Now that the dust has settled and statistics are in: $16 billion spent on the presidential race; $4.6 billion on state elections; $182 million coming from dark money; $100 million on Washington state races; $2.2 million spent by lobbyists in the first half of 2024. Is this really where Americans want money to go?
In Washington state: 22 proposed school closures; a $12 billion shortfall in the state budget; 29 of 39 counties and 200 cities face budget shortfalls; $5 billion short to finish road projects. This is only a partial list but one that reflects the issues I’m most concerned about. I’m outraged by why we seem to be OK with the enormous amount of money spent on politics. We are the only country in the world that doesn’t have set time limits on much time politicians can spend on primaries. Aren’t you sick of having to endure 365 days of political rhetoric?
Out of 80 countries we are fifth from the bottom in educational test scores; 55th out 89 countries for racial inequality; the highest infant and maternal deaths out of high-income countries; 23rd out of 143 countries in happiness index; 1 in 4 Americans have no vacation time and only 10 days of paid time off compared to 20-30 days off in European countries. Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Netherlands rate the highest in happiness, health and education. Social capitalism seems to work well in these countries. The proposed Department of Governmental Efficiency will cut social services to veterans’ health care, child welfare, housing assistance and the National Institute of Health to name a few of the two dozen on the list. I ask you again: Is this really where you want your money to go?
Joyce Renee Lewis
Mukilteo
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