California dreamin'
- Thread starter Stosh
- Start date
General Motors and Chrysler shipped a lot of cars, too....they're still broke like California......another proud enabler of a failed socialist state giving a thoughtful defense. Industry and successfull people are getting out as fast as they can. If only California could print money like the Feds, all would be well. Atlas is shrugging and the results won't be pretty. When will they ever learn? Stosh
How ironic.
Your post shows just how ignorant you are.
California's budget problems are largely tied to the very same thing that has plagued U.S. automakers . . . pensions and the health benefits tied to those pensions; not too mention the fact that Prop. 13 is incredibly antiquated.
Prop. 13 needs to be repealed so that a supermajority is no longer needed for budget changes and so that property taxes can be raised again.
Spending during the Pete Wilson years (1992-1998) increased by 35%.
During the dark Gray days of the Davis years (1998-2003) government spending increased by 52%, which was a 21% real increase when adjusted for population growth and inflation.
The rate of growth of spending under Schwarzenegger has slowed, but has done nothing to scale back to the increases of the Davis years. From 2003-2008 there is an increase in spending of 31%, which is only a 4% increase when adjusted for population growth and inflation, but is still a real-life increase nonetheless.
Entitlements, entitlements.
And nothing will change until the State Constitution is changed to get rid of the supermajority two-thirds vote.
It is the 3rd longest running Constitution in the world, behind those of Alabama and India. And that is the crux of the real issue!
Until the Constitution gets changed and Prop. 13 is repealed, California will never be able to deal with the generous pension benefits and all of the infrastructure and education issues that challenge the State.
But hey, leave it to people that don't even live in the State to "chime" in as the resident ET "expert" CLOWNS that they are.
Typical.
Quote from Landis82:
How ironic.
Your post shows just how ignorant you are.
California's budget problems are largely tied to the very same thing that has played U.S. automakers . . . pensions and the health benefits tied to those pensions.
Prop. 13 needs to be repealed so that a supermajority is no longer needed for budget changes and so that property taxes can be raised again.
Spending during the Pete Wilson years (1992-1998) increased by 35%.
During the dark Gray days of the Davis years (1998-2003) government spending increased by 52%, which was a 21% real increase when adjusted for population growth and inflation.
The rate of growth of spending under Schwarzenegger has slowed, but has done nothing to scale back to the increases of the Davis years. From 2003-2008 there is an increase in spending of 31%, which is only a 4% increase when adjusted for population growth and inflation, but is still a real-life increase nonetheless.
Entitlements, entitlements.
And nothing will change until the State Constitution is changed to get rid of the supermajority two-thirds vote.
It is the 3rd longest running Constitution in the world, behind those of Alabama and India. And that is the crux of the real issue!
Until the Constitution gets changed and Prop. 13 is repealed, California will never be able to deal with the generous pension benefits and all of the infrastructure issues that challenge the State.
But hey, leave it to people that don't even live in the State to "chime" in as the resident ET "expert" CLOWNS that they are.
Typical.
Everything you said supports everything I said. You're just trying to find a list of excuses for the runaway spending. Don't get me wrong.....it is not just California, they are just out front in a race to the bottom. My state is heading there also.......politicians will buy votes with other people's money 'til there is nothing left to take. Did you attend a tea party on April 15?? Stosh
You listed absolutely no specifics whatsoever and made rather vague generalizations about what is ailing the State.
You also failed to mention the mechanism by which taxes ( and Prop. 13 ) are unable to be increased/repealed due to the 2/3rd's super-majority that is required by the State's Constitution.
California is just like any other state in the union. The people love to vote "YES" on Propositions to spend money that they don't have - - - meanwhile they balk at raising taxes ( or repealing Prop. 13 ) in order to pay for said Propositions.
California is currently the 8th largest Economy in the world and at one point was #5 behind the UK and ahead of France back in 2001. It is the world's 5th LARGEST SUPPLIER OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.
California has issues that most states cannot even begin to fathom.
The State pays more to the federal system than it receives in direct monetary benefits.
A list of specifics could run into the hundreds or thousands......if you focus on specifics, nothing will ever be solved. It is about PHILOSOPHY!!! You seem to stress an inability to raise taxes as a problem.....that is not the problem, spending is the problem. That is what is causing all the wailing.....painful cuts will finally have to be made. The beast has to be starved to be controlled....California gets plenty of revenue.. When you have a systemic problem, treating the symptoms is not the proper focus. Did you attend the tea party in Sacramento on April 15??Stosh
Agreed. This state can and will ruin itself despite it's natural advantages and talented people/corporations (who can fairly easily relocate to other states) if they don't dramatically change their overall spending philosophy.
This is government gone wild and an indicator of what the entire country will face if we don't change very soon.
Thanks. Wouldn't it be great if California were to learn from this, get their house in order, and set an example for the country as they did many years ago? Maybe they will have to declare bankruptcy and then be unable to float bonds......starting over on a cash only budget could be a blessing in disguise. If Obama bails them out, it will solve nothing. Stosh