California fiscal crisis

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Just say no.

NO!

[_Simpson_ 250]

I awlays get a good laugh every time the Republicans get blamed for destroying the most liberal state in the union. Keep up the good work Steve.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I awlays get a good laugh every time the Republicans get blamed for destroying the most liberal state in the union. Keep up the good work Steve.

+1

Edited July 29, 2010 by Col. Lingus

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Rising healthcare costs for government jobs like police, fire and rescue are part of the equation. So is the rising cost of real estate in California, which effects cost-of-living increases. Many pensions funds have been underfunded. Pointing the finger at the people who risk their lives for our well being as the cause of California's budget crisis is over-simplistic and offensive to them.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I awlays get a good laugh every time the Republicans get blamed for destroying the most liberal state in the union. Keep up the good work Steve.

Read what I stated - Prop 13 is what has got a stranglehold on California's budget. Prop 13 was supported by then Gov. Jerry Brown. The Republican Party of California, however, would rather gut the state of important programs and agencies, than raising the taxes on the wealthy.

[The_Dude 1,142]

While I have been a fan of CA's prop system, voting on taxes is a joke. Of course nobody wants to pay taxes.

Be it tax, wages, services, investments and so forth, Republicans assume cuts are the answer to everything, they are not. If they were, other countries with a higher GDP per capita wouldn't be doing the total opposite then. In fact, I have never heard of cuts or states going bankrupt in AUS and for an amazing reason, they pay taxes.

The tax system is a joke as I purchase a lot of ####### from CA and the state earns no tax from me. Whereas, regardless of state in AUS, I will pay the federal GST/VAT; which will be allocated back to the state.

Another byproduct of that proposition making it harder to increase taxes is the use of bonds to fund everything and anything in the state rather than cut back and look to correct the legislative error. So now, California is like that guy living beyond his means, using one credit card to pay off another.

California's public-employee retirement system stands in the most perilous condition, facing a half-trillion in unfunded liabilities. That's not surprising when you consider a California highway patrol officer can retire at age 50 and collect up to 90 percent of his salary for the rest of his life. According to the agency's website, a typical officer's pay will reach $109,147 after just five years on duty - an amount that can rise significantly with overtime benefits. That means a fit and healthy 50-year-old "retiree" who began work at age 20 would receive $98,232 a year from taxpayers for the rest of his life, and nothing prevents him from taking another government job to collect two paychecks. This form of double-dipping is rampant.

While most private-sector firms have trimmed their work force during the recession to achieve more efficient and profitable operations, public agencies have expanded. State and local governments employ about 15 million individuals, a figure that has jumped up 40 percent from 1992. By 2016, the number of state and local bureaucrats is projected to reach 20 million. Too many of these people are being promised far too much money, leaving state and local systems as bankrupt as Social Security, Medicare and other multitrillion-dollar federal entitlements.

Marc, please post a link to that because from what I've seen, that is blatantly exaggerated. Yes, officers can retire with up to 90% of their pension after 30 years of service, but that average salary you quote is vastly inflated. That 90% is of their base salary, which does not include the massive amounts of overtime that they all tend to work.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Rising healthcare costs for government jobs like police, fire and rescue are part of the equation. So is the rising cost of real estate in California, which effects cost-of-living increases. Many pensions funds have been underfunded. Pointing the finger at the people who risk their lives for our well being as the cause of California's budget crisis is over-simplistic and offensive to them.

On stardate 5832.3, the USS Enterprise is in hot pursuit of the stolen spacecraft Aurora, which is heading into the dangerous Romulan Neutral Zone. The Enterprise locks onto the ship with a tractor beam, but the Aurora tries to flee. With the craft already straining with pushed engines, the vessel begins to break up.

Captain Kirk orders the transporter room to lock on the passengers and beam them aboard immediately. As the Aurora explodes, the six humanoid passengers are safely brought aboard the Enterprise. Kirk heads down to meet with them and is shocked by their wild appearance. The six beings are barefoot, dressed in lavish robes and colorful tunics. Despite their close brush with death, they appear completely calm and relaxed as if nothing has happened.

