California Budget : Same tune .. Different year (wealthiest, friendly, health)

[unseengundam]

Wow, the endless arguments seen in this thread shows exactly why California can't get proper budget together! The state government, I bet is also too busy fighting about what is the "right thing to do". Might be a long, long time before they figure out the solutions to that question and the budget issue!

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by TrapperJohn

A smart tax! Since you liberal-types are sure you are smarter than all us conservatives put your money where your mouth is.

[vairox]

Originally Posted by yeahthatguy

and other such spending.. Like you know.. prisons and such.. Have to keep it 'humane' and all... Prisoners need quality dental/healthcare...
[url=http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/laomenus/sections/crim_justice/6_cj_inmatecost.aspx?catid=3]California Criminal Justice FAQ: How much does it cost to incarcerate an inmate?[/url]
Total
$47,102 per prisoner annually ..

CALIFORNIA SPENDS SIX TIMES MORE ON PRISON INMATES THAN ON COLLEGE STUDENTS ...

Also don't forget huge wages and pensions for public workers. More important than the kids...
Don't forget tax increase in November everyone !!! Do it for the kids or Jerry brown is going to hurt em'.

That's mostly due to the Federal receiver and inmate healthcare, to which we spend roughly $2 BILLION dollars on annually. Why? because the public doesn't care and the hug-a-thug's in Sacramento and the ultra liberal judges deem anything not consistent with living outside a prison to be cruel and unusual. Texas spends around $15,000 a year per inmate, California spends that PER inmate on healthcare alone. I'm not really sure what HUGE wages are when the government takes 35% of it in taxes and the other 12% to pension and another 6% to medical. California actually spends a lion's share of the budget on EDUCATION...

Pensions 7%
Education 26%

[url=http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/year_spending_2012CAbc_13bc1n#usgs302]Government Spending Details: California State Local for 2012 - Charts[/url]

[steel7]

The high speed rail project will give union workers work. Non union workers like me would never be hired.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by TrapperJohn

A smart tax! Since you liberal-types are sure you are smarter than all us conservatives put your money where your mouth is.

In a sense yes, a "smart tax". Since intelligence is primarily rooted in things beyond your control (genes, family origin, etc) does it make sense to structure our economy to allow huge windfalls to those with greater intelligence?

[TrapperJohn]

Originally Posted by user_id

In a sense yes, a "smart tax". Since intelligence is primarily rooted in things beyond your control (genes, family origin, etc) does it make sense to structure our economy to allow huge windfalls to those with greater intelligence?

Yes.

[TNEC_Dad]

Originally Posted by user_id

Sure thing, but tell me....how many sides does a square circle have?


Yep people are equal in their "basic rights". But I'm not talking about "basic rights", people's wealth in society isn't determined by their "basic rights" instead by their intelligence, their talent, their family origin, their access to opportunities, etc.... And people are not equal under those terms.....therefore taxing them as if they are makes little sense.

You are so entangled and it appears to be getting worse.

People are not equal when it comes to height. Should we we be taxed on height? Obviously, that is absurd as well.

Your focus clearly shows you want to punish those with wealth and reward those with less. To justify your position you must vilify those with wealth. This is too much of an emotional issue for you and that is clouding your judgement.

A flat tax is the best answer for equality in taxation. I agree it does not meet your need to vilify and punish those with more wealth.

Again, I don't expect you to agree and that is okay.

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by TNEC_Dad

You are so entangled and it appears to be getting worse.

People are not equal when it comes to height. Should we we be taxed on height? Obviously, that is absurd as well.

Your focus clearly shows you want to punish those with wealth and reward those with less. To justify your position you must vilify those with wealth. This is too much of an emotional issue for you and that is clouding your judgement.

A flat tax is the best answer for equality in taxation. I agree it does not meet your need to vilify and punish those with more wealth.

Again, I don't expect you to agree and that is okay.

But peoples' heights don't affect their access to wealth and opportunity ... "intelligence, talent, family origin", and certain other innately bestowed qualities do. So your comparison is pointless.

Also curious that you apparently consider taxation a form of punishment -- and conversely, low taxation a form of reward. This odd attitude as opposed to taxes being a grateful consideration for the degree of success resulting from one's opportunity realized -- contributed willingly to support the infrastructure of the society that fed the successful opportunity.

[bradleyyo]

The liberal paradigm is what makes California the envy of the country. Outside of a worldwide economic collapse, California's only real problem has been the obstructionists who think California should look like North Carolina or Alabama.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by bradleyyo

California's only real problem has been the obstructionists who think California should look like North Carolina or Alabama.

I doubt that. Most just think it should look real and realistic.