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State of the State of California

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Pippin4242
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Tue 03 Mar , 2009 1:07 am
Hasta la victoria, siempre
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Once the other states start to follow a rational path towards securing future viability, I doubt operating from that beautiful state will seem like such an unattractive prospect. :)

It is the responsibilty of the state to act in the interests of its people, not solely to maximise current profitiability.

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TheMary
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Wed 04 Mar , 2009 12:16 am
I took the stars from my eyes, and then I made a map, And knew that somehow I could find my way back; Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too - So I stayed in the darkness with you
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Cenedril_Gildinaur wrote:
It's interesting how school spending is calculated. By one measure California is last, by another measure it is first. On average California does have the highest paid teachers in the nation.
Then California is wasting their money.

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Meril36
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Wed 04 Mar , 2009 12:45 am
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TheMary wrote:
Cenedril_Gildinaur wrote:
It's interesting how school spending is calculated. By one measure California is last, by another measure it is first. On average California does have the highest paid teachers in the nation.
Then California is wasting their money.
Tell me about it. I worked in the office of the Credential Program at CSUN, I've seen their grades.

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Cenedril_Gildinaur
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Tue 10 Mar , 2009 3:04 pm
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They lowballed the number in this article, it was closer to 15,000, but it made the news that people actually don't like paying higher taxes to bail out irresponsible politicians.

Thousands join talk show hosts in tax protest
LINDSEY BAGUIO wrote:
FULLERTON – They're revolting. Families with children, bikers, seniors, pirates - by the thousands descended on a Fullerton bar Saturday to join talk show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of KFI in protesting tax increases recently approved in Sacramento.

Police estimated that some 8,000 people came to the Slidebar Café in downtown Fullerton to listen to The John &Ken Show.

"I expected a lot and it was way more than I expected," said co-host John Kobylt.
The talk show hosts put forward an ambitious goal for their Tax Revolt 2009 live broadcast that ran for more than three hours.

"The purpose is to vote down Prop 1A on May 19 because it's a two-year tax extension," said Kobylt. "The purpose is to tell people how their Republican legislators lie about their votes. The purpose is to get support to recall Schwarzennegger, (Assemblyman) Anthony Adams, (Assemblyman) Jeff Miller, and everybody else."

Some wore buttons. One man brought a bloody effigy head of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and waved it from the end of a pike, while the crowd joined their hosts in a chant of "Repeal, recall, revolt."

Many in the crowd held up cameras to capture a big hit as VHS cassettes, DVDs, laser discs, an action hero lunchbox and other memorabilia from the governor's Hollywood career, were piled up and smashed with a sledgehammer.

Johanna Common, 45, of Fullerton, pushed her way to the front of the crowd to contribute her copy of the Schwarzenegger movie "Total Recall" to the pile.

"I wanted to see it smashed to smithereens," she said.
When all is done, Common plans to get involved in recalling her local representative, Assemblyman Michael Duvall, she said.

Like many others, Kimberly Smith, 29, of Tustin, sported a button showing how much more she'll have to pay in taxes: $1,645.

Capt. Jack Sparrow came by to say the taxes would cost him loot.

"With people losing the money they are losing, I lose too as an entertainer," said the pirate, who goes by Vince Bartolome of Costa Mesa in his downtime. "It sucks for us all."
Some of the demonstrators brought crayons in response to a column in the Los Angeles Times that called John and Ken's politics simplistic. Some children opted for something a bit more artistic.

Hannah Ross, 6, and her sister, Olivia Ross, 4, of San Diego, used squeeze paint brushes to express a message suggested by their parents: "Stop Generational Theft."

For Stacey Ross, it was her first time bringing her children to a political event.

"I believe children need to learn the First Amendment and their freedom of speech," she said.
Moving forward, Kobylt said there will be other events to come. The talk show hosts discussed participating in future recall efforts.

"For day one, this is fantastic, but this a long road that's going to take months and years," said Kobylt.

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sauronsfinger
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Tue 10 Mar , 2009 3:18 pm
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my favorite line from the story
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Capt. Jack Sparrow came by to say the taxes would cost him loot.
Heaven help us landlubbers from this scum of the seas.

