Recently Tim Eyman said it would be "like hogs at the trough" when the state Supreme Court struck down the cap on property taxes earlier this year. He was referring to the opportunity for local government swine to gorge themselves on the new feed made available by the court's decision.

As a New Year's resolution, please remember that every time we pass a property tax levy (or extend one) we create another trough. You need only look to the trough that feeds the Port of Seattle machine (Port of Seattle property tax levy) to see how the government responds to "free money". This levy was made permanent by voters not so long ago so that the farmer need not even work to fill it. And some people wonder why the Port is called "a breeding ground for fraud and corruption."

Let's remove the automatic feeding mechanisms, because they just create fat and waste. Most all property tax levies are a farce. They are a direct appeal to the voters for funding that should really only be considered by lawmakers. Those policy experts hold hostage things like police, fire, and essential services, and when voters cave in to the demands there ends up being more money in the trough for the programs voters would never in their right minds approve.

My challenge to those who view this site is to stay vigilant, get involved, and make an impact with both words and action.