KING 5 News Up Front Blog

Listening to Bill Fleckenstein

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:37:52 -0800

Bill Fleckenstein has been saying for years a day of economic reckoning was in our future. Fleckenstein blames the low interest rate policies of the federal reserve under Alan Greenspan for the economic bubble that is now bursting. He says credit should have been tightened to try and avoid some of the economic pain we are beginning to experience. Of course, low interest rates helped people buy homes, cars and other things that drive our consumer economy. Could we have avoided the economic crisis if we had heeded the warnings of people like Bill Fleckenstein? Should we have tried to avoid the current crisis?

The end of a long campaign season

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 07:07:57 -0800

It has been a long campaign season. The presidential candidates have been at it for more than a year and hundreds of millions of dollars. Democrat Christine Gregoire and Republican DIno Rossi arguably have been running since 2004. They are breaking spending records too. It's deja vu in the 8th Congressional District features with two candidates, Darcy Burner and Dave Reichert, who faced off in 2006. People in the Puget Sound face Proposition One for the second year in a row. This year's Prop One offers more light rail -- but nothing for roads. And it wouldn't be fall without a Tim Eyman initiative. I-985 is Eyman's self-styled "congestion relief' bill. On top of everything else, eight of the state's nine congressional races feature incumbents who are prohibitive favorites. Finally, there are the political ads -- an endless, tedious supply of them.

But we also have uniquely challenging issues, like Initiative 1000. It's rare to vote on something so fundamental to how we see the world. It's literally a life and death matter. We get to decide some very close races for the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Lands Commissioner and for an open seat for State Treasurer. These decisions all offer real opportunities for voters to change our government. And finally, there's the humor, the music and the occasionally inspiring rhetoric that elections engender.

So here's the question. Are you tired of it all or will you be sorry to see it go on Tuesday?

Initiative 1000: should we follow Oregon's lead?

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:19:48 -0800

Initiative 1000 would allow people diagnosed with only six months to live to obtain a lethal prescription from a doctor. Oregon has had this law on the books for ten years. The number who have used it has grown slowly over that period to 49 last year. Proponents say it allows dying people to take control of the end of their lives and gain a measure of dignity. Opponents argue that society shouldn't legalize suicide and it's a slippery slope to mercy killing. What do you think? how will you be voting on I-1000 and why?

We're awash in negative ads

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 06:42:48 -0800

When you ask people, they say they don't care for negative ads, but political strategists say they work. Very few -- if any of these ads -- tell the whole story. They insinuate, they spin, and in some cases they are simply wrong. Millions of dollars are being spent on these ads to influence the gubernatorial campaign. Most of that money isn't coming from the candidates campaigns; it's coming from so-called independent expenditures. These are groups like the liberal Evergreen Progress and the conservative Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW). They can raise huge amounts of money to spend on ads because there are very few limitations on the size of the donations they can accept. So how do you feel about these ads? Do they demean the office the candidates seek, as Dino Rossi has suggested? Is it time to limit the amount of negative campaigning by changing election laws? Or is this just part of the election process?

Attorney General: McKenna or Ladenburg?

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:53:51 -0800

Rob McKenna is the incumbent Republican Washington State Attorney General. He is considered a rising star in the Republican party, a candidate with bi-partisan appeal who has been mentioned as a likely candidate for governor. His challenger is Democrat John Ladenburg. Ladenburg has been the Pierce County Executive and the Pierce County prosecutor. He attacks McKenna for not being a strong consumer advocate, especially regarding ID theft and gasoline prices. McKenna cites improvements in Washington's ID theft ranking nationally and his study that found no collusion in gas pricing. What do you think? Can Ladenburg unseat McKenna?

Proposition One: Expanding Light Rail

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:07:54 -0800

The Sound Transit Board has placed another light rail measure on this fall's ballot. It's called Proposition One and it would create another 34 miles of light rail from Lynnwood to Federal Way to Redmond. It would also increase commuter rail (Sounder) between Seattle and Tacoma and add express bus service. Sound Transit says it will cost $17.8 billion before interest is added. The revenue to pay for this expansion would come from a half percent increase in the sales tax. That's an additional five cents on a ten dollar purchase. What do you think? Is this a measure you will vote yes on or will you vote no?

