Posted on 06/06/2005 8:34:28 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
The state budget is a mess. Traffic is a nightmare. There aren't enough good jobs or affordable homes. The schools are overcrowded, most are failing. The health care system is on the verge of collapse. And yet in 20 years, these may be remembered as the good ol' days.
So say researchers at the Public Policy Institute of California, who have amassed mountains of data to suggest that as bad as the current state of affairs in California is, things are going to get a lot worse, approaching crisis levels by 2025, unless dramatic steps are taken soon.
Fed in no small part by illegal immigration, California's population is booming, although our infrastructure remains stagnant. State leaders long ago gave up on building new freeways or even schools fast enough to keep up with population growth.
Within 20 years that lack of planning will be felt all the more acutely. For instance, the already unbearable commute times will increase by 48 percent.
But even as the population grows by a third to 48 million, it also will age -- a shift that alone could overwhelm the fragile health care system.
Is there a silver lining?
Of course. The Public Policy Institute has issued its wake-up call in the belief that an informed and energized electorate will demand officials stop bickering and get to work solving the state's problems.
The key is leadership.
California suffers under a political system that cares more about partisan rancor and serving special interests than in serving the public. We have legions of the best-paid public employees in the nation, yet some of the worst services. For the last three decades, legislators neglected investing in infrastructure as if there were no consequences.
With that myth now thoroughly and utterly debunked, it's time for state leaders to get serious about planning for California's future.
Sacramento has the major responsibility but so do county and city governments across Southern California. They need to join forces to address common needs.
Crisis is not our destiny, although it is where we're headed. PPI has issued an important wake-up call. All Californians -- and especially our elected leaders -- had best take heed.
There are 2 main problems that also need addressing: Dems and Reps both want credit for any "solution" and refuse to give credit to the other party. And they will hinder any progress being made if the other party would get credit. And secondly, the main "solutions" will just mean more taxes, and no real cuts. And that's what they need to do! Cut cut cut. Close the borders, close the welfare/hospital/social services doors to illegals.
Duh...
BTW, this problem is NOT confined to CA. It's happening in Texas as well...
not to mention the Nation's Senate.
Leaders who solve problems get crucified by the California media...because solving those problems requires slaying sacred cows. When the media starts editorializing in favor of common sense solutions and ceases being the hired diarists of the California Teachers Association, leaders will emerge quickly enough.
OK, I have a problem for them to solve:
Prove that all positive even integers greater than or equal to 6 can be expressed as the sum of two primes. This is called the Goldbach conjecture, and is one of the great unsolved math problems.
If they can figure this out, they might be worthy of "solving" bigger problems.
couldnt happen to a MORE DESERVING state. lol
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.