“Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Tuesday called out sheriffs and police chiefs whohave publicly said they won’t enforce Initiative 1639 saying they should follow the new gun law becauseit is the ‘will of the people’ and because their inaction could cost taxpayers.” (Associated Press, 2/12/2019).
This elected official laid out the consequences the sheriffs could face if they do not enforce the will of the people.
The will of the people is touted because the voters passed Initiative 1639 in a previous election.
But in that same election the people voted down an initiative that would have established a carbon tax.
In fact, a carbon tax has been voted down by a will of the people two times.
Is it just a will of the people if it agrees with the agenda set forward by Governor Jay Inslee?
Many estimate a 19 cents per gallon tax on gas would come back on consumers with this proposed carbon tax.
And who gets taxed the most on gas taxes? Rural residents who drive farther to work and shop and low-income families because they tend to drive less fuel-efficient vehicles.
If these elected officials are concerned about the will of the people, why do they not see the income tax initiatives, carbon tax initiatives and other tax increases being defeated?
Elected officials have misused the role they play in our society as representatives of the people, but instead have turned it into a representative of their ideology.
Jon Cooke,
Quilcene