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- Fred Su Letter, 6-27-20
Author: Colin Gowan - Scholarship Recipient, June 2003
"Educating Business People"
Boeing. What kind of images does this word evoke? Large commercial 747's streaming across the sky? Space shuttles rocketing towards the stars? How about vintage B-17's in World War Two? These are impressive icons, but for many of the citizens of Washington State there is another foreboding image that comes to mind. Pink slips. For many Boeing employees this threatening possibility has become a reality. The company's not making enough money to sustain all of its workers and a large portion of the credit goes to the anti-business mentality of the elected officials and others of this state. Only by reducing taxes and regulations on businesses, supporting fiscally conservative candidates and returning the power to the people will our economy begin to thrive. Many of the problems businesses in Bellingham and Whatcom County are facing are a result of the many complex and unnecessary regulations that are forced upon businesses. All this gratuitous red tape is especially prevalent higher up on the government ladder. The regulations and hoops to jump through at the local level make it difficult enough for the local businesses, but when you start to add the influence of state and federal regulations then the rules that used to ensure safety and quality, now restrict the development of businesses. Another major problem for businesses has been the excessive and frivolous taxes that have been forced upon the livelihood of many people. Many politicians, at all levels of government, see raising taxes as the most effective way of providing money for the government to spend. Since businesses don't have a vote and rarely have anyone to advocate for them, they are often targeted for the new taxes. The compiling of excessive regulations and hefty taxes, forces many businesses to close down and the lucky ones are often just able to scrape by. Not to mention that prospective businesses take one look at Whatcom County and the State of Washington, see all of the restrictions on businesses and how hard it is to do business here, turn around and go find somewhere else that is more accommodating.
Recruiting and Supporting Business People and Pro-business Candidates
It is for these reasons that it is paramount that we recruit and support conservative, pro-businesses candidates who have practical experience in business and know, first hand, the issues facing the business community. When issues come to the floor in our state capitol the elected officials will be able to bring practical solutions for changes in the business community and not a bunch more rules that hamper the growth of our economy. That is why supporting local officials, such as Rep. Doug Ericksen, is so important. In January of 2002, I was a Page for him in Olympia and I was able to see the importance of having someone who is willing to be fiscally conservative and represent the interest of businesses. With responsible members in government, the private sector will be able to take on projects and services that the government had attempted to provide but did so with excessive spending. Transferring these responsibilities to the people will encourage the ferry system and WTA bus lines to run much for effectively and efficiently, without the wastefulness of undue government control. The working citizens of Washington and Whatcom County know the needs of the people better than a professional politician removed from the area they are suppose to represent.
©2002-2012 Northwest Business Club
Recruiting and Supporting Business People and Pro-business Candidates
It is for these reasons that it is paramount that we recruit and support conservative, pro-businesses candidates who have practical experience in business and know, first hand, the issues facing the business community. When issues come to the floor in our state capitol the elected officials will be able to bring practical solutions for changes in the business community and not a bunch more rules that hamper the growth of our economy. That is why supporting local officials, such as Rep. Doug Ericksen, is so important. In January of 2002, I was a Page for him in Olympia and I was able to see the importance of having someone who is willing to be fiscally conservative and represent the interest of businesses. With responsible members in government, the private sector will be able to take on projects and services that the government had attempted to provide but did so with excessive spending. Transferring these responsibilities to the people will encourage the ferry system and WTA bus lines to run much for effectively and efficiently, without the wastefulness of undue government control. The working citizens of Washington and Whatcom County know the needs of the people better than a professional politician removed from the area they are suppose to represent.
©2002-2012 Northwest Business Club