Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Warnings of budget 'Armageddon' don't rouse ordinary Californians
Sacramento Bee ^ | 1/12/9 | Peter Hecht

Posted on 01/12/2009 1:14:39 PM PST by SmithL

Under the Capitol dome in Sacramento, Democratic and Republican lawmakers battle in a state budget quagmire, trading charges of obstruction or constitutional end runs. The fed-up governor warns of a financial "Armageddon."

But in Huntington Beach, Molly Logan has more pressing problems.

Her sales at Logan Surfboards took a 30 percent wipeout from 2007 to 2008. She is undercut by imports from Vietnam and Thailand, "where they have no environmental regulations and cheap labor."

While lawmakers fight over a proposed sales tax hike to bail California out of billions in debt, Logan said, "I'm much more concerned about my Roth IRA plummeting. I'm more concerned with the national economy. Right now, it's frightening, frightening."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is to deliver his State of the State message Thursday in hopes of galvanizing public opinion to pressure lawmakers to agree on a budget to keep California's government from going broke.

But his challenge comes as many Californians are too busy and too worried about effects of the larger national economic calamity to be consumed with details of budget wrangling in Sacramento.

Sacramento lobbyists, state worker unions and advocates for health, education and welfare may think of little more than the state's financial mess. Yet the Capitol isn't being overwhelmed by calls or letters from average Californians demanding a budget.

In Sacramento, the action movie-star governor furiously warns of the costs of inaction on a budget deficit that could reach $40 billion over 18 months. Lawmakers fight over taxes, state worker furloughs and slashing cuts for schools and services.

Outside the capital, they will draw little notice – or scrutiny – until they actually make decisions and act or let state government go belly-up.

"Certainly voters are aware of the (state budget) problem," said California Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo. "But it hasn't...

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: armageddon; budget; goldenstate; yourtaxdollarsatwork
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-34 last
To: EEDUDE

Me too when I was a kid in Cocoa Beach in the 60’s. I heard Clark got shut down by em.


21 posted on 01/12/2009 2:39:20 PM PST by screaminsunshine (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Dilbert San Diego
Yep, we sure cleaned up the planet with those environmental laws that drove manufacturing to third world countries!

I discovered this idiocy years ago when my car that couldn't pass Calif emissions standards was wholesaled to Mexico when I traded it in. Now THAT makes a lot of sense.

22 posted on 01/12/2009 2:41:15 PM PST by informavoracious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

By and large the only part of the government most people want to keep functioning is the mail. So a government shut down that won’t stop the mail isn’t something we really care about.


23 posted on 01/12/2009 2:46:22 PM PST by dilvish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TChris
For the majority of ignorant, post-government-education voters out there, talk of the economy makes their eyes glaze over. It's all just a bunch of incomprehensible numbers

Sort of like the OJ jury and the DNA evidence--"wha'd I care 'bout all dem zeroes!". Hmm. Yes, that was California too.

24 posted on 01/12/2009 4:33:49 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

State government is always crying poor, so people are just tuning it out.


25 posted on 01/12/2009 4:35:54 PM PST by John Jorsett (scam never sleeps)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: screaminsunshine

“I heard Clark got shut down by em.”

Did you hear why?


26 posted on 01/12/2009 4:55:46 PM PST by EEDUDE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

Stop supporting illegals and the budget problem will be solved.


27 posted on 01/12/2009 5:09:03 PM PST by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EEDUDE
Toluene Diisocynate, that is why.

They might as well ban gasoline as well.

28 posted on 01/12/2009 5:11:24 PM PST by rollo tomasi (Working hard to pay for deadbeats and corrupt politicians.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: EEDUDE

Chemical “emissions”. Dunno. I do not know if they are still making blanks or where. I got a McTavish original last year but don’t know what kine blank. Where did you make boards at?


29 posted on 01/12/2009 5:32:56 PM PST by screaminsunshine (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: screaminsunshine

We had a two man shop in Greenville, NC. We built boards for people around Atlantic Beach, Cape Hatteras, Bogue Inlet and other places. Both of us were in HS at the time.

A couple of summers we loaded up a van with boards and took a road trip up the coast. Stopping and surfing everywhere that looked good, and selling boards to the locals. Last point on the trip was Montauk Point, New York.

Those were GOOD times!


30 posted on 01/12/2009 5:46:22 PM PST by EEDUDE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: rollo tomasi

“Toluene Diisocynate, that is why.”

Ah. Not EPA approved foam. Probably the same chemical that was used in the foam that covered the Shuttle fuel tank. They changed that to be “green”. They killed some astronauts with that decision.


31 posted on 01/12/2009 5:51:06 PM PST by EEDUDE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: EEDUDE

Cool memories. I had a lot of friends in Va. Beach. We did the same kene of tour starting in Miami and ending in Long Island. I was a rep for the old Walker Foam Co. and my pard worked for O’neil. We were livin life I tell ya.


32 posted on 01/12/2009 5:53:45 PM PST by screaminsunshine (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: EEDUDE

Cool memories. I had a lot of friends in Va. Beach. We did the same kene of tour starting in Miami and ending in Long Island. I was a rep for the old Walker Foam Co. and my pard worked for O’neil. We were livin life I tell ya.


33 posted on 01/12/2009 5:54:03 PM PST by screaminsunshine (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: screaminsunshine

“We did the same kene of tour starting in Miami and ending in Long Island.”

Just never know who you’re going to run into on FR.

Kowabunga!


34 posted on 01/13/2009 11:58:28 AM PST by EEDUDE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-34 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson