Re: Things might be changing folks...

On Fri, 22 May 2009 21:47:41 -0700, "John R. Carroll"
<jcarroll@ubu,machiningsolution.com> wrote:

The general agrement by the
"talking heads" and "chattering class" is that the California
voters said no because they did not understand the proposed
measures. On the contrary, it appears they understood these
perfectly and could spot the tax increases a mile off. They were
not buying any [more] funding BS, including the liberal areas
such as SF.

We already collect more than enough money in taxes here in California
George. California alone pays roughly 14 percent of federal taxes.
=======
Indeed you do.

The Gann amendment that limited increases in state expenditures
to a constant level, adjusted for inflation and population growth
controlled things for a while, along with Prop 13 (Jarvis).
Unfortunately this was operationally revoked/evaded, and the
state budgets again continued their climb. If the Gann amendment
had been retained and enforced, California would now have a
budget surplus.
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=2871
http://www.caltax.org/member/digest/July2000/jul00-9.htm

The problem does not appear to be that there was any actual
criminal intent to rip off the taxpayers for the most part, but
rather the desire to "do good" and improve things. The problem
is that there is an infinite amount of good things to be done,
and a finite pool [and now shrinking] of money available to do it
with. Almost every cent that is cut will indeed hurt someone, but
the money is simply not there.

There appears to have been no effort to identify/prioritize the
functions the state *MUST* fund/maintain to avoid falling into
the category of a "failed state" such as Mexico, Haiti or
Somalia, such as a functioning criminal/civil court system, and
basic public safety services.

Good luck with what is a most serious problem. As California is
the national trend setter and bellwether, I hope you can get this
under control, without serious upheavals and social unrest.


Unka' George [George McDuffee]
-------------------------------------------
He that will not apply new remedies,
must expect new evils:
for Time is the greatest innovator: and
if Time, of course, alter things to the worse,
and wisdom and counsel shall not alter them to the better,
what shall be the end?

Francis Bacon (1561-1626), English philosopher, essayist, statesman.
Essays, "Of Innovations" (1597-1625).
.

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