I generally mind my own business when it comes to things political; however the latest series of articles relative to the budget crisis on Whidbey has me wondering about our community and its future.

When we moved here three years ago, there seemed to be a serious conflict regarding Costco coming to the Island.

From my conversations with neighbors, I found that we newer folks to Whidbey were rooting for the addition of a Costco, because the easy access to good shopping on this island and having competition to the other big box stores here already appeared to be a good thing. Few of us cared, or knew, about tax revenues a Costco brings to its locations.

Costco lost.

I remember reading an extremely well written article in this paper at that time which analyzed both sides of the argument.

The crux of the article was that just about everyone on the Island wanted a myriad of increases in social services (better schools, parks, libraries, free buses, more firemen, more police, etc.), but that it would require a larger tax base to fund the demand.

The article pointed out that a Costco would provide a significantly larger tax base with which to fund many of these projects. It said that a new Costco would provide needed jobs. The article also expressed a belief that a local Costco might entice people to do the majority of shopping on Island who otherwise went off Island for the express purpose of shopping at Costco.

The author pointed out two other options to raise additional funds. One was to raise taxes. The other option was to build cluster type housing. He contended that less expensive housing in the form of condominiums and apartment complexes would attract more residents to Whidbey. More people would result in a larger tax base.

The counter arguments to having a larger populace were that automobile traffic would become the next big issue and that the increased costs for additional social services necessary for a larger population could not be met solely with the tax funds provided by new residents. The author summed the “add more people” issue as “we like our Island just the way it is and more people are not good!”

He said almost no one he surveyed wanted higher taxes to fund the requested programs!

The article concluded that it seemed to be a “no brainer” to get the needed revenue by adding Costco. The other option he suggested was to say no to the social services requested.

Here we are three years later and this paper says we are near broke, the downtown is struggling, two car dealerships are gone and our politicos are wringing their hands over what to do to pay for social programs.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not about wanting a Costco. We are now quite comfortable making a monthly trek to Mt. Vernon to shop Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowes and now the new Super Wal-Mart Store. We turn it into a day and eat lunch or dinner at any number of locations off Island.

This diatribe is about our elected officials and our Island citizens waking up to the reality of today and doing what needs to be done to meet changes or needs in our social fabric.

There seems to be a trend in America today that everything social can be solved by increasing or instituting additional taxes, hidden fees or one time levies. Our politicians seem unable to say “we can’t afford it” as our populace says “we want more and more and we want it all to be free.”

From what I read and hear, every city and state trying to do everything, for everybody, all the time, is in financial ruin.

Those politicians who espouse continually raising taxes are now being voted out of their jobs by those who are tired of funding every whim of the public or government.

It seems simple to me.

If the Island wants more in social service without paying the penalty of adding new business or additional people; then it better wake up to the fact that we the people have to stop asking for more, more, and more. Our politicians also have to learn how to use the phrase “no, sorry we no have money for that!,” both for their own existing programs or those suggested by well meaning citizens.

Greg Davis

Coupeville