Now I know why Washington State regularly elects lunatics to office

Oregon Magazine ^ | February 17, 2006 | Thomas H. Lipscomb

[WaterDragon]

I am an independent journalist who just got a good laugh over the latest "courageous stance" adopted by your student senate. Growing up in Oregon, I was always puzzled by why the lovely neighboring state of Washington seemed so heavily influenced by what I thought was a lunatic fringe. On the one hand William Gates and his baby boy Bill had produced two obscene monopolies, Boeing and Microsoft, and on the other your assorted elected officials seemed more at home in 1960s Communist Albania than the Wobblies "One Big Union" of sainted memory in the Northwest.

Now I know what the problem is. I don't know how I could have missed it for so long.

Your action --through something no intelligent student pays any attention to--"student government" --to deny former student, notorious Marine aviation hero, Pappy Boyington a place in "The University of Washington Hall of Fame" says it all. I gather you think he is not a proper role model for today's U of W student. Defending the US in a declared war initiated by a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor seems to be a problem for you. You may well be right. I don't think he has anything in common with you either.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Washington seemed so heavily influenced by what I thought was a lunatic fringe.

HEY NOW!!!

[zzen01]

Washington and Oregon have been throughly CaliPornicated.

[JustaCowgirl]

Not you. You're the Lunatic Fringe of North Texas, are you not? ;-)

[Supernatural]

Don't just blame the state of Washington. 'rats infest a lot of places, state, city and county.

[Lunatic Fringe]

That's me.

[MillerCreek]

"...Clearly the main problem is that what I thought was a 'lunatic fringe' is the mainstream in Washington State these days and its source is the University of Washington itself. Acknowledging that at last, I have some suggestions in line with your decision on Boyington---first, you should immediately consider a motion in your student government to change your mascot from the noble husky which is far too quarrelsome and individualistic for the current institution. rather like Pappy Boyington himself.

"In fact. I think a cocker spaniel might be more appropriate. It is in-bred, feeble minded, submissive, has a weak bladder, and is kinda cute. In the event of anything out of the ordinary, the cocker spaniel runs and hides, peeing all the way. In fact given the state of academia at the University of Washington. how bout an out and out fraud like 'Chief Seattle?' I mean maybe he didn't say that famous statement, but he should have. right? Dan Rather would approve. And that is what counts in your post-modern world these days."

EXCELLENT! Rejecting Boyington, a war hero among war heroes, from the Student Hall o' Fame of U of WA is astoundingly shameful...no, actually, it's an indication of astounding stupidity among supposed educated minds.

[muawiyah]

While redoubling the provisions to safeguard all federal properties in the place, the American defense perimeter should be withdrawn from Washington state as soon as possible.

[BlueNgold]

Regardless of what you may think ... Oregon and Washington are actually more liberal politically than California.

[cousair]

The statment about Pappy makes me wild! I have lived in the beautiful state of Washington for sometime. I also lived in Texas, and the people, history and independent feeling of the folks there stands in stark contrast to those from the Seattle area who control the Wasington state in every election. Our area near the southern part is quite different in temperment. This anti WW2 and those who fought and give their lives today and every day in history so we can live free is totally teasonous in my thinking. It is an abomination that these ideas exist at the Universtiy of Washington. One student said they didn't want to inspire being a Marine and in combat as honorable. It really has nothing to do with freedom of expression in this day and age. It has everything to do with defending our country against evil.

[microgood]

More proof that there is nothing more stupid than a liberal college student. My favorite comment was by one student who said there were already too many statues honoring rich white men.

Boyington was never rich and was a Sioux Indian. I guess they flunked history.

[bigfootbob]

We've been like this long before the Kaliforniacators started trekking North. Something in the city water supply, I suspect. Most rural folks with wells have more sense than our city counterparts.

[jazusamo]

Lipscomb is mostly correct and I'm a Washington resident.

[68skylark]

He is living proof that the tail never slaps far from the beaver.

Funny.

[econjack]

...William Gates and his baby boy Bill had produced two obscene monopolies, Boeing and Microsoft...

I tend to agree with most of what you said, but the quote above seems a bit off. My guess is that you're not aware of what the Justice Dept's definition of a monopoly is or recognize the stiff competition that Boeing has had over the years from AirBus, Northrop, McDonnel-Douglas, Lockheed, and others. Likewise, Microsoft has already been tried for monopolistic practices but prevailed. They, too, face competition from Linux, UNIX, MacOS, and others.

Too often, people forget that companies are successful because they did something right, not wrong. This is especially true after the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in 1890.

[IslandJeff]

William Gates and his baby boy Bill had produced two obscene monopolies, Boeing and Microsoft

A slight historical inaccuracy, there. All Bill Sr. did was dominate the U-Dub law school by endowment.

Boeing well predates that august family.

[southernerwithanattitude]

If one of my kids did something this stupid I would march their a-- out in front of the TV cameras and make them apologize to the entire country!

[NRA2BFree]

Washington seemed so heavily influenced by what I thought was a lunatic fringe.

HEY NOW!!!

Ah hah! Soooo, now we know. We're gonna have to be watching you a little closer from now on. Is there anything else we should know? C'mon tell us EVERYTHING! LOL

[Fresh Wind]

I didn't realize Washington State had elections.

[billbears]

Perhaps Mr. Lipscomb can explain his knowledge of where federally sponsored organizations have found the Constitutional responsibility to waste tax dollars building statues to dead people. If a private booster wishes to donate the funds (including payment of design and upkeep of said statue) that's another thing. But I do not see the patriotism in wasting yet even more tax dollars in funding a statue. To say, well, it's been done before doesn't cut it. I could care less if it was done before, yesterday, ten years ago, by Democrats in the past, Republicans, etc. It is simply not the business of the national government to fund wastes like this. Rather sell off the property to private companies. If they want to keep it up, fine. If not, let them use that property as they see fit to produce a profit.

And yes this would include the practical mausoleum that seconds as the federal government's current center with all its monuments, statues, etc.