Posted Thu, Oct 6, 7:56 a.m.

The best explanation for Beltre's slump in Seattle was identified by Trunkshow. Why, why won't the Mariner's move the outfield fences in 10, 20 or 30 feet? Nothing less will attract hitters to Seattle. As they have demonstrated year after year, good pitching only goes so far.

Posted Thu, Sep 15, 10:05 a.m.

A very nice portrait of three adventuresome spirits, but come on! Packaged tours may have been going to Kurdistan, but not into the mountains right along the border with Iran. And two years ago, there was a real war going on in Iraq. Using a map printed off the internet? ...

Posted Fri, Sep 2, 11:10 a.m.

Your right. It will take some of each.

Posted Wed, Aug 31, 10:36 a.m.

Frankly, it is amazing they stayed as long as they did. It is/was a horrible location for an upscale furniture store.

Posted Wed, Aug 31, 10:32 a.m.

Regardless of whether they could afford them, people were eager to buy the houses and accompanying life style. So despite the author's preference for higher density housing and a more urban lifestyle, it is clear the market existed and I suspect it will continue to exist once we come out ...

Posted Sun, Aug 28, 9:47 a.m.

Without quibbling about the details, it all sounds perfectly reasonable. Unfortunately, both R's and D's are more interested in "winning" than they are in governing. The cynic (realist) in me says the Gang of Twelve has, at best, about 1 chance in 5 of succeeding at anything other than blowing ...

Posted Fri, Aug 5, 3:51 p.m.

The proposal is for the building to house just not a juvenile detention (jail) facility - for a relatively small population, but juvenile courts and maybe even family courts (child custody, adoptions, divorces, etc). Thousands of kids appear in juvenile court before a judge, only a handful are ever held ...

Posted Thu, Jul 21, 10:23 a.m.

The run around and the stall are intentional. The insurance companies make a fortune on the interest earned everyday a claim is in processing. Even for the most legitimate claims that will eventually be paid, for everyday the insurance company can hold off actually processing the payment to your doctor ...

Posted Wed, Jul 6, 11:53 a.m.

This article is more about what the food isn't and only 2 or 3 short paragraphs describing about the food.

Posted Fri, Jun 24, 10:59 a.m.

Obama and the D's need to challenge the Republicans on their no tax increases position. The Conservatives led by David Cameron won election in the UK by proposing and 80/20 ratio of spending cuts and tax increases to address their deficit. Some of the tax increases could be put off ...

Posted Tue, Jun 14, 9:51 a.m.

Excellent column. His criticism of both Republicans and Democrats is right on target. Where do I sign up for his Hamiltonian party?

Posted Thu, Jun 9, 10:38 a.m.

Great article. We've lost sight of the purpose of insurance. We don't purchase car insurance and expect it to pay for oil changes, brakes or other "regular" maintenance. We don't buy home owners insurance and expect it to cover the cost of a leaky faucet or faulty light switch. Can ...

Posted Thu, Apr 14, 9:57 a.m.

The ESA fails to adequately distinguish geographic differences in an "endangered" species population. Wolves were and continue to be legitimately endangered in some areas while in others their populations have recovered to the extent they are no longer endangered or even threatened and have begun to have adverse impacts on ...

Posted Fri, Apr 8, 11:02 a.m.

I find this absolutely unbelievable. You and I all pay taxes - probably a lot more than any of us like, but we do it. I can guarantee that few small and medium size companies are able to totally escape paying taxes. Yeah, the R's want to cut taxes - ...

Posted Sat, Mar 5, 1:47 p.m.

crossrip, there's a huge difference between securitizing capital projects - similar to a home mortgage - and securitizing the operating budget. Securitizing the operating budget is like taking out a 20 year loan to buy groceries that you'll consume next week.

Posted Fri, Mar 4, 5:43 p.m.

The Governor should state unequivocally that she will veto any budget that includes securitization of future tax revenues. Period - end of discussion. I'm a life long Democrat and unhappy with the horrible cuts that are having to be made, but the very idea of securitization of future tax revenues ...

Posted Thu, Mar 3, 5:12 p.m.

