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Dan Walters: California debt may be half a trillion dollars
Sacramento Bee ^ | 11/29/9 | Dan Walters

Posted on 11/29/2009 8:42:40 AM PST by SmithL

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To: Thermalseeker

One of the problems is that the mass transit systems keep trying to operate as social experiments. In the buses, they run through the worst parts of town, and serve as transport systems for gang bangers. In San Antonio, one of the malls withdrew permission for the city to use the mall as a pick up and drop off point because all they brought in were shoplifters and muggers.

I suggested, many years ago, that the city of Austin, instead of running hundreds of buses that only have three or four people in them (ever wonder why most city buses now have the designs that cover the windows so you can’t see inside?) that they look at a mass transit loop. They’d set up a trolley or monorail that would start at the international airport and make a big loop through the city. Hotels could pay a fee to make their locations a drop off point, which would be covered and have baggage assistance. Then it would loop through the convention center, the UT football, baseball and basketball stadiums, the state capital, and the major malls. The plans that were approved, but never implemented, went straight through all of the projects, and, of course, included free fare. The buses run the approved routes, but few paying people use them, so they lose money.
They could use Vokswagen Beetles and save a lot of money and still haul the same number of passengers.


21 posted on 11/29/2009 10:09:32 AM PST by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
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To: SmithL

And the porn industry has done such wonders for California.

Just sayin.


22 posted on 11/29/2009 10:17:41 AM PST by Soothesayer9
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To: Liz

Heh heh :)


23 posted on 11/29/2009 10:18:37 AM PST by Soothesayer9
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To: Lancey Howard
"Yep. The scumbag politicians, with all their patronage pork and circle-jerking, have raped the place dry."

The reality is that there is a total disconnect between the voting public and the decisions that politicians make.

Who sets the voting districts?
Who really chooses the candidates?
Who sets the legislative agenda?
Who negotiates those public employee salaries and pensions?
Who decides"We will issue a Bond to pay for that"

In every case and many others, as sure as hell, it's not the voting public.

24 posted on 11/29/2009 10:57:50 AM PST by I am Richard Brandon
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To: I am Richard Brandon
In every case and many others, as sure as hell, it's not the voting public.

Yet "the voting public" keeps electing and re-electing the same scumbags.
Hence, they get exactly what they deserve.

25 posted on 11/29/2009 11:01:55 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: SmithL; bamahead; calcowgirl; ElkGroveDan; SierraWasp; doug from upland; Impy; ExTexasRedhead; ...

California is in even worse shape than I thought. I’m glad I got out of there.


26 posted on 11/29/2009 11:08:04 AM PST by Clintonfatigued (Liberal sacred cows make great hamburger)
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To: Lancey Howard

I know! Let’s make lying by politicians a felony. /sarc


27 posted on 11/29/2009 11:08:23 AM PST by I am Richard Brandon
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To: SmithL

“Will you take a check for that, or can I just use a credit card?” ;^)


28 posted on 11/29/2009 11:10:43 AM PST by airborne (As long as Muslims are a "protected species", all Americans are an "endangered species".)
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To: SmithL
"The biggest chunks of debt, however, are the unfunded obligations for pensions and health care of retired public employees"
aka "socialist vote-buying funds at taxpayer expense"
29 posted on 11/29/2009 1:16:31 PM PST by Enchante (Obama to Jihad Terrorists: Come to NYC and Propagate Your Message - I Am Only Too Happy To Help!)
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To: Enchante

The biggest chuck of debt is the $10-14 billion a year we pay for services to those in the country illegally.


30 posted on 11/29/2009 1:17:33 PM PST by votemout
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To: votemout

chunk also


31 posted on 11/29/2009 1:18:17 PM PST by votemout
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To: Oldexpat

ummmm... they ARE run by the public employees’ unions.....


32 posted on 11/29/2009 1:20:30 PM PST by Enchante (Obama to Jihad Terrorists: Come to NYC and Propagate Your Message - I Am Only Too Happy To Help!)
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To: Clintonfatigued; fieldmarshaldj

Next stop third world. It’s a tragedy for the state that sued to typify the American dream.


33 posted on 11/29/2009 1:27:14 PM PST by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN | NO "INDIVIDUAL MANDATE"!!!!!!!)
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To: Lou Budvis

William Westwood Lockyer (born in Oakland, California, May 8, 1941) is the current State Treasurer of California, elected in 2006. He has also served as California Attorney General and President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate. Having held elective office since 1973, Lockyer has arguably had more varied executive and legislative experience than any other current official of the State Government.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Lockyer

He’s just trying to cover his tracks.


34 posted on 11/29/2009 1:28:53 PM PST by Lurkina.n.Learnin (Waste and fraud are synonymous with gov't spending)
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To: Impy
"It’s a tragedy for the state that sued to typify the American dream."

Freudian slip ? ;-D

35 posted on 11/29/2009 1:29:13 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Total accident but uh it sure fits. :D


36 posted on 11/29/2009 1:32:12 PM PST by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN | NO "INDIVIDUAL MANDATE"!!!!!!!)
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To: Lancey Howard; I am Richard Brandon
"Yet "the voting public" keeps electing and re-electing the same scumbags."

And passing almost every bond issue, especially those marketed "for the chilllldren."
37 posted on 11/29/2009 4:48:55 PM PST by RightOnTheLeftCoast (Obama: running for re-election in '12 or running for Mahdi now? [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahdi])
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To: Clintonfatigued

California will get failed out by the federal government. Just watch. Wait until after the ‘10 elections.


38 posted on 11/29/2009 5:07:29 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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Comment #39 Removed by Moderator

To: SmithL
But our politicians keep telling us that bonds are free money.

They also tell us that debt is wealth.

War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.

40 posted on 11/29/2009 5:15:42 PM PST by Fresh Wind ("...a whip of political correctness strangles their voice"-Vaclav Klaus)
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