[Lancey Howard]

The biggest chunks of debt, however, are the unfunded obligations for pensions and health care of retired public employees.

Yep. The scumbag politicians, with all their patronage pork and circle-jerking, have raped the place dry.
Congratulations, California.

[I am Richard Brandon]

"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.