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Cenedril_Gildinaur
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Wed 18 Mar , 2009 5:43 pm
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Not only is this a precursor of things to come in California, it's rather bad for the unions.

Salivating over the prospect of forcing people to join whether they want to or not, they've just gotten blindsided as the various government employees unions (which are among the most powerful unions in the country) just got the first hit of a very severe blow.

Moreover, a judge cannot simply raise taxes to balance a bankrupt municipality's books - he can only deal with income as is and expense as is. So when California itself gets to this point there won't be another "historic budget deal".

And there aren't even any throw-away humor lines to distract from the actual content of this story.

Judge lets bankrupt Vallejo void union pacts
Quote:
In a move that's sure to have repercussions for cash-strapped cities across the state, a judge has ruled that Vallejo can nullify its union contracts as part of its bankruptcy restructuring.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael McManus ruled Friday that the city can reject its contracts with its fire and electrical workers unions, allowing the city to begin negotiations from scratch.

"I'm very satisfied. It confirms what we've been saying all along," said Mayor Osby Davis.

The city's bankruptcy legal bills have topped $4 million, Davis said. Fire union chief Kurt Henke said the total is closer to $7 million.

Vallejo declared bankruptcy in May 2008 after failing to close a $9 million deficit in its $83 million general fund budget. This year the city of 120,000 faces a $12 million deficit.

McManus called for a hearing March 23 on the status of the city's labor negotiations. He's then expected to rule on further details of the case. The city last month settled with its police union, removing it from the bankruptcy proceedings.

Labor leaders said Friday's ruling was an attempt to strip the fire and electrical unions of their bargaining power. The fire union has offered numerous concessions - including an 8.2 percent pay cut - and has been negotiating in good faith, Henke said.

"They will fight us and fight us and fight us," Henke said. "This isn't about doing the right thing, it's about power."

The city has blamed its unions for much of its financial turmoil. About 74 percent of the general fund budget goes to police and fire salaries, compared to 50 percent for most other California cities.

The unions say the city has intentionally shrunk the general fund to inflate the percentage spent on public safety salaries, and that the city's other funds are financially healthy.

The unions appealed the bankruptcy filing and the case is being heard by a bankruptcy appellate panel.

Marc Levinson, Vallejo's bankruptcy attorney, said the judge's ruling was expected.

"It's an important ruling because it's the first that takes the issue (of city labor contracts) head-on," he said.

Companies in Chapter 11 bankruptcy are allowed to nullify their labor contracts, but Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcies are so rare that the issue has never before been examined, Levinson said.

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Last edited by Cenedril_Gildinaur on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total


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sauronsfinger
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Wed 18 Mar , 2009 6:14 pm
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When I read stories such as this I imagine some readers feel not unlike Claude Raines in CASABLANCA who feigned shock and horror to find out that gambling was occuring at Ricks Cafe American and was then paid his winnings at the table.

Anyone who has been alive for the past few decades should know well that there has been a war declared on unionsim in this country and the forces against unions will do anything they have to do in order to destroy them. Just as Rahm Emanuel has been criticized by the Right for saying not to waste a good crisis, the Right and anti-union forces are determined not to waste this current economic crisis in their longstanding war to destroy the unions.

This is no surprise and I expect more of it.

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Cenedril_Gildinaur
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Thu 19 Mar , 2009 3:13 am
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Taxpayer Groups Oppose Proposition 1A

20 groups from across California
oppose extension of tax increases

Today the No on Proposition 1A campaign announced that twenty taxpayers groups representing tens of thousands of Californians have officially voted to oppose the measure. Many groups have taken additional steps to mount a vigorous opposition campaign, including making thousands of signs and writing editorials in local newspapers.

It is important to note that none of these groups are directly affiliated with a major political party. They are simply concerned taxpayers who want to avoid paying the largest tax increase in United States history for another 1-2 years. They also represent all areas of the state, with groups ranging from Humboldt County to San Diego.

"Anger and frustration among everyday Californians is at the highest I've ever seen it," said Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association President Jon Coupal. "Clearly, this anger is being demonstrated through taxpayer groups, who are highly motivated to defeat 1A."

