If NOT Liberalism, What Then??? (Sacramento: houses, unemployment rate, bankruptcy)

[Phil306]

When I grew up in the 60's, I heard all the agenda: We need this program, that program, more money for schools, after school programs, etc. This was all granted and then some. Then it was: Midnight Basketball, breakfast programs, etc. The money flowed; every entitlement program under the sun was given, for every group who wanted it: Domestic violence, Children of Adult Alcoholics, et al. Money, money, and more money.

Welfare benefits extended, healthcare for anyone and everyone, no matter where you come from. Free childcare, state run jobs by the millions, again et al.

WHERE has this gotten this state? Other then near bankruptcy? California is THE most left leaning and yes, like it or not, socialist state in the union. With what is happening in other socialist countries in the world: Greece, Spain, Cuba, and even the UK, why does this state continue to just tax its citizens and give away the house, with no fear, etc of reprisal? What is it, which makes the PEOPLE allow the politician's to do this?

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Phil306

What is it, which makes the PEOPLE allow the politician's to do this?

Ignorance and wanting to feel good, which is often closely aligned with wanting to feel superior.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by Phil306

When I grew up in the 60's, I heard all the agenda: We need this program, that program, more money for schools, after school programs, etc. This was all granted and then some. Then it was: Midnight Basketball, breakfast programs, etc. The money flowed; every entitlement program under the sun was given, for every group who wanted it: Domestic violence, Children of Adult Alcoholics, et al. Money, money, and more money.

Demographics were very different back then. The bulk of the population was a big bubble of kids: the Baby Boom. Their parents believed in investing in the future, and had modest material expectations. They lived in small houses and typically had one black-and-white TV and one family car. Read up on Johnson's "Great Society" vision and you'll see what those programs were about.
Those same kids today are tight-fisted retirees who are more worried about protecting their nest eggs and affording more trips and toys than they are in investing in the future of America. Parents with younger kids are a small minority of the voting block.

[MtnSurfer]

Our state has such a long history of tax and spend politics that to turn the tides now is very difficult indeed. The ideas of frugality, sacrifice and living within one's means vs. asking for more, more, more are difficult concepts for many to grasp or to even to contemplate. And expecting an endless supply of money from the Gov't and big business (via excessive taxation) to bankroll all the special agendas/programs is deeply engrained into the minds of many. So that worldview will be the hardest to change if it is even possible.

Everyone seems to love special social programs. But where the money actually comes from seems to be of lesser concern, even when we cannot balance our own State budget.

So in answer to your question, let's balance our budget first, stimilate business growth, then revisit special programs starting from the top down and trim the pork. We desparately need a sanity check to this out of control spending spree and growing deficit. Finally a reorg of the career politicians in Sacramento is essential. The same 'Old Way' of doing things just won't cut it anymore. More than ever sigificant changes are needed throughout our state's Gov't.

Derek

[paladinking]

If NOT Liberalism ，US will not US

[majoun]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

So in answer to your question, let's balance our budget first, stimilate business growth, then revisit special programs starting from the top down and trim the pork. We desparately need a sanity check to this out of control spending spree and growing deficit. Finally a reorg of the career politicians in Sacramento is essential. The same 'Old Way' of doing things just won't cut it anymore. More than ever sigificant changes are needed throughout our state's Gov't.

Derek

Good suggestions, but we'll need a new state constitution to get the state going in a positive direction again.

[BluSpark]

Originally Posted by Phil306

WHERE has this gotten this state? Other then near bankruptcy? California is THE most left leaning and yes, like it or not, socialist state in the union. With what is happening in other socialist countries in the world: Greece, Spain, Cuba, and even the UK, why does this state continue to just tax its citizens and give away the house, with no fear, etc of reprisal? What is it, which makes the PEOPLE allow the politician's to do this?

Let's leave aside the definition of what is or is not socialism.

That is a VERY selective list of countries you've got. Let's see the USA is the most capitalist developed nation in the world and our unemployment rate is about 9.5%. The socialist state of California is above 12.0%.

Look at these "socialist" nations all with very good standards of living and LOWER unemployment rates than the US or California:

Norway 3.3%
Austraila 5.1%
Demnark 6.9%
Canada 7.9%
Germany 6.9%
Sweden 8.5%

List of countries by unemployment rate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[majoun]

Originally Posted by BluSpark

Let's leave aside the definition of what is or is not socialism.

That is a VERY selective list of countries you've got. Let's see the USA is the most capitalist developed nation in the world and our unemployment rate is about 9.5%. The socialist state of California is above 12.0%.

Look at these "socialist" nations all with very good standards of living and LOWER unemployment rates than the US or California:

Norway 3.3%
Austraila 5.1%
Demnark 6.9%
Canada 7.9%
Germany 6.9%
Sweden 8.5%

List of countries by unemployment rate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Canada and Australia are more free market than the US. The other countries you listed are socialist, however.

As for Canada, the conservatives in power THERE practice fiscal conservatism, and Canada ran only a modest deficit in 2009 after years of surpluses, something the US has not had in over a decade. Canada's banking system is very strong, Canada avoided bailing out its financial sector, and Canada only got involved in the auto bailouts on the request of the US.Fiscal conservatism is almost dead in America.

[ambient]

Originally Posted by paladinking

If NOT Liberalism ，US will not US

profound.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by Phil306

When I grew up in the 60's, I heard all the agenda: We need this program, that program, more money for schools, after school programs, etc. This was all granted and then some. Then it was: Midnight Basketball, breakfast programs, etc. The money flowed; every entitlement program under the sun was given, for every group who wanted it: Domestic violence, Children of Adult Alcoholics, et al. Money, money, and more money.

Welfare benefits extended, healthcare for anyone and everyone, no matter where you come from. Free childcare, state run jobs by the millions, again et al.

WHERE has this gotten this state? Other then near bankruptcy? California is THE most left leaning and yes, like it or not, socialist state in the union. With what is happening in other socialist countries in the world: Greece, Spain, Cuba, and even the UK, why does this state continue to just tax its citizens and give away the house, with no fear, etc of reprisal? What is it, which makes the PEOPLE allow the politician's to do this?

People vote for them! They think that's the right path to follow. All you can do is support the other side and try to explain logic to those who still have an open mind.