Before I present my case for the reduction of government services, I would like to present my readers with two concepts. First, the prevalent behavior amongst members of the political class to become political people pleasers. Contrary to Nancy Reagan's "Just say No' campaign to combat drug use, this is a "Just Say Yes" response by our political class to almost every powerful lobby group in America.

Across party lines, elected officials assure their constituents that their lives in America can and should be risk free and only the compassionate hand of government can help them. Using the twin mantras that "We are the richest nation on earth" so, what's the problem? And if by the "Grace of God go I", which is the religious left's (an oxymoron) argument that conservatives can suffer the same poverty and indignities as the millions who fall through the safety net so, cough up more money. Then, once the guilt trip has been placed upon the 'greedy' 10% who pay nearly 50% of taxes, there are few restraints to raiding the treasury and the earning class wallets. How can any elected official turn down requests from the poor, elderly, children, environmentalists, veterans, education, and public safety? Has anyone ever come across that rare person, who has enough money, seeks no salary increase and wants to curtail his/her benefit package? We all want more, and that goes for the largest employer in the State of Washington and that is the State of Washington. My concern is how long can we [taxpayers] subsidize everything for everybody.

Secondly, the government safety net has become a costly hammock with a 24-hour room service. Frequently, the development, administration, legal work, litigation, implementation and monitoring of government services will cost more than the actual services rendered. Unless government services are prioritized, business taxes cut, free market alternatives offered, and government dependency is reduced, then we will all suffer the consequences of a broken safety net. If you want to see the future, just peek across the border to the People's Republic of California and to the City of Vallejo.

In this small working class community of 117,000, the city council has declared bankruptcy. With a staggering $16 million debt, the City filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 9. An economic slowdown and the housing crisis were factors in Vallejo's collapse, but there is more. An overly generous pay and benefit package to police and firefighters was more than the city could afford. It was so easy for public officials in the 1970's to give pay hikes and 'Cadillac' benefit and retirement packages to state employees. After all, these are deserving public employees and they just followed all the other California cities. What the 'Just Say Yes' chorus ignored for the past 30 years was how to pay for these union concessions. As Rev. Jeremiah Wright proclaimed, "The chickens have come home to roost." Comparable to an Enron moment, public safety salaries now account for 74% of the Vallejo general fund budget. Now, that's what I call government greed. Naturally, the unions have filed a legal challenge to add more costs for taxpayers. So, you ask: how does this relate to Washington State?

Like neighboring California, the state employee unions in the Evergreen State conduct collective bargaining meetings in secrecy. School districts, higher education and local cities are exempt under the Open Meetings Act of 1971. The cozy arrangements between Olympia Democrats and their union contributors is a foreboding sign. With little transparency and public accountability, the fiscal plague in Vallejo can reach Washington State unless we act decisively. Independent citizen watchdog groups (i.e. Evergreen Freedom Foundation and Washington Policy) must continue their efforts for open government. Citizens must get involved and vote.

This year, show elected officials they must adhere to ethical standards. There will be no better message than to replace Governor Gregoire and the paralyzed bureaucracy in Olympia with new leadership. A Governor Rossi will replace a gold plated hammock with a functional safety net that won't break the budget. A political people pleaser is not what Washington State needs.