This guy was watching as I got a $35 annual WA State Parks parking permit. Next time I hear this, I'm going to say:

"Are you aware that Washington has no income tax? I learned this in graduate school. Instead, the state gets income from sales tax, business income tax, licenses and fees. It's a regressive tax system because it hurts poor people the most. Oregon's income tax is about ten percent per year. To their credit, Washington has no sales tax on food. Notice how people grouse about how much it costs to renew their car license? That's why. We have no state income tax."

For fifty years, Republicans in Eastern WA have been fomenting to secede. They want to form a new state called "Liberty" with conservatives in Idaho and Eastern Oregon. They would go broke. Republicans hate how the Western WA liberal, giant population swings state elections to Democrats. I love this April Fool's Day column in the Seattle Times:

"To Wenatchee- We build your roads, bridges, universities, schools and hospitals... and what do we get in return? Endless carping about the clam-digging schedule on Puget Sound beaches and the Lentil Festival of Ferry County. You want to secede? Go right ahead. We won't miss you."