California's Demise Greatly Exaggerated (?) -- editorial --

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by RCCCB

Optimism regarding the state is greatly exaggerated. Just today Jerry Brown spoke of going after prop 13 to raise the hell out of your taxes.

Nobody lived and learned regarding the first two times we had this clown as Governor.

Speaking as one who worked with the counties for many years, Prop. 13 decimated their funding streams which the state was supposed to make up for under realignment provisions and look how well that's gone. It led directly to Prop. 98 for education which further tied the Governor's and Legislature's hand when it came to making the State General Fund whole and as is their wont, the school administrators have grabbed off most of the funding while class sizes have increased and teachers have been laid off.

The proposition process has been primarily responsible for the almost bankrupting of the state because the sheeple keep voting for unfunded mandates. Major constitutional amendments will be required to right the wrongs but neither the sheeple nor the politicos have the intestinal fortitude to make the difficult choices and hard changes.

And, yes, this is from a former "insider's" point of view! It's also one I've held for years, and my wife as well -- another former insider. Unfortunately, we know all too well where the skeletons are buried!

Go, Jerry! Right now you're California's best hope for a cure.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Speaking as one who worked with the counties for many years, Prop. 13 decimated their funding streams which the state was supposed to make up for under realignment provisions and look how well that's gone. It led directly to Prop. 98 for education which further tied the Governor's and Legislature's hand when it came to making the State General Fund whole and as is their wont, the school administrators have grabbed off most of the funding while class sizes have increased and teachers have been laid off.

The proposition process has been primarily responsible for the almost bankrupting of the state because the sheeple keep voting for unfunded mandates. Major constitutional amendments will be required to right the wrongs but neither the sheeple nor the politicos have the intestinal fortitude to make the difficult choices and hard changes.

And, yes, this is from a former "insider's" point of view! It's also one I've held for years, and my wife as well -- another former insider. Unfortunately, we know all too well where the skeletons are buried!

Go, Jerry! Right now you're California's best hope for a cure.

Curmudgeon... aren't you just a little bit concerned how meddling with the Constitution will impact the government pensions paid out by the State?

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Curmudgeon... aren't you just a little bit concerned how meddling with the Constitution will impact the government pensions paid out by the State?

Hey! Isn't it past your bedtime?

A bit but not overly. I think Prop. 13 will pretty much stand since it would take a super majority in the Legislature to put any change provisions on the ballot and then a majority vote by the populace to enact them.

What I hope will occur is that but for prisons, the state gets out of the business of direct service and programs and puts the responsibility AND THE MONEY back in the county's hands. The state should retain regulatory authority and maintain the CHP and National Guard but that's about it.

People will scream and howl and moan that a massive realignment of funding and responsibility will lead to disparate services throughout the state. I say that would be between them and their boards of supervisors.

The state cannot do it all. It's tried. It's failed!

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Hey! Isn't it past your bedtime?

A bit but not overly. I think Prop. 13 will pretty much stand since it would take a super majority in the Legislature to put any change provisions on the ballot and then a majority vote by the populace to enact them.

What I hope will occur is that but for prisons, the state gets out of the business of direct service and programs and puts the responsibility AND THE MONEY back in the county's hands. The state should retain regulatory authority and maintain the CHP and National Guard but that's about it.

People will scream and howl and moan that a massive realignment of funding and responsibility will lead to disparate services throughout the state. I say that would be between them and their boards of supervisors.

The state cannot do it all. It's tried. It's failed!

OK... you have my vote.

In another thread I asked if you will return for the Constitutional Convention

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

OK... you have my vote.

In another thread I asked if you will return for the Constitutional Convention

I answered it. Not a chance. We're home!