Listen up, California. The other 48 states—your cousin New York excluded—are sick of your bratty arrogance. You're the Lindsay Lohan of states: a prima donna who once showed some talent but is now too wasted to do anything with it.That was Ms Allysia Finley, writing in The Wall Street Journal. Reading it was like having someone trash talk about an old girlfriend, one for whom you still had a warm spot, even if the relationship was long over.
Worse, it is soooo true. And, I don't think Governor Elect Jerry Brown is going to be able to pull off a miracle, unless it is on my dime and your dime. Is California one of those institutions that is too big to (let) fail?
Part of the problem in California is that they lost the vision that built great freeways and great water projects and wonderful educational institutions. Another part of the problem is that they stopped taxing themselves but kept on spending—and that spending included huge balloon payments that are now coming due.♥
A hat tip to Law Professor Ann Althouse for this.
Regards — Cliff
♠ "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgment come." (Rev 19:10)
♥ If you are a Mass resident, don't get smug, because we are doing the same thing. I am looking forward to seeing how Beacon Hill will handle this in the upcoming session of the General Court.
I read thoroughly and did not see the solution she was proposing. Was it Meg Whitman? Was that the last chance? Was it Carly rather than Boxer that would be the savior?
ReplyDeleteAs someone said, only Nixon can go to China, and perhaps only Gov. Moonbeam can reform California's entitlements. Failing that, California's only hope is that the Senate will take a "there but for the grace of God goes my state" stance and drag the House along for a change in the bankruptcy laws.
ReplyDeleteI would expect the votes to come at a very steep price, including requirements that union contracts be gutted and that entitlements be eliminated.
If California and/or New York are bailed out bank style, I would expect the Tea Party to take 32 seats in the Senate (Feinstein would probably keep hers), 435 seats in the House (less CA's reps), and the White House too in 2012. There might even be a Constitution Convention to discuss repealing the 11th amendment and other changes.
I don't care if California is the fith largest economy in the world, there is no stomach for bailing it out. Besides, if it fails, it is not like the residents will immediately loose their jobs and the companies will shutter. Some of both will move away for sure. More likely, the state would default on its debt, and not being able to get any more credit, would start firing people and cutting services.
Buy ammo.
If in 2012 we go further red, I can only imagine that in 2014 we turn right back around and go even further blue.
ReplyDeleteFor Lance, I don't think she has a solution. It is just like we don't have a solution for Lindsay Lohan and her problems. Sometimes all you can do is just stand there and wonder. Tonight my oldest pulled into Subway on the way home and someone was backing out and hit a Police Cruiser, and kept on going. Hit and run on a police vehicle.
ReplyDeleteIt is like Charlie Sheen. If someone had a solution, don't you think they would have implemented it by now?
For Renee, you may well be correct. While I think the prospective House Speaker, John Boehner, understands that the voters were mad at everyone, I am not sure the Republicans in the Senate understand that. What will be interesting to see is if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hoisted in that lesson.
The other Cliff does have it in his penultimate paragraph.
I weep for California. Only a Governor Christie like approach will work. My impression is that the current Governor tried that, but ultimately failed due to a lack of legislative support. There is a lesson there for the Mass Republican Party.
Regards — Cliff