McGinn and Tim Eyman

I despise the initiative process. It's not that I don't believe the People should have a say in the drafting of laws or governance, I just think that history shows we're not that great at it.

Take for instance the 2000 elections. I always love using this as my example, because it shows how awful legislating by initiative is.

In 2000, Initiatives 728 and 732 were passed with overwhelming support statewide. These mandated a reduction in class sizes, and increases in teacher pay. Wonderful things to strive for, to be sure, but not one inkling of a way to pay for these lofty goals.

Instead, voters also passed Initiative 722, with over 55% of the vote. 722 is the initiative that limited property tax increases to 2% (from the previous limit of 6%).

See - voters legislating is not the best thing in the world.

Of course, there is only one person who would have proposed I-722, that being Tim Eyman. Mr. Eyman has this thing where he seems to believe that the only way to legislate is via initiative. He is a true believe in governing by the people, even if the people don't totally understand what they're doing. This is the man who fought when the State passed legislation that created a section in voter's pamphlets to include a "fiscal impact statement." He does not want you to know what will happen when you pass a tax cut. All around, he's not that great of a guy.

The unfortunate thing is that Seattle's new mayor, Mike McGinn, seems to also believe in governing by the people. He is unabashedly using polls to determine what he should focus on as Mayor, along with an internet survey (with the top three being more light rail (good), legalizing and taxing pot (which can't be done by the city), and more nude beaches (priorities?)), and countless town hall meetings.

I hope that this is just a learning curve issue. The fact is that we elect people to govern. We pay taxes that pay their salaries, and the salaries of their staff, to govern. Yes, governing requires getting input from communities that are affected by specific proposals, but every single thing that is done does not require a poll, or a town hall, or an internet survey. Every thing that you want to do does not require a special election ballot.

Instead, focus on governing. Determine what you want to do for the city, and allow input, sure. Listen to the input. But for the big, grand ideas, YOU have been elected, so do some leadership. We cannot have a system of all Indians, no Chiefs. It doesn't work. When a department is planning something that will impact a specific neighborhood, ensure that they are taking in input via community meetings, and that should cut it.

I fear McGinn is becoming Tim Eyman, and wanting to have everything decided by popular vote, be that via an actual ballot, or town halls, or polls, or internet surveys. And Seattle sure as shit does not need Tim Eyman running the show.

If the administration does get out of control, then City Council - it's up to you. And I hope you're prepared for the task.