California....what happened?

[BSAM]

Quote from risktaker:

A big reason is many of today's politicians are corrupt.
Look at Obama's recent nominees...a bunch of admitted tax cheats! Oh, yeah, they were honest mistakes, I forgot.

Why not just raise their pay to say...$500,00/year but keep them honest by kicking out all the asswipes who take bribes, speaking fees, etc, etc......

Raise their pay? I don't think so. How about no pay and term limits? Yeah! Let's find out who really wants to serve the people, instead of themselves.

Also, a change to the constitution is in order, requiring real government accountability and televised executions for corrupt politicians. I'm thinking this would fix a bunch of stuff.

 

[Lucrum]

Quote from BSAM:

Raise their pay? I don't think so. How about no pay and term limits? Yeah! Let's find out who really wants to serve the people, instead of themselves.

Also, a change to the constitution is in order, requiring real government accountability and televised executions for corrupt politicians. I'm thinking this would fix a bunch of stuff.

BSAM for president!

 

[Humpy]

I keep suggesting to you guys. Open up that bijou residence on it's own island in the middle of San Fransisco Bay.

 

[Manni]

Quote from Stosh:

How could a place with such beautiful weather, huge coastline, great farmland, innovative entrepreneurs, huge tourism industry, huge energy resources, forests, etc. etc. be such a financial basketcase?? What is the root cause of such a screwup?

that could apply to Africa....

btw Robert Mondavi, nice wines from California.

 

[Humpy]

Quote from Humpy:

I keep suggesting to you guys. Open up that bijou residence on it's own island in the middle of San Fransisco Bay.

Think of all that fresh air, the stunning views, no burglars, salesmen, politicians or other riff raff to ruin your day !

When's it up for auction ? Might put a bid in myself

If you wanna know the answer why not go ask DA TOIMINATOR ??

 

[kiwi_trader]

Quote from risktaker:

It's the same as the rest of the country.
Huge % of population got involved with services/real estate which produce nothing that earns foreign currency to pay for the expensive taste the population has acquired.

Not too much industry left, either. This business pollutes, that one gets sued, all kinds of laws to drive production to China.

Most of the population has a certain sense of "entitlement", I deserve this, I'll sue for that, etc.

I even see thousands of immigrants who come by and get FREE housing, college education, health care and have little interest in working.

Schools are a disaster. Many young people in schools really have little interest in learning/working hard.

I don't see an upside anytime soon.

That's a big picture of "what's wrong" with a lot of places. The small picture is that you can only spend so long spending more than you earn - taxes are too low when a state runs out of money (for whatever reason).

 

[gnome]

Quote from Stosh:

I wonder if such results are inevitable in a democracy. When the vote of someone who pays no taxes and won't work counts the same as a hard working, responsible person, how can we expect anything else? It is similar to two wolves and a chicken voting over what to have for dinner. Stosh

If you look at the "collective voter groups"... the "pays no taxes and won't work" group has a BIGGER vote than the "hard working and responsible".

The Gummint doesn't care about "right" or "fair"... all they care about are getting elected, getting re-elected, and getting the money... wherever and however are of minor importance.

 

[indexer]

California has population swings where productive people move in as the economy takes off, then as the economy tops off, they sell their houses and leave the state to retire or move back home.

That leaves the low income group as a larger percent of the economy. Higher services cost and less income from taxes.

 

[lowhangingfruit]

It sucks here right now. I work in the construction industry and it is dying a quick death. I live in Napa Valley and even the big cats are being affected by this one. Much fewer mega mansions being built. There is a lot of concern if the ultra wine market will make it through this BS. Many people are heading back to mexico because there is a lack of work. Still with all this crazy shit going on, most people plan to stick it out here. Todays forecast partial showers low 30's highs in the 50's. http://www.vagablond.com/images/Napa Valley Mustard.jpg

 

[trendmomentum]

Quote from Stosh:

How could a place with such beautiful weather, huge coastline, great farmland, innovative entrepreneurs, huge tourism industry, huge energy resources, forests, etc. etc. be such a financial basketcase?? What is the root cause of such a screwup?

Well, if history is anything to go by ... think about it, it might have something to do with the combination of the beautiful weather and the main "working class" language ....