Editorials / Opinion

Tantrum of the rich

Kemper Freeman, Jr., photographed in 2010. Washington state’s supreme court rejected Freeman’s lawsuit to keep light-rail trains off of Interstate 90. I-90 is seen in the background. [John Lok, The Seattle Times]

In a recent article in The Seattle Times, Kemper Freeman Jr.’s transportation adviser, Bruce Nurse, attributes the bid loss to battle fatigue “from fighting the government.” [“Court rejects Freeman’s bid to prevent light rail on I-90,” NW Friday, Sept. 13.]

This is an example of the extreme arrogance of a member of the superrich, who seems to feel that if he doesn’t get what he wants, it is an intrusion by “big government,” stomping on the rights of the citizenry.

I think that some objectivity is called for. This whole political process has taken decades to reach its conclusion, with public input at every step of the way, including those in opposition, such as Freeman’s lawsuits.

Within Bellevue, 58 percent of voters supported a tax increase to fund suburban rail extensions. Publicly elected officials from the various levels of government from the affected cities and counties, as well as the state Legislature, made decisions that resulted in this outcome.

The final arbitrator, the state Supreme Court, which ruled 7-2 against the Freeman law suit, are publicly elected in a statewide election.

No, Mr. Freeman, this is not an example of Big Brother grinding the downtrodden under the boot of tyranny. It is the temper tantrum of a spoiled individual who is used to always getting his way.

Terence Clayton, Freeland

Productivity in the United States has fallen

I must respond to the article on the Columbia River Crossing. [“Senators’ deadlock shutters Columbia crossing,” NW Tuesday, July 2.]

After years of planning and an expenditure of $175 million the bureaucrats in charge of this debacle declare failure, close down the study and walk away.

Gen. Eisenhower and his staff planned and successfully executed the Normandy Invasion, one of the most complex operations ever attempted, in June of 1944. This was only two and a half years after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During World War II, the U.S. produced more than 276,000 aircraft plus countless munitions, vehicles, etc. required to wage war.

Now, our “leaders” appoint committees, perform staff studies, spend millions of our tax dollars, reach no workable design for the bridge, declare failure and walk away.

Any business that wasted $175 million of stockholder’s funds would be bankrupt and the company officers could be criminally charged for failure of their fiduciary responsibility. This is a gross waste of resources by our “representatives.”

Has the great United States of America come to this?

Robert Jones, Federal Way