It is often the case that elected representatives fall out of touch with the people they represent. The things they championed when they were elected have become less important, or their constituents’ priorities have changed and they just haven’t kept up. Whatever the reason, when this disconnect happens, things can get ugly. For everyone.
Here in the Evergreen State, there’s a growing feeling that that’s happening right now.
Here are Five Fast Facts on the disconnect between WA’s leaders and “the people”:
- 👀 Where Are The Jobs? - Washington State added roughly 16k jobs in the most recent report. While that sounds great, we still saw unemployment rising slightly from 4.8% to 4.9%, the fourth worst in the nation and well above the national average of 3.7%.
- 😖 The Pain Of…Living - When it comes to costs, Washington State has some of the highest in the country at, well, everything. Gas prices are the actual worst (or close to it, depending on the day), inflation in and around Seattle is still rising, the cost of living in general is the fifth worst in the nation, and the consumer price index for the Seattle metro area is at an all-time high.
- 🌳 Other Priorities - In this backdrop, you’d think the Governor and state legislature would be working overtime to create jobs and bring prices down. Instead, they’re laser focused (wait for it…) climate change! Gov. Inslee is vowing to defeat an effort to repeal his signature legislation, the cap and trade program that is (almost certainly) driving up energy prices. It has generated almost $2 billion for climate change projects over the last two years. That’s tax money out of the pockets of Washingtonians who can scarcely afford it.
- 🍳 The Other Kind Of Gas - Natural gas is a fossil fuel, so (according to elected representatives in WA State) it should be avoided at all costs. Literally, no matter the cost. So, they’re trying to ban it using a ballot measure this November. However, it’s ⅓ the cost of electricity so when normal folks are scrambling to keep their heads above water that’s a tough pill to swallow! And, it’s so much better to cook with that many restaurant owners have been actively working to block the ban. The ban seems likely to pass, but it’ll be up to you, the voters, to decide for sure!
- 💸 Throwing Money Around - It’s hard to find a better example of the difference in priority than the recent WA State Department of Commerce awarding millions of dollars to 26 community-based organizations so they will be better able to help policy makers “bring marginalized voices…to local planning and decision-making processes” on environmental issues. You can’t pay your bills, but aren’t you SO HAPPY that 9 of 10 counties receiving your taxpayer dollars will be much more fairly represented when it comes to social justice and climate change policy?
🔥Bottom line: We’re not saying we shouldn’t work to help protect the environment. But when there are so many other pressing needs, it just feels like climate change isn’t the biggest problem facing most normal folks these days. When the cost of living is by far the biggest issue that likely voters are concerned with, you’d think elected representatives would pay attention…but they aren’t. If only there was an election coming up soon…
Do you think there’s a disconnect between politicians and normal folks?
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