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Right Back Where I Started From

In the early parts of this decade, a bubble brewing in California burst, tanking the economy. Pundits, grocery store workers, and conservatives called for the Legislature to have the power to save up reserves during boom times to use during bust times. After the second California bubble burst, the Legislature finally offered a ballot measure to give itself that power. The voters yesterday rejected it. Welcome to California.

This is the land where voters have consistently proven themselves incapable of governing by proposition and refuse to allow the professionals to do the governing. Californians believe in the following:

-- More freeways to ease congestion.
-- But not in my backyard (see, South Pas and the 710).
-- More mass transit.
-- But must come with 500,000 space parking lots or else how will people get to the subway? Take a bus?
-- Clean air.
-- But lower registration fees for pollutants like SUVs.
-- No new taxes.
-- More teachers.
-- No new taxes.
-- More cops.
-- No new taxes.
-- Three strikes.
-- No new taxes.
-- No lines at the DMV.

Dear Califonians, I love this state. I think it is the best state and can't imagine why anyone would want to leave after they move here.* Don't you think it's time we stepped out of the way and allowed the Legislature to actually govern? Our ballot measures have tied up the vast majority of the budget in mandatory spending. The only discretionary part left is education. If Sacramento doubles classroom sizes and fires a bunch of teachers, we will only fuel this death-spiral of ignorance.

[Edit: I meant to add the following: "* I say this intentionally to piss off the out-of-staters because it is one of the first themes you get bombarded with when in California."

As long as we're adding thoughts, I almost feel like the state needs a benevolent dictator to guide us through these turbulent times. I really can't think of any historical figure to fit the bill though. The closest one is Octavian/Augustus. Maybe like a Solon to finally undo everything and be our "law giver?" Hmmph.]

Full post as published by Nuts & Boalts on May 20, 2009 (boomark / email).