In response to last week’s letter writer Dave Olson, apparently a question asked is not worthy unless the answer falls in line with one’s own agenda. Furthermore, he spews ‘facts’ which fail to tell the whole picture—hardly truthful writing, semantics run amok.

He writes that 1098 prohibits expansion of the tax without “a vote of the people and other safeguards”. While technically correct, the bigger issue, and one that he most conveniently leaves out, is that after two years, the tax can be expanded and increased by a simple majority… of the legislature, no vote by the people needed. Now, I wonder why that important little tidbit was left out of his letter, and of course, in all the advertising for the “Yes” side? Oh yes, semantics.

Back to basics, the “yes” campaign spouts children, education, yada yada yada, as the great reasons we need this tax increase. The response is simply blunt: learn to live within your budget. The “yes” campaign knows it’s easy to spend someone else’s money (hence, currently it’s targeted only at the ‘high’ wage earners) and is counting on people being so simple minded that they can’t see the forest for the trees.

Folks, they spend whatever they can get, then come back for more. Your state sales tax is the perfect example. When was the last time it dropped?

Initiative 1098 is a slippery slope. The real question for 1098 is: Why? Do you really have that much faith in your legislature to control themselves two years from now? Are you willing to take that risk? Because history has shown it’s almost impossible to turn back the clock. Vote carefully, people, and be wary of what you wish for.

David Moore

North Bend