The group quickly shows a disrespect for authority and demands to be taken to a planet they call "Eden" (a reference to Garden of Eden). Eden's existence is believed to be a myth, however. The group refuses to cooperate with Kirk, calling him "Herbert", an insulting reference to a minor official of the same name, notorious for his "rigid and limited patterns of thought".

The group is impressed by Mr. Spock, who understands their philosophy. Spock makes an oval "symbol of peace" hand gesture and simply says: "One." The group responds with the same gesture: "We are one." They ask Spock: "Are you One, Herbert?" Spock replies that he is not Herbert, and Adam declares: "He's not Herbert. We reach!" Having developed a respect for Spock's straightforwardness, the group agrees to go to sick bay for a medical examination. Medical scans reveal the party to be in good health, except for Dr. Sevrin, who is a carrier of the Synthecoccus Novae virus, which has been accidentally created by technological society. The disease is fatal to anyone who hasn't been vaccinated, but he nonetheless insists that the planet of Eden will somehow "cleanse" him, and that his group will build a new civilization, the likes of which the galaxy has never seen before. After interviewing him, Spock concludes that Sevrin is clinically insane.

[The_Dude 1,142]

On stardate 5832.3, the USS Enterprise is in hot pursuit of the stolen spacecraft Aurora, which is heading into the dangerous Romulan Neutral Zone. The Enterprise locks onto the ship with a tractor beam, but the Aurora tries to flee. With the craft already straining with pushed engines, the vessel begins to break up.

Captain Kirk orders the transporter room to lock on the passengers and beam them aboard immediately. As the Aurora explodes, the six humanoid passengers are safely brought aboard the Enterprise. Kirk heads down to meet with them and is shocked by their wild appearance. The six beings are barefoot, dressed in lavish robes and colorful tunics. Despite their close brush with death, they appear completely calm and relaxed as if nothing has happened.

The group quickly shows a disrespect for authority and demands to be taken to a planet they call "Eden" (a reference to Garden of Eden). Eden's existence is believed to be a myth, however. The group refuses to cooperate with Kirk, calling him "Herbert", an insulting reference to a minor official of the same name, notorious for his "rigid and limited patterns of thought".

The group is impressed by Mr. Spock, who understands their philosophy. Spock makes an oval "symbol of peace" hand gesture and simply says: "One." The group responds with the same gesture: "We are one." They ask Spock: "Are you One, Herbert?" Spock replies that he is not Herbert, and Adam declares: "He's not Herbert. We reach!" Having developed a respect for Spock's straightforwardness, the group agrees to go to sick bay for a medical examination. Medical scans reveal the party to be in good health, except for Dr. Sevrin, who is a carrier of the Synthecoccus Novae virus, which has been accidentally created by technological society. The disease is fatal to anyone who hasn't been vaccinated, but he nonetheless insists that the planet of Eden will somehow "cleanse" him, and that his group will build a new civilization, the likes of which the galaxy has never seen before. After interviewing him, Spock concludes that Sevrin is clinically insane.

Awww Marc, I thought you had said no.

[Captain Oates 911]

Tax revenues decline from:

Unemployed people not paying tax

Low profits from companies (absolute terms not percentage)

Brought forward losses on termination payments and capital gains losses

(even BP gets a $10 bill tax credit - good !)

etc

In other words - as a result of the recession.

At the same time spending goes up - unemployed and sick claims etc

It's all quite normal for this pincer movement of lower revenues and higher costs

Political correctness has a cost too I am sure; but I wouldn't have thought it was significant

Illegals pay taxes for the most part unless they are drug dealers; but California's plan to mass produce cannabis and sell it legally to enhance state revenues could put them out of business and then they will have to turn to armed robbery.

All this is just something that happens to other people as we in Washington State have no income tax and we can hang out in Vancouver at the weekend..

