Editorial: Greece, Wisconsin ... is California next?

The Orange County Register ^ | 2-23-2011 | Mark Landsbaum

[Mark Landsbaum]

The near-anarchy that swept Greece last year hasn't come yet to the United States, but there are similarities. As in Greece, thousands of workers who rely on taxpayers for their livelihoods have poured into Wisconsin streets to protest. Similarly, they protest entirely reasonable and necessary economies proposed by their government to ward off insolvency. Likewise, they insist they have a right to live well, no matter how burdensome it becomes for those who pay the bill.

California's fiscal condition is just as dire for the same reason: a voracious appetite of government worker unions. An ultimate showdown is coming to determine whether government exists to serve the people or the people it employs. . .

[KeyLargo]

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[ErnBatavia]

Ain’t happening in California....too much solidarity between the voters (’Rat) and politicians (’Rat).

[skeeter]

Not yet in CA.

But its inevitable - and it will happen quickly.

[OB1kNOb]

Don’t know if California will be next, but it’s just a matter of when, not if, and my guess is when it does happen in California, it’s gonna make Wisconsin’s actions look like a bingo game in a nursing home. Stay safe.

[GonzoGOP]

Ain’t happening in California....too much solidarity between the voters (’Rat) and politicians (’Rat).

Exactly! California is going the way of Detroit, where the city was abandoned as the people paying taxes ran for their economic lives. However that only tended to increase the percentage of the population that were looters and moochers. Causing a looter/moocher friendly government driving away even more producers. It is the perfect tideybowl spiral. And California is deep in the whirlpool.

Unfortunately for the many good people who still live in places like California, New York and Illinois they are going to have to go through a complete government collapse. Unlike Wisconsin, Ohio and surprisingly New Jersey, the change will not come from within. Change will only come when nobody will buy their bonds. They lack the self control to cut up their own credit cards. They will have to wait for the banks to cut them off.

[PapaBear3625]

Ain’t happening in California....too much solidarity between the voters (’Rat) and politicians (’Rat).

Not happening YET because California so far has been able to defer the day of reckoning through taking on more debt.

The day of reckoning will arrive when the markets no longer accept further debt offerings from California, at any rational rate. The day of reckoning will take the form of politicians finally being compelled to budget according to actual tax revenues, and having to decide whose rice bowl gets busted.

[oldbrowser]

I think we passed that stage where the givers object to the takers long ago. there are no longer enough taxpayers to offset the unions, welfare recipients, illegals, etc. who are voting for more benefits, assistance, or whatever they feel entitled to receive from the all giving state.
The unfunded pensions and any other undiscovered and unfunded liabilities will overwhelm recovery efforts in the coming years.

[MrB]

Cali’s got a double whammy of liberalism hitting them.

The state has been touted as the “greenest” state, meaning their energy production, that which there is, uses the most expensive means possible,

causing the cost to go up, and the availability to go down, and the tax base to whither.

[skeeter]

Greece has an 'I won't pay' movement underway now.

I see something like this happening once critical mass is reached in this wretched state.

[SaintDismas]

Why do I feel so gleeful at this chaos, I almost feel guilty about it! It’s just this kind of political realignment is happening right before our eyes fellow FReepers, so fast right before our eyes.

It’s hard not to feel excited even though there is a lot of pain in it. So many folks unemployed, losing their homes, etc. Like excercise I guess, no pain, no gain. We need to remember that suffering can be redemptive!

[SZonian]

Oh, it’s unraveling allright. Most folks just aren’t paying attention. It doesn’t help that the local “media” are doing anything and everything they can to keep people ignorant of it either. Then again, why should anyone be surprised?

Gas is up over $3.71 a gallon and climbing, food prices have been going through the roof, “fees” associated with traffic fines have been doubled, tripled and in some cases, quadrupled. CHP has been much more visible of late [revenooing], etc. The signs are there.

And all this on top of the unemployment and housing bust.

The “revenue” streams Sacramento is “banking” on are drying up, that’s why they’re trying to extend all the “temporary” tax and fee increases.

Once Sacramento runs out of money to keep the welfare slugs comfortable, things will get ugly.

Beans, bullets and band-aids.

We’re ready, are you?

[skeeter]

Why do I feel so gleeful at this chaos

A) You're safe in Kansas:)

B) breakdown of the current system (with the original system being restored) is this country's only salvation.

[eyeamok]

By summer time , CA will be experiencing this same thing but 10 times worse. The tax increases Moonbeam is counting on, will not happen. It will get ugly everywhere soon, prepare yourself for a complete shutdown of everything, starting with the Banks.