Fraud in government—whether federal, state, or local—should concern every American, regardless of political party.
I believe DOGE brought much-needed attention to government waste, fraud, abuse, and questionable spending, and frankly, this level of scrutiny should have existed decades ago. And I suspect what has been uncovered is only a fraction of what remains to be found.
What astonishes me is how quickly the conversation can become about who is uncovering the problems rather than the problems themselves.
We should ALL be angry when taxpayer money is stolen, wasted, mismanaged, or spent without proper oversight. At the same time, legitimate questions about methods, authority, or specific findings should be examined on the facts. Accountability has to work both ways.
Every dollar the government spends first comes from somewhere—from the people who worked for it, businesses that earned it, or taxpayers who will ultimately repay government debt.
Yet when the government fails to manage that money responsibly, the answer too often seems to be another tax, another fee, another toll, or another request for more revenue.
In the private sector, repeated financial mismanagement has consequences. Government should not be exempt from accountability simply because it is the government.
I want stronger independent audits, greater transparency, aggressive prosecution of actual fraud, regular reviews of government programs, and consequences for officials who knowingly conceal fraud, obstruct lawful investigations, or misuse public money.
And states should be held accountable for federal taxpayer dollars they receive. If federal money is being spent, the federal government has both a responsibility and a legitimate interest in making sure those funds are being used lawfully and for their intended purpose.
The same principle applies to our elections: eligible voters should be able to vote, voter rolls should be maintained accurately and lawfully, and Americans should be able to have confidence in the process.
Here in Washington, voters are once again being asked to make an important decision about taxes and the direction of our state. Whatever your political affiliation, read what you’re voting on. Understand what your YES or NO vote actually does. Don’t rely on a slogan, political party, or advertisement to make that decision for you.
For me, this is ultimately about accountability.
Government expects citizens to follow the rules, pay what they owe, document their finances, and answer when something doesn’t add up.
We have every right to expect the same from the government.
Our elected officials should never forget where public money comes from.
It comes from us.
If you agree that Washington needs a different direction, vote YES, on all the repeals (that is what they are) that they decidel to pass without the voice or vote of the people.
Natalee Thurston lives in Lake Stevens.
