Posted on 03/09/2009 10:39:18 PM PDT by BAW
As portrayed in the 1970’s movie about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Tora, Tora, Tora, Admiral Yamamoto states, after the attack, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." Turns out there is little historical evidence suggesting that the Admiral said any such thing. However, the line is illustrative of a self-evident truth: You don’t kick a rabid dog; you don’t poke a tiger with a stick; and you don’t walk into a biker bar and start insulting Harleys.
In February, a political “deal” was reached regarding the state budget. Among the interests involved in the negotiations were the usual suspects: the Governor (no longer even pretending to advance limited government, free market policies), powerful labor interests and their democrat puppets in the Legislature and a handful of Republicans who, pressured by business interests, finally acquiesced to a deal that – more or less – left businesses alone while shafting working Californians.
Looks like everyone was at the table in these negotiations except taxpayers. After all, as recently pointed out by noted economist Ben Zycher commenting on the phony spending cap, the special interests are able to focus their political resources while the diffuse interests of taxpayers are far more difficult to marshal – even though, in the abstract, taxpayers are a powerful force.
Does any of this sound familiar? In the 1970’s, the politicians – with the same special interests controlling Sacramento – refused to believe that taxpayers were serious about rising property taxes. Sure, a couple of yahoos named Jarvis and Gann put a strong tax measure on the ballot, Proposition 13, but it went way too far and the voters would surely reject it, wouldn’t they?
But these interests underestimated badly the anger of the people. By the time the insiders comprehended the size of the tsunami coming at them, it was too late. Not even an alternative property tax initiative that was viewed as too little too late could save them. Prop 13 passed by over 66% .
Fast forward to Saturday. Radio talk show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou held a taxpayer rally in Fullerton to protest the budget “deal” that left California the most heavily taxed state in America. In the couple of weeks leading up to the rally, they wondered aloud on the air whether anyone would show up. Are Californians now like docile sheep, begrudgingly accepting all the idiocy raining down from Sacramento?
With luck, the rally would be a success and at least a few hundred citizen/voters would show up to fill the Slidebar Café. Well, according to local officials, the crowd that showed up numbered at least eight THOUSAND. And they weren’t very quiet, either. The rally was raucous and wild, with chants of “heads on a stick” reverberating in the air.
The rally in Fullerton may be a turning point in the new California Tax Revolt. Citizens are angry. They are angry at the abject lack of rational fiscal management of the Golden State; they are angry that labor unions are wholly protected with their excessive pay and bullet proof pensions; they are angry at corporate California which is quick to protect its own interests ($500 million tax break for Hollywood) while throwing the working class under the bus.
The only question that our elected officials must now ask themselves is whether the level of anger among ordinary citizens will coalesce into a significant political force. Our bet is that, like 1978, they will make a major miscalculation and will pay the political price for doing so.
I got my pitchfork ready!!! Let’s march to Sacramento and Washington!
I made the decision to leave at least a year ago.
Texas will get my 6-figure income. I am not 100% sure what to do with my house that I was stupid enough to pay off early on my 15 year mortgage and make every payment on (no bailout for dumass me!). But Tx has a $135K place I can almost pay cash for.
I won’t stay where I am not wanted. California doesn’t want me, so away I go!
It is much easier than trying to get people who Sleep Well knowing they have Done Good with Your Money.
More people in the cart than pulling it — adios California. I was born and raised there but don’t recognize ya, you whore!
“The Democrat party has sown the wind, and will eventually reap the whirlwind. Hopefully, that will be soon.”
If soon, the whirlwind will be at the ballot box. If not...
Ditto. Most California voters aren’t going to see a tax increase - they may feel it as second order effects, in the form of higher prices, lower pay or no jobs, but they aren’t going to make the connection.
And the state is so gerrymandered that very little is going to shift.
We will just end up in a big, sunny version of Detroit.
California is as good as anywhere to start the revolution.
“Boy, we’re sure in a pickle with this housing mess. Thank goodness we’ve got Barney Frank and Chris Dodd fighting for us on our team!”
Welcome to Texas...now don’t tell anyone back home how great it is. Thanks!
“I hope all you Cali’s got kissed after the budget reaming!”
Not even a reach-around...
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