I hear and read opinions about I-1631 being harmful to rural folks, in part because we drive more miles getting to work, grocery stores, entertainment, and so on. As a person who loves the space and relative quiet of rural life, I know that: 1) my property taxes are lower than those in town, 2) the infrastructure required for roads, power lines, medics, and countless other services available in rural areas are a huge benefit to me. And it is a benefit that is paid for by everyone. What I suggest is that when we choose our lifestyles, there are always tradeoffs. And for me, shifting away from oil spills, air and water pollution, and the subsidies propping up carbon-intensive industries is the right thing to do. The sooner the better.
Jean Maust
Tenino