".... a constitutional amendment that removes personhood from both union and corporations.." Great comment. That would level the playing field!

Posted Thu, Mar 3, 3:14 p.m.

Despite the low opinion many may have of City and County government, both have substantial numbers of highly qualified managers. The school board and new interim superintendent should request the City and County "loan" several of their highly regarded managers to come in and at a minimum assess the district's ...

Posted Tue, Feb 22, 7:21 a.m.

1. Dumb 2. Ignorant 3. Oblivious

Posted Fri, Feb 18, 10:56 a.m.

I question whether the lack of broadband stymies economic growth. Rural areas have been struggling for decades with declining populations and economies. Can anyone demonstrate where the introduction of broadband to rural areas has sparked an economic turn around to a community? If they have phone service they have dial-up ...

Posted Fri, Feb 18, 10:41 a.m.

There's no reason these truths can't be spoken by a Democrat or even Obama. The tide is turning very quickly. Where is Obama's vision for dealing with debt and deficits? He either doesn't have one or he's afraid to present it for fear of loosing in 2012. I think that ...

Posted Thu, Feb 10, 9:57 a.m.

It first I thought this column was satire. Sort of an urbanist take off on a Tea Party pledge. Wow, crazy stuff.

Posted Tue, Feb 1, 3:34 p.m.

Government at every level has two basic functions. First, to represent and be responsive to its residents. That requires some degree of proximity. Merging counties would create a burden on the residents of those large rural counties who need to access many of those services or their elected officials. Second, ...

Posted Tue, Jan 18, 6:12 p.m.

The piece contains many good suggestions, but what is really needed are limitations - if not an out right prohibition - on voter approved initiatives. They are the real source of California's, Arizona's, Washington's and many other state's problems. They are a legacy of the populist movement at the end ...

Posted Thu, Jan 13, 3:17 p.m.

I'm not sure of the purpose of the article. It uses a lot of good government/graduate school public policy "speak" but is short on substance. Hope the reality is better.

Posted Thu, Jan 13, 3:08 p.m.

The cynic in me believes that the real motive in pushing responsibility for services down to the local level - by David Cameron, Governor's Brown and Gregoire, and others - is to make local officials take the heat for reducing services. Resistance to raising taxes is likely to be just ...

Posted Tue, Jan 4, 10:52 a.m.

I can't agree with the author's blaming of unions. He's apparently a life long Democrat who has worked on the campaigns of every Democratic President for 30+ years. But, he also claims to be a fiscal conservative. It is hard to reconcile the two positions. Democrats are and have been ...

Posted Thu, Dec 30, 8:13 a.m.

The concept may be sound, but where's the money for the investments supposed to come from?

Posted Sat, Dec 18, 2:19 p.m.

I have no sympathy for Senator Murray's whining. The Democrats in the Senate could have acted on the extension two years ago, a year ago, or six months ago but instead they waited until after the election. Or, they could have taken the initiative and proposed an entirely new set ...

Posted Tue, Dec 14, 10:36 a.m.

crossrip, the issue is municipal judges. Your rant about Sanders, Madsen, etc. has nothing to do with what is proposed. We're talking about the judges who make decisions on levying traffic fines and sentencing misdemeanants to jail time of less than one year. That said, I agree that there is ...

Posted Mon, Dec 13, 5:28 p.m.

Courts do generate revenue for cities, counties and states, but it doesn't begin to cover the cost of those courts. The reality is that judges make decisions that can cost a city or a county hundreds, thousands - even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Judges are effectively spending tax dollars ...

Posted Wed, Dec 8, 4:59 p.m.

Are you serious? The NBA is broken. Don't know anyone who really misses the Sonics. We have the Storm and Huskies.

Posted Fri, Dec 3, 8:33 a.m.

The reasons for the prohibition on the loaning of the state's (local government) credit are as valid today as they were 100+ years ago. Washington state has tools to attract or retain business through tax breaks and investments in infrastructure. I see no reason to go further and lend the ...

Posted Wed, Dec 1, 8:06 a.m.

