-884 failed for the same reason… when voters understand that there is no such thing as a free lunch, they tend not to vote for a free lunch.
Yeah, well 2 things:
1: Eymanism is dependent on the ideology that there is a free lunch to be had.
2: I’ve noticed that with the exception of the Hanford initiative – the other 4 initiatives share the same percentage of victory. See http://josef-a-k.blogspot.com/.....es-as.html of http://josef-a-k.blogspot.com for the graphic… and http://www.secstate.wa.gov for the detailed results.
Do stupid children taste better when dipped in Heinz catsup?
Sorry, I couldn’t pass that up…call me cheap!
Geez, I think Eyman needs some mental health counseling if he actually believes what he says. What about “son of I-864”? What about the huge landslide for 892? Why he keeps opening his mouth knowing that either he’s lying or going to do/say something different 20 minutes later is beyond me. All he does by changing his mind/lying is further alienate his (shrinking) base.
Jon, Ken Schram agrees with you – see http://www.komotv.com/kenschram/story.asp?ID=33809 and, “The initiative amoeba is on the move again.” Read on for family entertainment!
Yes, I did like that Schram commentary. I don’t agree with him all the time, but he hits it on the head. I just can’t believe what an idiot Eyman is for pissing away what could have been a powerful political lobby that could have gotten center-right/conservative candidates elected. However, that would require accountability and hard work when it’s so much easier to line your own pocket. I hope I’m not premature in saying this, but he’s done. I think the PDC investigation (that Goldy got started, thanks!) will be the proverbial straw/nail in the coffin.
P.S. When I say “center-right/conservative candidates” I mean fiscal conservatives. You do have to pass the Seattle litmus test in state-wide offices. :)
Schram’s commentary is very good today. By the way, Jon, the PDC complaint was filed by three organizations – TaxSanity.org (Goldy), Permanent Defense (www.permanentdefense.org) and Taxpayers For Washington’s Future (www.majorityrules.info).
You are right, I stand corrected. Thanks!
Timmy is being stopped by the voters–they are more educated than I thought. The voters went for his earlier initiatives because they felt that they truly were voting for excessive taxation (I have never voted for any of Timmy’s stuff), but the voters also know when enough is enough in the tax saving department. They know when saving taxes start to hurt the institutions they use repeatedly. As to I-884, I would have voted for it if I felt I could have trusted our government officials to use the money raised strictly for schools–but the track record of our Gov and Legislature doesn’t make that seem very likely, so I voted against it. BTW in my opinion it is good that Locke decided not to run this year because I wouldn’t have voted for him. I disliked it when he forked over the voters approval of higher pay for teachers, and never once put a pinky on any of Timmy’s initiatives!
Bennington, I agree with you. I voted AGAINST 884 for the very same reason. I also think what you mentioned about Gridlocke slayed his reelection chances… he should have touched Eyman’s initiatives, too.