[natty bumppo 297]

On stardate 5832.3, the USS Enterprise is in hot pursuit of the stolen spacecraft Aurora, which is heading into the dangerous Romulan Neutral Zone. The Enterprise locks onto the ship with a tractor beam, but the Aurora tries to flee. With the craft already straining with pushed engines, the vessel begins to break up.

Captain Kirk orders the transporter room to lock on the passengers and beam them aboard immediately. As the Aurora explodes, the six humanoid passengers are safely brought aboard the Enterprise. Kirk heads down to meet with them and is shocked by their wild appearance. The six beings are barefoot, dressed in lavish robes and colorful tunics. Despite their close brush with death, they appear completely calm and relaxed as if nothing has happened.

The group quickly shows a disrespect for authority and demands to be taken to a planet they call "Eden" (a reference to Garden of Eden). Eden's existence is believed to be a myth, however. The group refuses to cooperate with Kirk, calling him "Herbert", an insulting reference to a minor official of the same name, notorious for his "rigid and limited patterns of thought".

The group is impressed by Mr. Spock, who understands their philosophy. Spock makes an oval "symbol of peace" hand gesture and simply says: "One." The group responds with the same gesture: "We are one." They ask Spock: "Are you One, Herbert?" Spock replies that he is not Herbert, and Adam declares: "He's not Herbert. We reach!" Having developed a respect for Spock's straightforwardness, the group agrees to go to sick bay for a medical examination. Medical scans reveal the party to be in good health, except for Dr. Sevrin, who is a carrier of the Synthecoccus Novae virus, which has been accidentally created by technological society. The disease is fatal to anyone who hasn't been vaccinated, but he nonetheless insists that the planet of Eden will somehow "cleanse" him, and that his group will build a new civilization, the likes of which the galaxy has never seen before. After interviewing him, Spock concludes that Sevrin is clinically insane.

nicely said

[Captain Oates 911]

Wait til interest rates go up to 10%

That will juice California and the US given their borrowings

The bad stuff hasn't even started yet

Meanwhile, the pentagon looks around for where they want the next war....

Luckily, the penchant for asymmetrical war only, means that there are lots of smaller countries to declare victory over. How about.... Denmark ! Why should Denmark own a piece of property the size of Europe (Greenland) and so close to the US ? It's obviously a provocation and needs to be dealt with. There might be some oil there too....

[^_^ 5,021]

And if Al Gore is right, Greenland may be pretty green soon!

[Captain Oates 911]

And if Al Gore is right, Greenland may be pretty green soon!

Illegals could be offered Citizenship of Greenland with their own provincial Presidente ! They could service the new rocket silos and Navy bases and atomic test areas - prob solved.

Would it be warm enough for their chickens though ?

[Heracles 417]

While most private-sector firms have trimmed their work force during the recession to achieve more efficient and profitable operations, public agencies have expanded. State and local governments employ about 15 million individuals, a figure that has jumped up 40 percent from 1992. By 2016, the number of state and local bureaucrats is projected to reach 20 million. Too many of these people are being promised far too much money, leaving state and local systems as bankrupt as Social Security, Medicare and other multitrillion-dollar federal entitlements.

Public employers are last to get their 3% during boom times and that is reality. When everyone was killing it prior to the crash, police and teachers in my area had to live in WV because they couldn't afford to live where they work.

Republican mentality is cut cut cut. Then when a foreigner like myself points out that this and that is ####### here, you have not-Gary claim it's as good or better than everywhere else; because he says so.

Tell me this, public servants are paid more than those in the private sector in AUS - average over $55K. So why is no state or the country neither bankrupt or even struggling if this anti-government rhetoric is true? In fact, I received a job offer to work for the AUS government, worth well into the six figure range and with an offer of an additional 16% deposited into a retirement account. Not to mention, a company car and a range of other fringe benefits that are reserved for management alone here.

Edited July 29, 2010 by Heracles

[^_^ 5,021]

I received a job offer to work for the AUS government, worth well into the six figure range and with an offer of an additional 16% deposited into a retirement account. Not to mention, a company car and a range of other fringe benefits that are reserved for management alone here.

Why are you still here? Sounds like a great offer.