If this is going to be the quality of the "letters to the editor" space, I think you should just abandon this slot and give it over to something else. The comments to Crosscut articles take the place of the "letter to the editor" in the old newspaper format, I think ... and highlighting drivel like this (I can't even call it a polemic 'cause there's no real argument there) just cheapens your overall effort.

Could the same be said for comments and letters from Legislators Debo? Most of the drivel coming out of Olympia and the Governors Mansion cheapens the quality of life in Washington State.

The legislature is just playing a game of hide the ball with WSF, they have ruined it's financial health and can't fix it so are raising the volume on employee compensation.

"Discussions" such as this have little meaning without looking at the numbers (of dollars...) and comparing them with other enterprises, public and private. There's a lot of anecdotal evidence indicating excessive compensation for some staffers at the ferry system. KING5 got into some of that in their investigative series last year. It's time for an objective, unbiased look at the system, one not driven by anyone's "agenda."

Washington is a right to work state, isn't it?

Doesn't it bother folks that Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen and her sidekicks want to change so many state laws to shaft ferry employees?

-- No.

-- And I wouldn't call it "shafting" ferry employees, either.

The state has never had the incentive to bargain hard with their unions. Because the unions have a lot of voters, electeds supported as "labor friendly" must back issues important to unions or lose their endorsements. During years of increasing revenues, increased pension benefits that did not have to be paid immediately were easy gives. Historically, when you bargain, the work rules and conditions only get better for the labor force, not worse, so inefficencies and seniority favoritism grows. It is only when the piper must be paid and a change is forced upon you that there is finally the fortitude to do what should have been done all along...make the rules and benefits roll back to a level more reflective of the private sector. It used to be government paid less but the benefits were better. Now, depending on who you talk to, government pays better and the benefits are much better than the private sector. Bottomline, there is no money and things must change to fit the budget. The employees are not at fault, but they are where the ax will fall to bring things back into line, just as it happens in the private sector. Not fun...but that is what happens.

Washington is not a Right to Work [for less] state. Right to Work measures have been rejected by Washigton voters each time they appeared on the ballot. There have also been two attempts to place a Right to Work initiative on the ballot that came up short in the signature drive.