Yes, please legalize it!!! In fact, legalzie all forms of mariages. I'd like to marry two or more wives. Why not? It's discrimination if I'm not allowed to do that. I say open the flood gates and allow EVERYTHING! If you want to marry your dog or cat--go for it.

Let's not limit ourselves to just same-sex marriages. Allow all forms of marriage! Why not people!

Pension spiking IS a problem, however I would say it's the exception--not the norm. I'm a firefighter, and I and many, many others will simply retire at a "normal" pension rate (based on last five years of service), and get an calculated defined benefit. The vast majority of workers DO NOT get the huge bloated pensions as reported.

I wouldn't mind bumping the minimum retirement up a couple of years. WA state's is 53 for police officers and firefighters, but I would say most don't retire at that age.

Oh, and to all the haters who keep arguing that we shouldn't be getting post retirement medical. Guess what? We don't. LEOFF Plan 2 (for officers and firefighters) has NO provisions for post retirement healthcare. And another thing. Guess who pays the majority of the contributions into the pensions? Me--and the rest of the plan members.

I work hard in my profession, and I feel a defined benefit is fair given what we do. I don't make TONS of money as a firefighter, but my wages and benefits provide my family and and I a comfortable living.

Huh? Hey smart guy, once teachers become administrators--like principals, etc.--they are NO LONGER in the union. In fact, once they get into the higher positions, they often times end up actually negotiating AGAINST the respective labor groups within a school district.

Get your facts straight.

SOME parts are gritty. Especially areas along the Ambaum BVLD corridor and north of SW 136th. That particular intersection is the north entrance to The Heights at Burien apartment complex. This place is one of the worst complexes in the puget sound area, and has had lots of violence over the years. It has gotten WAY better, but still can produce the violence we saw today.

Burien in general is actually a great place to live though.

I'm def going bionic.

All of this banter is nothing more than group polarization in action. Both sides are absolutists in their positions, and this simply becomes an "Us vs. Them" act.

There really is no logical and resspectful discussion about what the real issues are, just vitriol and a whole bunch of stone casting.

I'm a professional UNION firefighter, and my wages place me smack dab in the upper middle class. I receive a fair wage and a generous benefits package, that helps me take care of my family. My state pension is ok, but when my career is over, my plan will only be a fraction of what I make.

Many anti-union people errantly contend that every union worker lives a lavish lifestyle and will receive extremely generous benefits after they retire. You are wrong, as this is simply not the case. Like many non-union workers, I too will be planning for the day when I have to pay for health insurance entirely out of pocket.

In WA State, collective bargaining doesn't take any power away from local, county or state governments. Why you ask? Because both parties (union and government) have the ability to negotiate in good faith and in the event of impasse, go to mediation or arbitration. This is especially true in the case of public safety employees, since they cannot strike. In their case, and because they cannot strike, an arbitrator can set the conditions of a labor agreement should both parties reach impasse. One of the factors an arbitrator uses to determine wages, is the employers funding ability (essentially their ability to pay).

In my experience, I have NEVER seen an arbitrator set a wage that was beyond a CPI-based increment.

All this dialogue (if not vitriol) is nothing more than good ol' union busting. in the Wisonsin case, the state labor groups have conceded to almost everything with regards to pay and healthcare, yet want to ensure that their CB rights are maintained. The states GOP party doesn't want to play fair and just wants to stick it to the state employees--using them as scapegoats for their financial woes.

It's all utter BS.

Ah, DMMD and 177th was the vicinity you lived in? Nuff said on that one, because I bet you lived at Wellington Place Apartments, which has never been a "great" place to live. That type of apartment complex is exactly what I'm talking about. It was built when King County ran the area, and before Burien was a "city."

Fail.

Again, some of you haters haven't spent much time in Burien lately. Most still refer to what Burien once "was," a depressed unincorporated wasteland for King County to dump a multitude of multi-family apartment buildings.

And why would you want to change the name? It has historic value that goes way back.

Second, it is NOTHING like Des Moines. Talk about doing absolutely NO developement, Des Moines has this GREAT city with a marina, and hasn't done crap. At least Burien as an assortment of boutique shops and restaraunts that locals and visitors alike can go to.

Again, I get the feeling that most people dogging on Burien haven't actually explored all that this city has to offer.

You're so far off base. How can you honestly say that Burien and White Center are the same???

Burien isn't even in the same league as WC, as Burien has thriving businesses and such.

No wonder you have a terrible rating. Me thinks you're just a troll....