Tim Eyman’s editorial, “Taxpayers protected from our initiatives” in the June 24 issue of the Reporter is very interesting but extremely one sided.

I don’t know of anyone who lives in our country who wants to pay more taxes or even the amount of taxes they are paying today. In our state we want better schools for our children, from preschool through college, but don’t want to pay for them. We want better mental health care, both in a good psychiatric hospital and within our communities but don’t want to pay for it. We want response to forest fires but don’t want to pay for it.

In reference to better schools and mental health care, the state Supreme Court says that at present the funding is unconstitutional because they are not being funded adequately.

How does Mr. Eyman expect for us to pay for these?

There are a number of other needs that our citizens have that cannot be funded because of a lack of sufficient revenues. I know of nothing that is free. If we want the best, we have to be willing to pay for it.

– Ted Schwarz