My philosophy teacher often told me, “If you can’t, you shouldn’t.” This is an important lesson. We must accept that we should not try to do what can’t be done. It doesn’t work.

During the legislative session, I spoke with several representatives and senators from our area about funding education as has been ordered by the courts, and class size as it was directed by Initiative 1351. The universal response was, “We’d really like to provide the funding needed to implement class size reduction along with fair compensation for educators, but it just isn’t realistic.” In other words, funding education as is required by the constitution and as is directed by their own Basic Education Act isn’t possible, so they weren’t going to try. It is interesting to read of the debate that ultimately led to the “suspension” of I-1351. Here is an excellent recounting of the discussion from CoalitionToProtectOurPublicSchools.org.

They didn’t even try. Their claim seems to align with the warning provided by my philosophy teacher. Given that it is not possible to increase revenues to meet the needs of education, we shouldn’t try.

However, I disagree with their assumptions. It is possible to raise revenue. Let’s look at some facts.

• Business Insider lists Washington as the 5th fastest growing economy in the US.
• We are 11th in per capita income.
• We tax poor people more and rich people less than any other state in the nation. By a lot.
• AND, we are 47th education spending per dollars earned.

Obviously, there is plenty of revenue in Washington. The legislature is choosing not to spend it on education. The legislature prefers giving tax breaks to the wealthy and big business.

It seems the legislature was confused about what is possible. There philosophy seems to be: “If you won’t, you don’t have to.” Anything is impossible if you take it as a given that you aren’t going to try. Why the legislature took new revenue for education off the table is essential to understanding how politics works in Washington State.

At the start of the last legislative session, the Republican majority in the Senate said that increasing revenue was off the table. Governor Inslee proposed a tax on carbon emissions along with a capital gains tax. The House, with a democratic majority, considered both ideas. Taxing carbon emissions would have the greatest impact on the oil industry. Capital gains taxes would only affect the very wealthy, thus correcting the regressive nature of our tax system somewhat. Senators Chase and McCauliffe proposed removing a 1996 tax break given to income generated through “non-material wealth” — in other words stock dividends earned by the wealthy. Removing this tax break would, by itself, have funded I-1351 and McCleary.

These are three ways we could have paid for education. There are others. All in all, we provide 30 Billion dollars (yes, with a B) in tax breaks to the wealthy and to businesses, none of which have been audited to demonstrate their effect on economic growth.

Taxing carbon production, and taxing the wealthy, to pay for education polls very well among Washingtonians — in the 70% favorable range. So, here’s the scene:

• There is plenty of money.
• The court has ordered we spend it on education.
• The legislature has promised to spend it on education, as per HB 2261.
• The people support spending it on education.
• The people voted to spend it on education.
• The Governor supports spending it on education.
• The House considered spending some of it on education.
• The Senate Republicans said no.

The Republicans got their way.

How could this be? The Senate, which is half of one third of our government was able to impose its will, in violation of the will of the voters and court orders. This Senate which is controlled by a party that does not reflect the democratic majority in Washington. These Senate Republicans who only gained power because of the backlash of off-year election voter apathy.

How could we allow ourselves to be governed by a minority?

During the legislative session, Republicans came with a simple agenda — no new taxes, period. They took this principle, and dug their heels in. Democrats came with a number of ideas that helped address the stated will of the people. Democrats negotiated. Republicans stood pat. Each compromise brought the Democrats closer to the Republican budget until, in the end, they gave up on every one of the proposals to support education through revenue enhancements.

In the end, we wound up with a ‘red’ budget in a ‘blue’ state. This is rule by minority. It is especially saddening that the party that won represents the interests of money, while the party that lost represents (in principle, at least) the interests of working people.

This is an example of how the political process is working across America. The wealthy are able to leverage power to impose their agenda on the rest of us. And their agenda? They want even more money.

Greed is a poor motivator of social policy.

What’s next? It seems clear that the McCleary court will rule the legislature in contempt. Once this happens, it is important that the people speak, loud and clear, insisting that the legislature attend the people’s business rather than succumbing to the will of a wealthy minority. It is time to hold the legislature accountable for its responsibility to govern. It is past time for our legislators, especially democrats, to stand firm on behalf of the interests of the people. It is time for us to insist that our government be of, by and for the people.