Stop Sales Tax Increase (Los Angeles, San Diego: neighborhood, to buy, public school)

[katenik]

Originally Posted by Joe_Ryder

Just once I'd like to see a politician, any politician, any where, that would address the issue of government waste instead of simply grabbing more. Of course I remember when the Governator first took office, he tried to make the schools and several other government entities actually account for where the money was going. It seemed perfectly reasonable to me but he caught hell for it. I tend to think that when someone running a public program puts up such a fuss when asked to tell where the money goes that perhaps they protest too much and have something to hide. Maybe Arnie just gave up and fell in line with the same old song and dance of continually throwing even more money at failed projects. I wouldn't have an issue with increased registration taxes as long as it only applies to vehicles purchased AFTER the date of the tax. Maybe it'll discourage people from buying over priced look-at-me SUVs they probably can't afford anyway.

If the public agencies were run by business people instead of bureaucrats, costs would drop and quality would rise but that makes too much sense. The bureaucrats would never go for it. I find it amazing the state can always find huge chunks of cash to commission some self proclaimed artist to construct a monolithic eyesore who's sole function is to sit there and collect pigeon crap yet they're always grubbing around in my pocket looking for any change I might have left at the end of the day.

Up here where I live, that'll put my sales tax just under 10% Yippee! We've got sales tax, income tax, property tax, personal property tax...the list goes on. Prepared food is even taxed! What are they doing with all that money?

you're right. he tried to introduce some accountability and restraint into state government during his first year in office, and the people wouldn't back him. then he tried to compromise with the democrat majority in the legislature, whose idea of compromise is giving them everything they want. eventually, he began to cave, and now he doesn't even bother to wait for the legislature to come up with the the tax-and-spend proposals; he puts them out there himself. his gubernatorial tenure has been a real disappointment for those of us who voted for him because we believed that he would reign in the spending and, if not cut, at least not increase an already burdensome tax structure.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by skreem2

Mixed feelings here - I use public transportation regularly and want to see it expand. I am also a teacher in LA Unified and know FIRST HAND just how much money is wasted by LA Unified. Yes, I would give a finger or toe in exchange for an outside team of auditors to come in and seriously examine the school district budget.

you already got your increase for public transportation, but it will be interesting to see how the money actually gets spent. around here, they are famous for collecting taxes for one purpose and spending it on another.

[elousv]

Originally Posted by katenik

we believed that he would reign in the spending and, if not cut, at least not increase an already burdensome tax structure.

We had a DREAM!

[harhar]

How bout a recall Grey Davis style...

[Chinolala]

Your government leaders must be talking with the Chicago politicians. We now have the highest sales tax in the nation...over 10% and as high as 12% in downtown Chicago.

[mommabear2]

I recall a couple of years ago when Arnold tried some ballot initiatives that put restrains on spending - I believe there were 5 or 6 initiatives and every one of them failed (I recall the unions were out in full force rallying against them). Being that Arnold is a repub. against a Democrat ruled congress, it's hard for him to get his proposals passed unless he takes it to the people... who vote against him anyway. In order to support all the social, transportation, and just spending in general, the money has to come from somewhere. CA has been in a budget deficit for 10 years. If anyone is going to support the type of spending increases that California proposes (as the latest election has displayed with the passing of very expensive bond measures) then don't be surprised if the burden of the expense gets passed on to us in the form of taxes. That's the way it is. If you want lower taxes then rally against the spending (in theory, it might work).

[happ]

Originally Posted by katenik

you're right. he tried to introduce some accountability and restraint into state government during his first year in office, and the people wouldn't back him. then he tried to compromise with the democrat majority in the legislature, whose idea of compromise is giving them everything they want. eventually, he began to cave, and now he doesn't even bother to wait for the legislature to come up with the the tax-and-spend proposals; he puts them out there himself. his gubernatorial tenure has been a real disappointment for those of us who voted for him because we believed that he would reign in the spending and, if not cut, at least not increase an already burdensome tax structure.

I think it is unfair to blame Schwarzenegger or the Democrats in the Assembly. It is not the fault of anyone that California, like the rest of the nation, is entering a very serious recession. In-fact, some economists like Greenspan say the U.S. hasn't been hit by the coming "tsunami" yet but things are going to get much worse soon!

The tax base is shrunk since the housing crisis hit & that was a huge source for state revenue. The economy is very bad & getting worse w/ people being laid-off in alarming numbers.

The state assembly/senate were 3 months late to come up with a budget that was really quite lame & now the governor wants solutions. All Republican governors in California [and there have been many] raised taxes where necessary. The trouble with the average Republican in California is that they hate the very people they vote for yet don't offer one idea on how to deal with serious issues of cost. Republicans prefer to spend their time coming up with some super-religious idiocy instead of dealing with the real problems of infra-structure [like more highways\ repair levies in Sacramento Delta\ build more reservoirs since we always seem to be in a drought.

Please quit griping & come up with some solutions for a change!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by happ

I think it is unfair to blame Schwarzenegger or the Democrats in the Assembly. It is not the fault of anyone that California, like the rest of the nation, is entering a very serious recession.

So who's fault was it when the state was swimming in revenue but still spending more than it took in? This isn't something that just happened in the last few months. The state has a chronic overspending problem and now that revenues look like they'll actually be going down this year instead of up (like they have been for many year) the state's in a panic and screwing the only people left to screw: the taxpayer. The idiots that vote for every bond measure that comes along area big part of the problem too. They act like its free money or something.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by happ

I think it is unfair to blame Schwarzenegger or the Democrats in the Assembly. It is not the fault of anyone that California, like the rest of the nation, is entering a very serious recession. In-fact, some economists like Greenspan say the U.S. hasn't been hit by the coming "tsunami" yet but things are going to get much worse soon!

The tax base is shrunk since the housing crisis hit & that was a huge source for state revenue. The economy is very bad & getting worse w/ people being laid-off in alarming numbers.

The state assembly/senate were 3 months late to come up with a budget that was really quite lame & now the governor wants solutions. All Republican governors in California [and there have been many] raised taxes where necessary. The trouble with the average Republican in California is that they hate the very people they vote for yet don't offer one idea on how to deal with serious issues of cost. Republicans prefer to spend their time coming up with some super-religious idiocy instead of dealing with the real problems of infra-structure [like more highways\ repair levies in Sacramento Delta\ build more reservoirs since we always seem to be in a drought.

Please quit griping & come up with some solutions for a change!

your one note has gone sour. i'm bored with you.

[happ]

Originally Posted by katenik

your one note has gone sour. i'm bored with you.

That breaks my heart not