Washblog

State Republicans of course do not have any kind of useful alternative since what has happened economically reflects more their kind of conservative/corporate ideal economic system than a wisely regulated system where restraints are useful and in place.

You know ... the "ideal" conservative system where kindly-inclined capitalists are supposed to take care of the poor and needy out of personal generosity and concern for the plight of someone who has little opportunity to be part of the profit producing side of things....

Conservatism as a theory, just like socialism, communism, and corporatism makes for lots of things to expound about. What each of those historically always overlook is human nature.

The governor can make all the speeches she wants about how that budget does not reflect Washingtonians, but she is speechifying to those dominant members of an economic system who are at heart and instinctively selfish by nature.

This is also the time where folks in their 30's and 40's need to stop hiding behind liberal and conservative philosophical and political theory and put on the reality hat.

The reality is that while public debate and discussion of this or that nicety of some theory, it's cold outside. The government - in a dilemma of economic vulnerability and funding failure - is the only resource of any significant size to address hardships that continue to expand.

I write as an opinionated big mouth but also as a state worker whose union has recognized that wage increases and job security are wishful thoughts at this time. Although perhaps only temporarily de-emphasizing the reason for our existence - we also have to step up at this time and think more about life beyond our labor circle.

I write as a state worker who - in concert with many of my coworkers - are taking panicked orders and procedures from bureaucratic management with a grain of salt. We listen to what they think they can control in terms of procedures and rules, but then politely and spontaneously organize ourselves in our little offices and search for ways to more directly respond to the needy without the procedural claptrap.

... all without breaking laws as specified in the Washington Administrative Code of course. But for now we are trying as much as possible to avoid worshipping procedure at the expense of client well-being.

Still ... agency plans at best reflect planning as to how we at Fort Apache are going to deploy our ten troops against a massive flood coming toward us.

My hats off to every single worker who continues to stay at their post and be a positive resource in each community.