Stakes high as Seattle considers business tax for homeless

[jimmyz]

When these preening leftists have had enough feces under foot and stolen laptops from their Acuras they will happily employ men of means to scrub their lives. The funny part is they have not added that cost to their budget.

[RadioGod]

Then again big business is keeping pace with owning government in many other respects. At this point I don't know where big business ends and government begins, they are so intertwined and I don't think it's happenstance. Where the monarchies left off, the oligarchies stepped in and the oligarchies don't care about people.

You called it. They have made themselves a functioning branch of government. The military can't move without Haliburton. The IRS can't tax without Equifax. The NSA can't spy without Google and Microsoft. This corporate method of making their services necessary is definitely on purpose, and keeps companies profitable. Without this tactic, the big companies would fold overnight and, god forbid, have to compete with smaller companies fairly

[Dr. Who]

You called it. They have made themselves a functioning branch of government. The military can't move without Haliburton. The IRS can't tax without Equifax. The NSA can't spy without Google and Microsoft. This corporate method of making their services necessary is definitely on purpose, and keeps companies profitable. Without this tactic, the big companies would fold overnight and, god forbid, have to compete with smaller companies fairly

Government is bought and paid for beginning with the election process. It's no coincidence that as elections have become more expensive to run, contributions from major corporate entities to candidates have become more essential to the process with the obvious residual obligations satisfied through the lobbyist industry.

[KathyS]

This is probably unconstitutional. It may cost the State of Washington business, if it's not. We have to find a way to deal with the education issue -- and I mean education where you can actually make a living, not one that just makes you feel good. Also, watch This Old House 2018 season -- the United States is desperate for trades people. Desperate. Good wages.

Exactly!!

Pipeline welders make up to $5000/week, master plumbers up to $250/hour, and train crews up to $100,000/year. As a locomotive engineer, I averaged $75,000 to $100,000 per year with excellent benefits.
I read that Class I railroads are offering $25,000 sign on bonuses for road and train crew new hires.

I have a BS and two Master degrees, and I'll never make what I did as an engineer. That being said, most young people these days don't want to get their hands dirty, and will sit in their parents basement instead.

[donttread]

That is the core of the problem, isn't it? They have alot of problems in Seattle. Real estate prices are through the roof, homelessness is rampant, and judging by the fact that 9 city council members can pass something that a majority of Seattleites are against, I would say corruption is a problem also.
I know companies like Amazon probably get sweet tax deals to begin with just to open facilties there. Oftentimes companies that big get newly paved streets, fiber internet, new utilities, parking, street lights, etc., all at taxpayer expense. I don't know how this new tax will offset those gains for those companies, but I am sure those companies will use this as an excuse to eliminate a few jobs or reduce benefits.
I hate the unfair way big business works in a supossedly free and open market, but this tax is wrong.

Why is what would be inflation in any other industry a "boom" in real estate?

[NapRover]

What's to keep huge numbers of people from flocking to Seattle and acting homeless, so they can get free $$ from businesses and panhandle for pot money all day like Portland?

[DGUtley]

. . . .That being said, most young people these days don't want to get their hands dirty, and will sit in their parents basement instead.

I think though, that given the chance and opportunity, they'd love it. A good solid work day with a fair wage that accomplished something. A lot don't know what they don't know.

[Captdon]

A smart , but slippery move , on the city's part at least as far as Amazon is concerned. The taxes Amazon pays will really be paid by customers in some way shape or form . Therefore in part , the country helps out with the downside of the boom. But it's a copy cat world so who's next Detroit ?
How about having you know planned ahead and had some tax or funding stream, rent controls, etc. in place building as the boom grew? If you have a city where large numbers of people need government assistance with housing, even employed people, than the city's economy has not boomed. It has failed. The boom has not reached far enough down to be called a boom.

Anyone who wants a job can find one. That's a boom.

[Captdon]

Why is what would be inflation in any other industry a "boom" in real estate?

A house is worth whatever you can get. You are worth whatever wage you get. The two are unrelated.

[Tahuyaman]

Government is bought and paid for beginning with the election process. It's no coincidence that as elections have become more expensive to run, contributions from major corporate entities to candidates have become more essential to the process with the obvious residual obligations satisfied through the lobbyist industry.

So let’s tax big businesses out of business. That’ll be good for everyone.