The groups opposed are the following:

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
People's Advocate Inc.
Alliance of Contra Costa Taxpayers
Central Solano Citizen/Taxpayer Group
Fullerton Association of Concerned Taxpayers
Humboldt Taxpayer's League
Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee of Napa County
Lafayette Taxpayers' Association
Marin United Taxpayers Association
Napa Valley Taxpayers Alliance
Pleasant Hill Taxpayers Association
Sacramento County Taxpayers League
San Diego Tax fighters
Seaside Taxpayers Association
Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association
Solano County Taxpayers Association
Stop Taxing Us: Carlsbad
United Californians for Tax Reform
United Taxpayers of Imperial County
Waste Watchers Inc: Fremont

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It is a myth that coercion is necessary in order to force people to get along together, but it is a persistent myth because it feeds a desire many people have. That desire is to be able to justify hurting people who have done nothing other than offend them in some way.

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solicitr
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 6:21 pm
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Quote:
Anyone who has been alive for the past few decades should know well that there has been a war declared on unionsim in this country and the forces against unions will do anything they have to do in order to destroy them. Just as Rahm Emanuel has been criticized by the Right for saying not to waste a good crisis, the Right and anti-union forces are determined not to waste this current economic crisis in their longstanding war to destroy the unions.
While twirling our moustachios and cackling, no doubt.

Jesus H. Christ.
Quote:
Once the other states start to follow a rational path towards securing future viability, I doubt operating from that beautiful state will seem like such an unattractive prospect.
In other words, nowhere left to flee. :(

Good G*d, one definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. And yet, despite socialism's perfect 100% failure rate, we are still plagued by magical thinkers and children who believe, 'this time, it's gotta work!'

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Pippin4242
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 6:35 pm
Hasta la victoria, siempre
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I don't believe that the USA has a great record on environmental protection, so I wouldn't really say that it had been tried over and over again. Futhermore, I truly hope that you don't believe that environmental concerns are tied up with socialism. It is, after all, in the interest of business to ensure that resources can continue to be exploited in the future.

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Cenedril_Gildinaur
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 6:38 pm
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That last sentence is one I could have written Pipster. I've been trying to advocate free market solutions to environmental problems for years.

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It is a myth that coercion is necessary in order to force people to get along together, but it is a persistent myth because it feeds a desire many people have. That desire is to be able to justify hurting people who have done nothing other than offend them in some way.

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Pippin4242
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 6:41 pm
Hasta la victoria, siempre
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I may be an idealist, but I'm also not opposed to alternative methods of working towards the most desirable goals. :)

Have you read Stiglitz?

-Pips-

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solicitr
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 6:48 pm
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Quote:
Futhermore, I truly hope that you don't believe that environmental concerns are tied up with socialism.
Oh, how naive.

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Pippin4242
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 6:50 pm
Hasta la victoria, siempre
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Justification, not insults, please! :D

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solicitr
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 6:52 pm
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Simply put, the Global Warming fraud was invented by Socialists as the crowbar with which to destroy industrial capitalism.

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Pippin4242
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 6:56 pm
Hasta la victoria, siempre
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Evidence not blanket statements please! :D

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Cenedril_Gildinaur
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 6:57 pm
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You mean Joseph Stiglitz? I have heard the name but am unfamiliar with any contributions he made in this area.

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Pippin4242
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 7:00 pm
Hasta la victoria, siempre
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That's the guy. :) I've been reading his 'Making Globalization Work' for my module on Third World Politics this semester. I heartily recommend it. It's basically a call for business and social concern to work out practical solutions. :D

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ToshoftheWuffingas
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 7:29 pm
Filthy darwinian hobbit
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Alternatively the idea of a Global Warming Fraud was invented by Industrial Capitalism in order to characterise any threat to short-term profit as Socialism. :D

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sauronsfinger
Post subject: Re: State of the State of California
Posted: Mon 23 Mar , 2009 7:36 pm
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and the way those Socialists got the polar ice caps to lose all that ice in such a short period of time ... pretty clever of them .... its really getting difficult to find any Industrial Capitalists on even a single ice flow these days.

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