Tim Eyman's latest initiative

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:04:42 -0800

Initiative 985 is Tim Eyman's latest initiative. It would open up HOV lanes in certain off-peak commute periods, require cities and counties to synchronize stop lights, put more money into emergency roadside service, and fund all of this with money taken from certain fines, penalties and tolls. None of this money could be used for mass transit -- buses or rail, bike lanes, or wildlife crossings. Eyman says these changes will result in better traffic flow and congestion relief. Opponents say the devil is in the details. They argue that money taken from tickets resulting from red light cameras will force many cities to shut those cameras down and opening up HOV lanes to everyone will create dangerous situations. What do you think? Has Eyman successfully transitioned from tax cutter to traffic congestion cutter?

Will you vote for a third party presidential candidate?

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:48:06 -0800

Although the Republican and Democratic candidates for president get almost all the media coverage, third party presidential candidates have often tipped the balance to one candidate or another on election day. Remember Ralph Nader in 2000 or Ross Perot in 1992? This year there are a number of alternatives to Barack Obama and John McCain. Former Republican Representative Bob Barr is running on the Libertarian ticket. Ralph Nader is once again in the race. Are you considering voting for a third party candidate? Do you think there is something wrong with a political culture that seems to automatically reduce any candidate beside the Republican or Democratic to an "also-ran"?

Just how stupid are American voters?

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:36:46 -0800

Seattle author and historian RIck Shenkman has a written a book that says American voters are ill-informed. He says good democratic government depends on informed voters and Americans are not living up to their responsibility. What really animates Shenkman is misconceptions about Saddam Hussein's connection to the 9/11 attacks. Here's an excerpt from an article he wrote for The Washington Post:

"Just before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, after months of unsubtle hinting from Bush administration officials, some 60 percent of Americans had come to believe that Iraq was behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks... A year later, after the bipartisan, independent 9/11 Commission reported that Saddam Hussein had had nothing to do with al-Qaeda's assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, 50 percent of Americans still insisted that he did. In other words, the public was bluntly given the data by a group of officials generally believed to be credible -- and it still didn't absorb the most basic facts about the most important event of their time."

So what do you think? Are Americans just plain dumb? Does our ignorance endanger our democracy? What can be done about it?

Darcy Burner runs again

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:32:40 -0800

In 2006, Darcy Burner ran as the Democratic candidate in the 8th Congressional District against incumbent Dave Reichert. Burner linked Reichert to President Bush and his Iraq policies. Reichert's campaign challenged Burner's lack of public service experience. In the end, Reichert won a close race. Now, two years later, Burner is back. Does she have what it takes to defeat Reichert this time?

Does Rep. Dave Reichert deserve another term?

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:58:29 -0800

Rep. Dave Reichert is running for a third term in the 8th Congressional District. Critics say Reichert's views on Iraq are not a good fit for the district. What do you think?

Four more years for Governor Christine Gregoire?

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:44:38 -0800

Christine Gregoire is seeking another four year term. Gregoire points to her expansion of children's healthcare and education as two key accomplishments. She also says that, despite the down turn of the national economy, Washington state is doing relatively well. She answers questions about a budget shortfall, by saying she is on top of tax receipts and will take the actions necessary to keep the budget balanced. What do you think? Is she doing a good job? Does she deserve your vote this year?

Is campaign money getting out of control?

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:25:24 -0800

One of the goals of campaign finance laws is to make the process transparent. Voters should know which campaigns and candidates are getting money, who's giving them money, and how much money is exchanging hands. What do you think? Is the system working? Is it clear to you which interest groups are supporting the different campaigns? Do you think you can easily figure out the individuals who are contributing to campaigns?

Is non-partisan voting good for government?

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:14:04 -0800

In the primary on August 19th, King County voters will be asked to take the first steps toward a non-partisan county government. It's called Initiative 26 and it would turn the King County Executive, Prosecutor, Assessor and Council offices into non-partisan positions. Supporters say parties get in the way of local government. They argue, most local issues are not partisan. Opponents say, this is a Republican ploy to get more Republicans elected. What do you think? Are political parties bad for government?

Sound Transit's new ballot measure

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:06:35 -0800

The Sound Transit board voted unanimously to place a 15-year, $17.6 billion measure on the November ballot. It would entail a .05 cent sales tax increase. In return voters get, among other things, 34 new miles of light rail. What do you think? Are voters in the mood to increase taxes for transportation projects?