When I read today’s Olympian editorial, “Blame the GOP for oil pipeline fiasco,” I immediately wondered whether it was a canned piece. After all, the paper typically editorializes about local or state issues. And while the editorials are often politically moderate, they don’t tend to go out of their way to poke the Republicans in… [Read more…]
January 29, 2012
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the last few weeks Olympia Views has received a growing number of comments, often to postings that have fallen off the front page. I’ve collected a sampling of comments and offered responses. Feel free to join the discussion here or in the original posting. In “Washington governor says single payer is a… [Read more…]
January 28, 2012
Over the last few weeks I’ve been in a number of conversations with veteran local progressive-green activists. The discussions centered around major dysfunctions in prominent organizations. It’s quite sad. Over and over we shoot ourselves in the foot because we can’t manage to work together. Yet all too often there seems to be a “don’t… [Read more…]
January 28, 2012
T0day I mentioned to a Democratic party activist my surprise at seeing a recent drumbeat of Rob McKenna ads on the Internet but nothing from Jay Inslee. The activist raised the question of whether those ads violate state election law — and that it was typical of McKenna to play fast and loose. He predicted… [Read more…]
January 22, 2012
Olympia has one of the best buying experiences in the nation. Our community is so neat, happy and just plain fantasmagorical that — with a few minor tweaks — we could qualify for the prestigious designation of Disneyland-Class Community (DCC).* That’s kind of like being an All-America City but with service staff who wear festive… [Read more…]
January 17, 2012
The right wing learned long ago the importance of using paid professionals in their organizing. For example, Thurston County’s implementation of the Growth Management Act has been heavily influenced by the likes of the Master Builders. In contrast, local progressive-greens have largely resisted paying people. That somehow tarnishes the egalitarian purity of the crusade, I… [Read more…]
January 16, 2012
In a recent comment Tom Hyde presents a quote by new media guru Clay Shirky, who argues, “There has never been a mass market for good journalism in this country.” Let’s take a moment to flesh out his argument and see how it might apply to Thurston County media. This perspective is based upon the… [Read more…]
January 16, 2012
Am I the only Stranger reader who hasn’t yet recycled the recent ”129th Annual Regrets Issue?” The beast was slow to reach the top of Pile No. 4 and now I can’t manage to let it go. It’s the pig. Look how nicely The Stranger tarted it up with lipstick, earrings and a low-cut dress. Where else in… [Read more…]
January 15, 2012
Editor’s note: I’m belatedly getting caught up on the conversation strands that have developed over the last few weeks. Your comments about hyperlocal media have added important depth to this topic (see here and here). For example, Tom Hyde offered a particularly insightful overview of the multiple dilemmas faced by new media champions. This is… [Read more…]
January 13, 2012
ANOTHER CHARTER MOVEMENT? – Ken Balsley’s Ken’s Corner & The Real News reports that County Commissioner Sandra Romero said she “may support a plan for a new county charter depending on what’s in it.” I haven’t heard the KGY interview Balsley conducted with Romero so don’t know if she was merely responding to a query or will champion the passage… [Read more…]
January 30, 2012
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