The Elephant in the Room: Are we being too fiscally conservative? (school, deed)

[Snort]

Originally Posted by jade408

I don't think we have any liberal policies anymore. Since state leaders aren't really willing to compromise or some to any agreements, we are just cutting all of the statewide programs: education, health, infrastructure.

The Republicans are saying: we need to cut the budget and cut taxes on our friends the rich people. But regular middle class workers -- they need to pay more, especially on their declining residences.

Tax loopholes benefit left-wing and right-wing "rich people" alike. Now, what would be truly fair: a flat tax.
Everyone pays the same rate.
No loopholes.
This also makes it easier for businesses to budget and project into the future their plans.

[mayorhaggar]

Keep this in mind: just as blue states like California pay millions more in federal taxes than we receive to pay for useless pork in Alabama or Arkansas, the wealthy, productive, prosperous blue counties in CA pay millions in welfare money to rural, unproductive red counties. But it's much easier and more politically convenient to blame minorities, union members and the immigrants that so many conservatives lure here with lawn and restaurant and construction jobs. Republicans want to use the budget crises they created with low taxes to attack the political groups that threaten them.

State's most conservative county uses much cash

Sprawling across the northeastern corner of California, this huge, thickly forested county with more cows than people epitomizes the Western frontier - and what seems to be a two-faced political ideology.

Modoc has the highest Republican registration of any county in California, it unfailingly elects anti-tax Republicans to office, and the vote here against last month's ballot measure that would have raised a variety of taxes was one of the most lopsided in the state. And yet, per capita, Modoc County gets more state taxpayer dollars than all but one of California's 58 counties.

[Snort]

Sprawling across the northeastern corner of California, this huge, thickly forested county with more cows than people epitomizes the Western frontier - and what seems to be a two-faced political ideology.
Modoc has the highest Republican registration of any county in California, it unfailingly elects anti-tax Republicans to office, and the vote here against last month's ballot measure that would have raised a variety of taxes was one of the most lopsided in the state. And yet, per capita, Modoc County gets more state taxpayer dollars than all but one of California's 58 counties.

"Per capita". Important words that should not be overlooked.
This article is meaningless. Let's see totals by county and where the money is actually being spent (or pocketed in many cases).

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

But that's how liberals see it.

Democrat majority: "Tax the crap out of everything that moves and spend like there's no tomorrow!"
Republican minority: "How about we tax less and only spend what we collect?"
Democrat majority: "Republicans are ruining the state!"

How about we lower our defense spending and the overhaul the pension system and use the combined proceeds to balance the budget, fund education, healthcare and infrastructure?

[jade408]

Originally Posted by Snort

Tax loopholes benefit left-wing and right-wing "rich people" alike. Now, what would be truly fair: a flat tax.
Everyone pays the same rate.
No loopholes.
This also makes it easier for businesses to budget and project into the future their plans.

I believe in progressive taxes: for rich Republicans and Democrats. There is a point where you won't notice the money is missing. Does anyone making over $100M a year really notice the difference between 33% and 38%? Didn't think so.

(I don't think the higher rates on progressive taxes should start until $1M in annual income. We can leave the rates lower until then, sparing about 95% of Americans (and Californians) higher taxes.

[Mountainsofmisery]

If Bill Gates and others like him truly believe they are taxed too low there is nothing preventing them from cutting a check to the state, correct? I'm sure Jerry will accept it too. Why don't you do the same since you are advocating the rise in tax rates.

[mayorhaggar]

Originally Posted by roadwarrior101

How about we lower our defense spending and the overhaul the pension system and use the combined proceeds to balance the budget, fund education, healthcare and infrastructure?

And overhaul the prison system which is out of control in CA...it's ridiculous how much we spend on prisons to jail people for dealing weed while raising UC tuition so much.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Legalize weed and tax it.

[yeahthatguy]

Elephant in room is the collective sum of the citizens in California.
Too conservative .. To liberal .. wtf do those words mean?
IMO the super set is (To stupid and selfish) ... Among liberals/conservatives, this is the common group that is leading to California's ruin and America's ruin. Too many morons yapping their gums and the intelligent people being drowned out ... Too many false leaders riding on propaganda and too many sheep eating it up...

Every self-serving fiefdom, every self-serving cartel and every self-serving constituency (a.k.a. special interest) claims that its pathetically obvious self-serving lobbying "serves the national interest."

That is the problem ... The moronic confirmation bias that only stupidity exists in the political party that I am not a part of .. So yeah.. there is an elephant in the room... A large collective massive body of morons who don't see they are tied to and bound at the hip to other morons like themselves ...

Someone speaks with sense and the collective group of morons yell and crowd them out ...
Govt. is an extension of the people it represents..

Too conservative.. Too liberal.. democrats/republicans .. These are the labels/divisions that are created by those screwing over America the hardest in order to divide and conquer.. and by all means, like lemmings and minions, the vast majority of Americans are accelerating this concept...

All one needs to do for a great example is take a look at the debt debacle we are currently suffering through a la government...

If you for a minute believe either side (democrat/republican) is more in the right, then you are a part of the problem.. You are a part of the large mass that forms the elephant in the room.

Both sides are acting like illogical idiots .. No leadership.. No vision.. and neither is pursuing what's right for this country... the problem is that such f*** tards keep getting elected by equal f*** tards in this country... So, if you want to start looking for an elephant in the room.. In my opinion, start by looking in the mirror...

republican/democrat/conservative/liberal/white/purple/yellow/orange ..
It doesn't matter .. a selfish idiot is a selfish idiot and is not mutually exclusive to any of these groups.

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Waiting...just waiting for the Texas cheerleaders to chime in.

Go Long Horns!!! LOL