16 Reasons why California is the next Greece (Bell, Montclair: home, living)

[seain dublin]

Well as California goes, so goes the nation.

[WeakandDizzy]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

Well as California goes, so goes the nation.

Not necessarily, been to Texas or the D.C. metro lately?

[Dub D]

Originally Posted by Boompa

Nonsense

California would still be in the G-7 if it were a country

Bingo. This is all that is needed to make that article null in void. Its like saying, Kansas City, Kansas is like the new LA except it has 1/15 as many people!

What?

Originally Posted by Snort

If this means better access to baklava, I'm all for it.

Baklava is Turkish not Greek. Congrats on being misinformed.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by WeakandDizzy

Not necessarily, been to Texas or the D.C. metro lately?

speaking of DC...I love when people try to brag about DCs great economy AS IF its of their own doing..um, NO. Its not.

George W Bush and Barack Obama are the 2 best things that ever happened to the DC regional economy.

Those salary increases for federal employees have really added up, according to a new USA Today analysis, which found that “the number of federal workers earning $150,000 or more a year has soared tenfold in the past five years” — rising from 7,420 in 2005 to 82,034 in 2010 — “and doubled since President Obama took office.” The percentage of the federal workforce earning over $150,000 increased from 0.4 percent to 3.9 percent during that same timeframe. “Since 2000,” says the paper, “federal pay and benefits have increased 3% annually above inflation compared with 0.8% for private workers, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.”

Among the key findings of the analysis is that “top-paid staff have increased in every department and agency.” The report mentions specifically that “the Defense Department had nine civilians earning $170,000 or more in 2005, 214 when Obama took office and 994 in June” — a pattern that hardly comports with neoconservatives’ portrayals of Obama as a defense-budget slasher.

Federal Salaries Rise Fast Under Bush, Even Faster Under Obama (http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/economy/sectors-mainmenu-46/5164-federal-salaries-rise-fast-under-bush-even-faster-under-obama - broken link)

Federal workers earning $150,000 or more make up 3.9 percent of the government workforce, up from 0.4 percent in 2005, according to analysis of Office of Personnel Management data by USA Today. The percentages represent a tenfold increase in the past five years and have doubled since President Obama took office.

Number of Highly Paid Federal Workers Jumps Tenfold Since 2005

Sorry DC, but the federal gravy train that made you rich is soon going to come to a complete halt.

The chairman of the federal deficit commission, meanwhile, added more fuel to the fire Wednesday, suggesting a three-year freeze on federal salaries and a 10 percent cut in the number of federal workers.

GOP Targets Federal Workers' Salaries : NPR

[jeffredo]

Originally Posted by WeakandDizzy

Not necessarily, been to Texas or the D.C. metro lately?

DC's economy is insulated with a big, federal blanket and Texas has had pretty severe economic busts in recent memory. Everything cycles.

[Snort]

Originally Posted by Dub D

Bingo. This is all that is needed to make that article null in void. Its like saying, Kansas City, Kansas is like the new LA except it has 1/15 as many people!

What?



Baklava is Turkish not Greek. Congrats on being misinformed.

OK, so you're going to tell me that Greeks also don't make baklava?
Congratulations to you for being a pedant.

[Pretzelogik]

Originally Posted by Boompa

Nonsense

California would still be in the G-7 if it were a country

Its financial name would be Greece.

[.highnlite]

Greece is a great place, California should be more like it, Great hiking, the Yachting is world class. Lots of stuff to visit. Great historical stuff, water front tavernas, Kalimaki Nice people, warm water for swimming, young drunk British girls, whats not to like?

Like California, it has economic problems, but so what? The beer in both places is still cold, The economic problems are macro, your life is micro, you get up, you do what you do, just like millions of Greeks.

[proudmommy]

Originally Posted by .highnlite

Greece is a great place, California should be more like it, Great hiking, the Yachting is world class. Lots of stuff to visit. Great historical stuff, water front tavernas, Kalimaki Nice people, warm water for swimming, young drunk British girls, whats not to like?

Like California, it has economic problems, but so what? The beer in both places is still cold, The economic problems are macro, your life is micro, you get up, you do what you do, just like millions of Greeks.

Ya, but does Greece have Taco Bell?

[WeakandDizzy]

[quote=18Montclair;16680179]speaking of DC...I love when people try to brag about DCs great economy AS IF its of their own doing..um, NO. Its not.



I never said it was their own doing. Everyone knows it is taxpayer money that is driving that place. As a taxpayer I can't say I am for it. However the place is booming. New houses, high rise buildings everywhere. I was just there a few weeks ago. Whether you like it or not they have the printing presses. To be honest most of the people I know on the east coast ( Boston, NY, D.C., N.C., Fla.) could give a " rat's @ss " what is going on in California. No one wishes California badly, they just don't see how it can impact their lives. Now I know California is at least 10% of the economy but anybody east of the Sierra's just does not figure that it is their problem.