Guest Opinion: Excess Regulations and Permitting Costly to the Public

— by Walt Corbin —

The recent opinion piece written by David Turnoy (orcasissues.com/guest-opinion-lets-get-money-out-of-politics) speaks to the corruption that money has in the electoral process. We of course all decry what our supposedly rational Supreme Court in the Citizen United did to those of us that are against the peddling of influence. I have consulted with politicians who have voiced support for legislation that would help the small business owner, only to find out that large corporate contributions or threats to their careers, suddenly reverse their motivations to make those positive changes. As is said today, “anyone can get the legislation that they can write a check for.” Sad!

However, as sad as the above is and its harm to the 99%, the governments, local, state and federal spend thousands of hours concocting rules and complex regulations that defy the credulity of reason. These regulations and rules demand permits and inefficient methods for implementation, thereby creating bigger and bigger bureaucracies to implement and enforce them. All for a very costly sum.

For example, I am not a contractor, but I would estimate that the cost of all the permits to clear, build and stay on a piece of land might equal 30% of the cost of the building. It is one cause that drives the potential home owner from being one. It is serious and its creep is insidious. It bodes ill to the younger generation and their aspirations. It is harmful to the self-motivated and work ethics of so many people who are trying to get ahead.

If your local or state legislator can’t control some sanity in rules and regulations, vote them out for someone that will.