California's state budget is thirty one days late now, which is nothing new. What is new is that the slow economy (California's is probably much slower than your state's) has reduced revenue more than usual. Budget analysts estimate that the state will run out of cash altogether within two months at the latest. So Arnold is set to sign an executive order that will lay off all part time state workers, and reduce the wages of full timers to the federal minimum wage. The state treasurer says Arnold can legally do that, though it's a bad idea. The state controller who signs the paychecks says he will take the Jackson route ("Arnold has made his ruling, now let him enforce it.") Arnold says he is doing this to conserve money, although state pundits think he's doing it as a way to increase pressure on lawmakers to pass a budget. As a practical matter, all he's done is make everyone angry with him.

California is proof that democracy simply doesn't work. California voters want the State to provide them with nice schools, good roads, abundant water, a lot of police and fire protection, etc., but they don't want to pay for any of it. Democrats would be more than happy to tax the wealthy and businesses into oblivion to pay for it all, since the largest and most reliable Democratic constituency in this state happens to be government employees. Budgets must be passed by a two thirds majority in the Assembly and Senate, which gives the Republican minority veto power over any proposed budget. Republicans refuse to allow any tax increases, and Democrats refuse to allow anything other than symbolic spending cuts (i.e. slight reductions in the rate of growth).

California voters are just as much to blame. They've voted enough goodies for themselves from the public trough, and locked enough of that spending into the state constitution via the ballot initiative process, that deficits are almost a permanent feature of the California budget. I'll wager five worthless American dollars that the state of California will declare bankruptcy within my lifetime. California Democrats are as fiscally irresponsible as... well, as the Republican Party under George W. Bush. Living in California for any length of time is a good cure for anyone who is foolish enough to place their trust in princes. Hell, I'd say it's a good cure for fanaticism about the efficacy of democracy.

A lot of people think I'm a medieval, theocratic reactionary with monarchist sympathies; those people are right. I don't see any way in which monarchy could arise in America with justice though. As it is, I'm all in favor of literacy tests, poll taxes, a return to indirect election of Senators, raising the minimum age for voting, and other restrictions on the franchise. I guess that would make me a small "r" Republican.

Tags: california, politics

(2 comments | Leave a comment)

Customize

Top of Page

Darth Beckman

Advertisement