California to lay off 20,000

I have no idea where you live, Tiger Volunteer, but I imagine it isn't California. As if any budget, or any bill, that California passes could stem the tide?

Republicans don't hold enough sway here to truly set priorities, and many of their attempts to change policy just end up wasting time with no change in the end result. As for Arnold, he is a centrist obsessed with popular opinion, with no real party loyalty, and no real compulsion to lead or take responsibility for failures.

Regardless of party, hard times are in store, and neither party will solve them or take responsibility for them. Only market forces and the federal printing press will play a positive role.

 

Best thing that happened to this state in 10 years was the redistricting ballot initiative passed in November.

Gerrymandering is the root of all of California's political evil...I have become convinced of that in my time here.

 

Schwarzenegger thought his Cult of Personality would be enough to make state legislators pull their heads out and say, "Gee, maybe we really should figure out a budget. You know, so the whole damn state doesn't get screwed."

Honest mistake, really. Doesn't everyone running for governor think - or at least say - they can move the legislature? Let's watch the next election, and find out, shall we? And then like Davis and like Schwarzenegger, their hands will be tied by this group as well.

GoochMan's point about Gerrymandering is correct. The state house is full of fat cats who simply don't give a shit, because they don't have to.

I guess it's easy to blame Republicans for this; there's a lot of that going around. Forcing out their minority leader wasn't a mistake as far as they're concerned; there are still a lot of people who say "Save us! I mean, don't ask ME to contribute! Just save us!" Refusing to raise taxes, sadly, won't hurt anyone's ability to get re-elected.

At this point, I want the whole lot of them to be voted out and replaced with people who attempt to decide on budgets before dire times.