State of California is broke

That's ok. I can't fit in their clothes anyway. Too much subsidized high fructose corn syrup.

This particular banana republic is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Dakine politics crazy out here, brah!

 

It's your choice to live there. There are several states I wouldn't live in.

 

yes of course. because the BILLIONS of dollars an un-prop 13-ed state would bring in wouldn't cover the bill for some corrupt politico's 100K tab. because that's equivalent to the entire discussion anyway.

and let me make sure i'm clear on this: those who have used the capitalist system to maximize their benefits are now being demonized by those who failed to use the capitalist system to maximize their own benefits. in other words, if i do it, it's great and screw the rest of you. but because i failed to exploit the capitalist system as well as others, those who performed better than me -- those who were better capitalists than i -- should now be punished because i am a failure.

did i get that right?

 

As much as Californians love complaining about the absolute morass in Sacramento, no one loves hating on California more than people who don't live in California. If it's so terrible, why do so many residents of so many states (not New York, of course, they'd never deign to do so) spend so much time crapping on California?

I think it's because we all know it was once the most incredible place in America in which to live. That time has passed, not due to any fault in our geography, but due to governance issues.

I will say this for Jerry Brown -- no matter your view on his politics, dude does not give a ---- what anyone thinks and is trying to get things done. I think a lot of people can respect that regardless of my politics.

 

I have no clue what you are saying.

 

btw, San Diego and San Jose (the two cities who passed pension reform) have payments of 20% and 27%, respectively of their annual operating budget to fund retiree costs.

27% of your annual city budget to pay pensions.

 

It's pretty frightening... The measures passing on Tuesday were a (small) step in the right direction. Hopefully the union gets slammed in court.

 

How many of those in favor of crushing public-sector unions also want government to end the wasteful practice of requiring various public entities to pist public notices in newspapers?

 

How many of those who root against LeBron also want Denmark to win Euro 2012?

 

Pretty sure Berger's talking about how the poor 1 Percent doesn't deserve to be ripped on because it's a punishment that they may have to pay a few extra percentage points in taxes to support the wages of the people who keep the civil society that enables the same 1 Percenters to profit so handsomely going.

 

No, Berger's saying he has no fucking idea what is happening in California, and you are compounding the cluelessness by referring to all of the state's homeowners as "1 per centers."

Unions are not always right, guys.

 

Pretty much.

But geography will have its say, and it will make governance issues look like a minor nuisance when tens of thousands are missing in the rubble.