I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Paul Newman and most of his opinions, and consider him a good friend. However, his Aug. 8 letter in support of the Island Transit Tax increase makes me wonder what he’s been thinking lately. His mathematical skills seem to have failed him this time, .0003 percent, come on now. It is 0.3 cents or a 3.5 percent increase of our sales tax.

Island Transit is a classic example of an economic axiom: Throwing money at a product or service increases or exceeds the cost by the amount available. The initial funding for Island Transit was 0.2 cents on our sales tax. The funds collected exceeded the costs by so much that they were hard pressed to spend it all. Since then there have been additional levies and now this one, 150 percent of the original. Keep in mind the dollar amount increases every year, without increased levies, as the economy grows. Any decrease, due to recession, etc., would be temporary and budgeted for in a well-managed business.

The bottom line is that the transit system is doing what all government- run, bureaucratic activities do: Growing their activities through waste, inefficiencies, corruption, incompetence, greed, etc. After all, there is no competition to contend with, they are a monopoly. What do you expect? The taxpayers must demand value for the dollar and a well-managed operation, not easy to get from a government activity. That’s why the private sector always costs 3 to 5 times less and has a better outcome.

Sherwood Minckler

Oak Harbor