One would think that the State of California

[Pete (Premo)]

would be a shining example that grossly large taxes, strangling regulation, crazy spending and a ton of liberal social problems do not friggin work.

The wealthiest and most populous state in our union is about to fall. Releasing prisoners, laying off workers, defaulting on its bonds and this is not the first time either it has been on the brink.

Why...WHY!....WHY can't people see this is NOT the direction to go?

[Pete (Premo)]

So now The Governator is going to Obama to beg for bailout money. Isn't it sweet that the State of California, the people, the legislature, and the governors office for decades have mismanaged, wildly over spend, and created VAST state programs they could not afford despite having one of the highest tax rates in the nation, and now we get to pay for it?

I say screw them. Pass the collection plate at the awards shows they seem to love to throw themselves for donations from the lefties who wanted to put a chicken in every pot and a TIVO in every livingroom.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by Pete

So now The Governator is going to Obama to beg for bailout money. Isn't it sweet that the State of California, the people, the legislature, and the governors office for decades have mismanaged, wildly over spend, and created VAST state programs they could not afford despite having one of the highest tax rates in the nation, and now we get to pay for it?

I say screw them. Pass the collection plate at the awards shows they seem to love to throw themselves for donations from the lefties who wanted to put a chicken in every pot and a TIVO in every livingroom.

Yeah, saw that on the news yesterday. The governator stayed in DC to beg obama for money to get California out of the red. And obama will give it to him. Screw'em. Let the liberals bail themselves out. Maybe then they will see the light.....but I doubt it.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Pete

would be a shining example that grossly large taxes, strangling regulation, crazy spending and a ton of liberal social problems do not friggin work.

The wealthiest and most populous state in our union is about to fall. Releasing prisoners, laying off workers, defaulting on its bonds and this is not the first time either it has been on the brink.

Why...WHY!....WHY can't people see this is NOT the direction to go?

California has hamstrung itself with democracy.

They put far too many things to a vote, referendums and propositions. The idea of elected representation has gone out the window there. Groups get together, get something going, scream for democracy for THEIR issue in order to protect if from the vagaries of the *gasp* elected representatives and this gums up the whole system. It makes changing things, be it better or worse, impossible.

They, and New York, are losing lots and lots of rich people who are sick of having to pay for all this. That might get their attention when there is no place else to turn besides a mirror.

Democracy, pure democracy is WHY we have the constitution and the bill of rights; to protect the individual from the mob, to prevent the stupidity of California from spreading nation wide.

Unfortunality, they are largely represented in congress.

[SamSpade]

Originally Posted by Pete

would be a shining example that grossly large taxes, strangling regulation, crazy spending and a ton of liberal social problems do not friggin work.

The wealthiest and most populous state in our union is about to fall. Releasing prisoners, laying off workers, defaulting on its bonds and this is not the first time either it has been on the brink.

Why...WHY!....WHY can't people see this is NOT the direction to go?

Because it's all George Bush's fault!

[Vince]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

California has hamstrung itself with democracy.

They put far too many things to a vote, referendums and propositions. The idea of elected representation has gone out the window there. Groups get together, get something going, scream for democracy for THEIR issue in order to protect if from the vagaries of the *gasp* elected representatives and this gums up the whole system. It makes changing things, be it better or worse, impossible.

They, and New York, are losing lots and lots of rich people who are sick of having to pay for all this. That might get their attention when there is no place else to turn besides a mirror.

Democracy, pure democracy is WHY we have the constitution and the bill of rights; to protect the individual from the mob, to prevent the stupidity of California from spreading nation wide.

Unfortunality, they are largely represented in congress.

Have to agree with you there.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Pete

One would think that the State of California
would be a shining example that grossly large taxes, strangling regulation, crazy spending and a ton of liberal social problems do not friggin work.

One would think.

I'm totally against federal funding for states. If a state can't figure out how to run on its own dime, then the voters need to put in a new legislature and governor. It pisses me off that my federal taxes go to support some welfare state. Not like MD is some shining beacon of fiscal responsibility, but at least that's MY state and I have a teeny bit of say-so over what happens.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

One would think.

I'm totally against federal funding for states. If a state can't figure out how to run on its own dime, then the voters need to put in a new legislature and governor. It pisses me off that my federal taxes go to support some welfare state. Not like MD is some shining beacon of fiscal responsibility, but at least that's MY state and I have a teeny bit of say-so over what happens.

Yeah, a very teeny say so with the Dems forever in control of Md.

[Pete (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

California has hamstrung itself with democracy.

They put far too many things to a vote, referendums and propositions. The idea of elected representation has gone out the window there. Groups get together, get something going, scream for democracy for THEIR issue in order to protect if from the vagaries of the *gasp* elected representatives and this gums up the whole system. It makes changing things, be it better or worse, impossible.

They, and New York, are losing lots and lots of rich people who are sick of having to pay for all this. That might get their attention when there is no place else to turn besides a mirror.

Democracy, pure democracy is WHY we have the constitution and the bill of rights; to protect the individual from the mob, to prevent the stupidity of California from spreading nation wide.

Unfortunality, they are largely represented in congress.

I agree the endless stream of "propositions" they approve or defeat every election puts the revenue and the fate of the budget in the hands of the fickle, untrustworthy and the unaccountable.

The truly hypocritical part about it is they allow propositions, then the government jumps in and defeats the "will of the people" in courts.

Look at the gay marriage thing. Make it a proposition, the people vote it down so now they plan to keep voting and challenging until it is finally passed to please the minority.

[SamSpade]

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

One would think.

I'm totally against federal funding for states.

Agreed. For over two hundred years, states have posited that they have a distinct identity and function as stand-alone entities. We look to the government for common defense, but generally, each state can function on its own. It's why we have the tenth amendment. It's understood that states are individual governments.

And I believe this goes all the way down to cities and municipalities. Unless the federal government wants to build a highway through your yard, it's up to your town, your city, your county and your state to manage its own funds. If it can't pay for them, then it doesn't get to do those things.