[Diana in Wisconsin]

Pretty much the same in all of our states. Do the math; as usual, BIG GOVERNEMNT is unsustainable by any measure.

[hal ogen]

Unfortunately, there are many of these drones in society...everywhere. Most are smug, yet clueless. Parasites.

[Vigilanteman]

My parents worked for the State of North Dakota, 1964-1986 in Dad's case and 1967-1986 in Mom's case. Pay was modest. In fact, they made less doing at the state university level that NEA union members made at the local high school level. The locality was considerably more liberal than the state as a whole.

It was and, I believe, still is an exceptionally well managed state fiscally. It had to be because the populace was well engaged and wouldn't put up with it otherwise. When I was a pup there, the governor still answered his own phone and I met every one of them without going out of my way to do so.

Of course, I realize that few states are like that, but it is possible.