Wake Up, Washington: Progressive Policies Are Hurting Our State
It’s time for Washington State’s voters to wake up to the dangers that progressive lawmakers pose. Too many of these policies promise compassion while delivering higher costs, weaker public safety, and fewer opportunities for working families. The gap between rhetoric and results is getting hard to ignore.
On public safety, permissive approaches have left neighborhoods less safe and residents frustrated. When offenders are routinely released without meaningful consequences, victims and ordinary citizens pay the price through rising theft, property crimes, and a sense of lawlessness. Communities deserve leaders who prioritize basic safety and enforceable standards.
Homelessness has become a visible crisis, and policy failures are a big reason why encampments multiply. Band-aid solutions and tolerance for unhygienic, unsafe encampments have not produced stability or recovery for people in need. A better approach balances humane outreach with enforcement of laws that protect businesses and residents.
Taxes and regulations pushed by progressive majorities are squeezing small businesses and middle-class families. When businesses face higher costs, they hire less, raise prices, or move jobs elsewhere, and that reduces the opportunities that communities depend on. Economic growth comes from policies that encourage entrepreneurship, not punish success.
Education policy is another front where outcomes matter more than slogans. Parents want schools that teach reading, math, and critical thinking, not political experiments or one-size-fits-all approaches. When local control is stripped away and curricula are politicized, students get the short end of the stick.
Energy and environmental rules must be realistic and affordable, or households will shoulder the burden. Sudden shifts away from reliable power sources without a viable replacement drive up energy costs and strain families. Responsible stewardship of the environment can coexist with protecting jobs and managing costs.
Transportation and infrastructure decisions show where priorities are missing. Congested roads, limited transit options outside of dense urban cores, and shifting project funding reflect choices that often ignore suburban and rural needs. Smart investments should serve all residents, not just a vocal urban segment.
Transparency and accountability in government are essential and too often absent when special interests dominate policy. Voters should demand open budgets, clear performance measures, and consequences when programs fail to deliver on promises. Leaders who answer to constituents, not trends, restore trust.
Seattle and other cities in the state are cultural and economic anchors, but their successes should not justify policies that export costs to surrounding areas. Urban policy experiments have spillover effects that impact counties and towns across Washington, so statewide thinking matters. Effective governance recognizes those connections instead of treating cities as isolated laboratories.
Conservative principles—limited government, fiscal responsibility, and individual liberty—offer practical tools to rebuild confidence and create opportunity. Policies that reward work, protect property, and restore order make day-to-day life better for families and businesses alike. The future depends on leaders willing to produce measurable results rather than photo ops.
Voters deserve a clear contrast between promises and performance, and they need practical solutions that improve lives now. Reclaiming common-sense priorities will help turn frustration into forward momentum across the state. Washington’s next chapter should be about restoring safety, prosperity, and dignity for all residents.