Jordan, your comments are right on. The days of Seattle going it alone are long gone. The only one who doesn't seem aware of it is the Mayor. Unfortunately, both the Mayor and city government are becoming less and less relevant in the larger scheme of things.

Posted Sun, Nov 28, 2:49 p.m.

"You'd think the media, with its interest in lower carbon footprints and preserving walkable streets with small shops, would be a little less triumphalist about Black Friday." Uh? The media? What media? Crosscut?

Posted Mon, Nov 22, 11:34 a.m.

The last Republican governors - Dan Evans and John Spellman - were moderates, and succeeded in capturing not only independents, but many Democrats. Until the Republican's can put up similarly respectable moderates with the same kind of personal integrity they have no hope. And yes, Washington state "exports" federal tax ...

Posted Thu, Nov 18, 10:48 a.m.

I'm confused. On the one hand you say "there are plenty of exceptions, perhaps too many for it to be very meaningful in practical terms", and on the other hand you seem to be greatly concerned that its effect(s) may be catastrophic. Even as a largely symbolic act you seem ...

Posted Wed, Nov 17, 2:25 p.m.

The problem with this piece is the presumption that MSNBC is a news program anymore than FOX. They offer biased political commentary, not news. Therefore, you can't expect them to "uphold" some sort of ethical standard that might apply to more "legitimate" news outlets.

Posted Tue, Nov 16, 4:37 p.m.

I read this quote, "....Tea Party and independent voters, in particular, sent a clear message Nov. 2 to elected officials of both major political parties: Stop unnecessary spending, cut short-term deficits, reduce long-term debt." and would like to point out that there are more than a few Democrats who feel ...

Posted Sat, Nov 13, 3:39 p.m.

"Will Republicans accept recommendations such as raising the Social Security taxable pay cap and cutting military spending and corporate tax breaks in a quid pro quo for reductions in SS and Medicare benefits and discretionary government spending and staffing? We'll see, but I severely doubt it." Probably not. But, I ...

Posted Thu, Nov 11, 4:56 p.m.

City Light rates have been among the lowest in the region for decades. And, despite the increases noted above, only Tacoma's are marginally lower. Unlike most utilities, the rates we pay don't cover the full cost of the electricity we use. Years ago Seattle decided to generate and contract to ...

Posted Sun, Nov 7, 4:05 p.m.

Please name the last progressive Democrat elected President. Name the last one who was the party's nominee..... McGovern? Regardless of party, to get elected and effectively govern any candidate must appeal to the center and try to placate their respective "fringes" - Republicans of various shades on the right and ...

Posted Wed, Nov 3, 5:16 p.m.

Yesterday's swing of the pendulum was predictable and hardly surprising. Obama and the Democrats spent two years pushing an agenda that was largely out of step with what I believe is the fundamental issue of greatest concern to most Americans - economic sustainability. (Not that jobs and house foreclosures aren't ...

Posted Sat, Sep 25, 1:35 p.m.

Sorry, this is the headline from NPR I meant to attach to my comment above, "How the LA TImes Broken the Bell Corruption Story". Good old fashion reporting where the fourth estate provides a meaningful check on government.

Posted Sat, Sep 25, 1:31 p.m.

This is what I'm talking about.... (See NPR.com today, Saturday 9/25)

Posted Sat, Sep 25, 10:21 a.m.

I am an occasional reader of Crosscut and enjoy the occasional column and yours in particular. But, I really don't consider it "news" in the traditional sense of the word. Like all too much of the the media today, it is really just an online opinion page with a lot ...

Posted Sat, Aug 28, 11:07 a.m.

In the few cases of wrongful convictions for crimes that I have read about the responsibility has usually been attributed to over zealous police who ignored evidence and/or aggressive prosecutors more interested in getting a conviction than seeing justice is served. Rather than argue against the death penalty, especially in ...

Posted Fri, Aug 27, 5:13 p.m.

"BlueLight and dbreneman seem to think that charging consumers for using more of something is a bad idea. It's a simple concept, one that conservatives used to understand, but apparently have forgotten. If someone drives more, they're statistically more likely to get in an accident. So why shouldn't they pay ...

