Following is a letter to the editor in today's Olympian

LEADERS WILL FLEE THE STATE

From all indications,the greedy and foolish taxpayers are going to pass Initiative 695.

The union bosses,company chief executive officers,politicians,bureaucrats,editors and reporters have all warned us that the 2 percent cut in the state budget funds 98 percent of all essential services,and the legislators and governor are incapable of reprioritizing and reallocating funds,

We have been warned by these folks that police and fire departments will be disbanded,prisoners released,hospitals boarded up and schools closed to send hordes of young thugs into the streets to loot and pillage.

These wiser-than-us leaders believe that anarchy and havoc will inevitably follow this 2 percent budget cut,so I am looking forward to the great deals to be had at the moving sales.

You are leaving aren't you? Surely you are too smart to to stick around in the smoking ruin that Washington will become.

I'm surprised that the roads aren't clogged already with the wiser-than-us,fleeing the state. Let the exodus begin;we foolish taxpayers will stay and try to make do with the remaining 98 percent of the budget.

Oh, as you are leaving town,would each of you please take a Canada goose with you?

--------------------------------------------------------------------- We do have a serious problem with goose poop here in Olympia,so if these folks do as the writer requests, Olympia should be relatively ca-ca free.Of course to get to a ca-ca free state,they would ALL have to leave.

But they're still here--I see no sign of an exodus.

Do you think that,possibly...maybe....could it be that...do you think...THEY HAVE BEEN LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH????

"No ones life liberty or property is safe when the Legislature is in session."

Ricardo

-- Ricardo (ricardoxxx@home.com), October 27, 1999

Answers

Of course they're lying through their teeth. They've been lying their butts off since day one. The anti-695 campaign is one so full of lies and distortion that it would make Josef Goebbels blush with shame.

Face it, Patrick, db, chez, and the rest of you. 695 is passing next Tuesday. And you're welcome to pay $30 just like the rest of us.

-- Joe Hylkema (josephhy@wsu.edu), October 27, 1999.

And who was that one broad in the Legislature who said that "if I-695 passes, I'm resigning the next day"?

I have a very difficult time believing that. After all, she's got a nice, cushy job where she doesn't have to work or produce a thing, paid for by the taxpayers.

"HE has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance." -- Declaration of Independence, 1776

-- Joe Hylkema (josephhy@wsu.edu), October 27, 1999.

Joe,

It was 27th District Rep Ruth Fisher. But she will not resign. You seriously didn't expect an I-695 opponent to tell the truth, did you? Art

-- Art Rathjen (liberty@coastaccess.com), October 27, 1999.

Well! Well! Well! It must be getting real close to the day of doom and gloom for those tax and spend types. It looks like the day of decision will not fall favorably upon them. The approximate 2% decrease in revenues will overwhelm them; and, I suppose the budget surplus is just too much to ask of them to use. After the November victory I would suggest that these types set down, take a chill pill, or two; then reorganize the spending needs to reflect the will of the people. Personally, I don't expect to see much in visible change in government services in the future. Frankly, I expect to see further increases in government employment after things settle down to a business-as-usual routine.

On to Victory,

Richard Henderson

-- Richard Henderson (grassroots3@earthlink.net), October 27, 1999.

OBTW, Rep. Ruth Fisher who promised to resign if I-695 passes but has already rupudiated this promise, is member of the House Ethics Board!

-- Art Rathjen (liberty@coastaccess.com), October 29, 1999.