California's electorate as dysfunctional as Legislature?

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | 9:24 p.m. May 19, 2009 | James P. Sweeney

[Jagdgewehr]

SACRAMENTO – A few weeks ago, a voter at a gathering organized by campaign consultants said he believed cutting schools, police and fire departments would be disastrous.

But that didn't mean he was ready to vote for the budget-related measures on Tuesday's ballot.

“The moderator said 'You just said these things would be horrible. How can you still vote no?' ” recalled Rick Claussen, chief strategist for the campaign in favor of Propositions 1A-1F. “He said, 'Because I'm mad and I want to send Sacramento a message and I want to punish the politicians.' ”

[silverleaf]

sounds like the same type of dysfunctional voter mentality that wanted to punish George Bush and thus voted for “change” via the unknown obama

“Those whom the gods destroy, they first make crazy”

[ClearCase_guy]

I see no way out other than to go through the disaster. Government spending, at all levels, needs to be cut. At least in half, and I'd like to see more than that. That means layoffs, that means less of a safety net, that means lack of services. It means more pot holes, more fatal house fires, and a lack of educational opportunities.

None of that is really appealing -- but what is the alternative? Finding a way to limp forward, with an ever expanding government, an ever expanding debt, and an ever diminishing degree of personal liberty?

Forbid it Almighty God! Give me Liberty or give me death.

[Da Coyote]

Yup, that electorate is really dumb. Somehow, they think that there are many budget reductions that could be done that are NOT in the plan. To wit: welfare, medical care for illegals, excessive retirement plans for the unions, etc. etc.

Gads, we are so very dumb. Too bad we couldn’t all have gone to journalism school and received a “real” education.

What a bunch of Obama!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Public employee unions run California.

[hoosier hick]

In The San Jose Mercury-News there was an adjacent story that the Democrat had won a special election for an open state senate seat. Answer to the headline question: YES....

hh

[norwaypinesavage]

I administered budgets in the auto industry for several decades. Many of those years involved budget cuts. I learned quickly how to make the least damaging cuts and still get the most things done.

Politicians move in the opposite direction. They cut the most popular, most damaging budget items as a threat to force voters to approve higher taxes. They leave their unions, their pet programs, pet people, and favored pork. The only way to make them make truly responsible is to cut their revenue and force them to adapt or leave.

[Carry_Okie]

Government spending, at all levels, needs to be cut. At least in half, and I'd like to see more than that. That means layoffs, that means less of a safety net, that means lack of services.

That's not the choice here and you know it. For the price of the annual budget for California's junior college system, I could build a university of the finest professors in the world, send them to Hollywood, produce classes that even simulate lab work, and put them on the equivalent of YouTube. Then I would shut down the entire system, and hire grad students or even former junior college teachers to grade the work, sell the land, and pocket a profit. Every young person in California could "attend" for free. I'd then move that service up to at least the university undergraduate level. It would even reduce traffic and fuel consumption. All told, my WAG is that we might save between $3-5 billion every year while dispensing with a political cadre of some really destructive people. That's how backward and dysfunctional this system is.

In every venue, from education, to transportation, to health care, government flushes huge amounts of money down the drain. It's time to get the public to understand that there really are alternatives to this stupidity.

[Hacklehead]

NY and CA are in the final stages before collapse. All that is currently keeping them afloat is stimulus money from a bankrupt govt. Once thats gone there is no more. There are no more suckers to invest in their ponzi schemes, no one left to get money from. Collapse is inevitable and the only way to reform the system.

[ClearCase_guy]

Of course you're right. But in my years of experience, when times are tight and the voters refuse to vote for tax increases, what I see government do is to cut neonatal care units, or elder services, or elementary schools, or police or fire depts.

The cuts are made in all the wrong places. The money is spent in all the wrong ways. Sure, it could be done better. Yes, responsible leaders could come up with really great ideas on how to administer the budget.

But these are politicians we're talking about. I think the only hope is to give them much smaller amounts to play with. Your idea is a very good idea. That's why they won't go that way.

[okie01]

NY and CA are in the final stages before collapse.

Failed states, liked failed companies, should go through bankruptcy and undergo re-organization.

Simply stated, the voters have elected officials who were incompetent when it came to managing the state's affairs.

In that case, everybody involved needs to pay a price -- not just the elected officials, but the voters and the state's creditors and employees, as well.

It is lessons learned that keep the same mistakes from happening again.

[Alberta's Child]

Interesting post, but I think there's a good chance that New Jersey is actually closer to financial collapse than New York. New York's state government includes a state comptroller, which means that despite all of its flaws it has a reputation for being relatively stable and well-run in some respects (their pension system and financial regulatory climate are two examples).

New Jersey is heading for disaster right now. Their unfunded pension liabilities are going to bring the state's entire financial system down.

[jiggyboy]

“It was very difficult to have a rational dialogue with a voter who is so overwhelmingly angry and surly and absolutely convinced that Sacramento is a totally dysfunctional operation,” Claussen said of the recent campaign.

Hold it right there, you jackass. The reason no "rational dialogue" is possible is because WE are the rational ones and are SICK AND TIRED of your economic BS. You can start using "rational" economic policies any time you like, we're waiting.

[skinkinthegrass]

you should have placed a "Hissy Fit" Alert / banner, on this.
What a bunch of Shiite Zer0bama!

[dirtboy]

The cuts are made in all the wrong places.

Not if you are a politician. They make the first cuts in the most vital sections of government, to demonstrate that any further cuts would be unimaginably painful, while avoiding all the patronage departments that are their power base.

[Lurker]

It means more pot holes, more fatal house fires, and a lack of educational opportunities.

State Government has plenty of money to do all of those mundane things. The problems start when they try to buy different groups of voters with other peoples money.

[RC one]

To all Freeper Californians: Well played.

[Hacklehead]

“Hold it right there, you jackass. The reason no “rational dialogue” is possible is because WE are the rational ones and are SICK AND TIRED of your economic BS.”

When your house is on fire its difficult to have a rational discussion with the arsonist who insists on adding more gasoline.

[JoanneSD]

They could start by demanding money from Arnolds buddy in washington, for money to take care of the illegals.. then firing 4 people at least from the 100.s of different boards, committees, depts. that are useless, or could be combined, having a part time legislature, they do not do what they are elected to do any way.. cut their per diem, so they live on their salary, like the rest of us do.. and have them use their own car.. like the rest of us do..

[Lurker]

They could start by demanding money from Arnolds buddy in washington,

You mean from people like me who go to work every day. Thanks, but no thanks.

so they live on their salary, like the rest of us do.. and have them use their own car.. like the rest of us do..

What novel concepts.