Editor,

We believe it is well past the time to seriously consider a Washington state “exit” from the Union of U.S. states, similar to the proposed referendum in California as “CalExit.” Along with Oregon, the three states would provide a formidable country, where California already ranks as the fifth largest economy globally, behind only the United States, China, Germany and Japan.

We are fed up with the taxpayer’s dollars, which are sent to Washington, D.C., only to be misappropriated away from the needs of the states, wasted on crony riders or at times just fraudulently disappear. The average citizen makes a $500 error on their income tax forms and the Internal Revenue Service is all over reclaiming it to the point of liens on your property. But at the same time, Medicare, Cares Act, TARP losses and more is just written off as business as usual to the amounts in the trillions. And the Congress is just a pool of insider information with free-wheeling stock trading and other.

We believe the individual states can manage their funds more accurately, efficiently by far, and more directly to where these funds are needed. Presently less than 20% of federal money is returned to the states.

In conclusion, a sincere effort should be provided for consideration of a “WashExit” referendum, and an overall consideration of a “WestExit” of all three West Coast states in tandem. And D.C. could continue on with their business as usual.

Thomas Carey

Oak Harbor