Posted Fri, Aug 27, 7:16 a.m.

It is ironic that you begin this piece talking about how Seattle has changed and then offer up a very "old school" idea of some self appointed group giving us a plan of what Seattle should be. The very concept is "old school" (see the World's Fair and Forward Thrust). ...

Posted Fri, Jul 16, 3:30 p.m.

Can the author or some explain: I'm curious as how private sector employment includes education. Does this include only private educational institutions or does it include public education - k12 plus higher ed? If it includes public education employment why is it considered private sector? SteveC

Posted Wed, Jun 9, 7:06 p.m.

Multiple solutions: Train more doctors. The AMA has long maintained artificial limits on medical schools. Create incentives for young doctors to go into primary care like covering a percent of their medical education costs. Increase the cost and limit access to getting training in certain specialties. Or, better yet, increase ...

Posted Thu, Jun 3, 6:57 p.m.

An excellent article, but MacDonald failed to mention is that under Washington State law, transit drivers have access to interest arbitration just like police and firefighters. This severely handicaps or practically eliminates local government's ability to truly negotiate wages, benefits and working conditions. A failure to reach an agreement (either ...

Posted Thu, May 13, 8:54 a.m.

Excellent article. First, the county, city and state, etc. have all known the bridge has been failing for years - at least 10. As Jordan points out, the bridge touches Seattle on both sides, serves primarily Seattle residents and businesses. (Also a lot of Tukwila residents and businesses.) The County's ...

Posted Wed, Apr 21, 7:59 a.m.

It appears the the Republicans are poised to lose all that momentum with their opposition to financial reform legislation. The D's will accurately portray them as defenders of Wall Street, big banks and the insurance industry. Polls are showing the public increasingly angry with these traditional Republican allies and supporters. ...

Posted Tue, Apr 20, 7:39 a.m.

This article and other critics of 520 are incredibly Seattle centric in their perspective. You can't turn back the clock. 520 is over 60 years old and wasn't built for the growth that has occurred over that period. A six lane configuration barely accommodates today's needs, much less the future. ...

Posted Mon, Apr 5, 10:06 a.m.

The article makes several really good points. Treaty rights are a complex subject, but the bottom line is our government entered into them and we are obligated to live up to them. BUT, you lost me with the statement ""While Indians are often as eager to build housing, roads, or ...

Posted Thu, Mar 18, 5:28 p.m.

The article makes several good points, but a few are off base. First, PSE has fewer employees because they use contractors for a lot of their maintenance work. If you counted the contractors, the number of employees would be roughly equivalent for the size and service area covered. Second, PSE ...

Posted Wed, Mar 17, 3:29 p.m.

There are many fine historical buildings in Seattle. Perhaps not as many as some would like, but that's why we have the processes described in place. But the Federal Reserve Bank? Come-on. It is one of the ugliest buildings downtown. I'm sure the folks pursuing this are the same ones ...

Posted Thu, Mar 4, 9:04 p.m.

Turning back the clock 50 years by eliminating a major state highway that serves a lot more than Microsoft is absurd. If you really want to get people out of their cars, prohibit on street parking in residential areas of Seattle. Or, how about eliminating the requirement that multi-family and ...

Posted Wed, Oct 28, 5:17 p.m.

What bombshell? It has been obvious to everyone for months that Boeing was going to build a second assembly plant in Charleston, SC. The so-called competition was simply to see how much they could get out of South Carolina. The Governor knew this months ago. Boeing didn't even attempt to ...

Posted Wed, Jul 29, 3:35 p.m.

This election is about change, and about which candidate has the experience, skills and maturity to both initiate and manage change. King County's problems are real. (You can't blame Sims alone for the County's situation. As the writer correctly pointed out, the council shares responsibility for reckless spending and exceptionally ...

Posted Mon, Jul 6, 9:14 a.m.

The challenge is not new, innovative ideas about how to reform taxes, education, health care, etc. With all due respect to Reuven, who I don't know, and others, there has never been a shortage of ideas. Some good and some not so good. The challenge is finding ways to make ...