May 20
Megan McArdle… “California is completely, totally, irreparably hosed.”
Next up… New York.
Then America! Or Obamica, as it may be known by then.
Megan McArdle… “California is completely, totally, irreparably hosed.”
Next up… New York.
Then America! Or Obamica, as it may be known by then.
May 20th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
New York has already been broke. Famous headline of NY Daily News: FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD (the paper nonetheless endorsed him for President the next year)
A state cannot go broke as long as it has taxing power. California can fix its problem of its citizens in totality wanting more government than they are willing to pay for. But not without a lot of pain, screaming, and spearing some sacred cows. For now, the first stage: everyone blaming other group(s) for wanting more then they are entitled to and other groups for being unwilling to pay their fair share. Eventually the cooler heads will prevail and a compromise will be found. Meanwhile, uncountable groups elsewhere with no dog in the hunt will be shouting their platitudes and accusations.
May 20th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I pay my fair share and then some. There are a lot of leeches in this state. I’m also not getting as much as I’m entitled to. You mention taxation with no mention of reducing spending. Just tax more. Easy.
May 20th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Right, cut spending, down to wherever it matches taxes. Which almost everyone is for in the abstract until the details are filled in. Then the politicians are cornered by the interest groups, like police pensions or health benefits for example.
One approach that works at the federal level (for military base closings) is a non-political task group to recommend a package which the legislature can only accept or reject in toto. Unfortunately, the spending issue is so politically hot that such an approach would probably not work.
One barrier: your exact approach – I pay enough, and they get too much – is widespread in the electorate. What the politicians know is that a small tax rise is easier to sell than any spending cuts which have much higher marginal value.
May 20th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
It is only hard if y ou are a weak self-ceentered goober.