To the editor:

Aug. 17 was “Cost of Government Day” in Washington state. According to the Center for Fiscal Accountability, last Monday was the day on which the average person in Washington state earned enough gross income to pay off his or her share of the spending and regulatory burdens imposed by government at the federal, state, and local levels. In other words, in 2009 the cost of government will equal to 63 percent percent of all personal income in our state, or an average of 61 percent nationwide.

Each year we face new tax increases, increased fees, more government workers on payroll, while at the same time we see continued cuts in services and programs. This morning a smiling ferry worker handed me the system’s proposed fee increase schedule. Island County Transit has its hand out to subsidize no-fare bus service and fairly soon the school district will put its funding request forward to support its restructuring program.

Couple this with massive spending and questionable results of TARP, Cash for Clunkers, stimulus package No. 1, as well as ill-advised and far-too-fast movement toward single-payer healthcare and cap and trade and we need to ask – where does the spending and taxation stop?

According to the White House and Associated Press, the 2009 U.S. budget deficit is estimated at $1.58 trillion through September.

In 2008, the federal deficit was $388 billion at this same time last year.

No free pass to the Republicans for the 2008 number, however any way we look at it, a 307 percent increase from 2008 to 2009 is not sustainable.

Next year’s numbers do not look much better because tax receipts are down 17 percent from this time last year due to little incentive in the private sector for business growth, wage growth and capital appreciation.

How will we service our debt, fund government operations and remain solvent without substantial tax increases across the board? If these tax increases hit, can our currently fragile economy manage the additional tax and regulatory burden without further erosion?

I believe we are taxed enough already and must hold our elected officials accountable for their votes and decisions. Likewise, we should recognize and reward governmental restraint. We should insist the government focus on stimulating the economy, not through massive handouts but by getting out of the way and letting workers and business owners keep and reinvest their earnings and profits as they see fit. Government is necessary but it must be limited, always questioned and should never be seen as the answer to all our problems.

We can make a difference for ourselves, our state and our country. If so inclined, contact your elected or appointed representatives across all levels of government and ask questions, share your thoughts.

Remember, they work for us, not the other way around. As Americans, we have proven time and time again that, when motivated, we can overcome any obstacle and forge new, successful pathways toward prosperity and liberty for all.

Richard Bacigalupi

Langley