Posted on 01/01/2009 10:21:44 AM PST by NormsRevenge
The New Year is shaping up as a brutal one for Californians.
With the potential acquiescence of a governor who once posed as taxpayers' most ardent defender, the Democrats who control the Legislature are poised to execute a slick end run around the state constitution and impose vast tax hikes on a simple majority vote.
These higher sales, gas and income levies are likely to make the recession last longer and be more destructive. And they will only be the beginning.
At least until Proposition 11 ends gerrymandered legislative districts in 2012, we can expect a steady series of tax increases from a Democratic-dominated Sacramento that cares far more about keeping public employee unions happy than the public in general.
Unless, that is, the public objects to these power plays and takes on the state status quo with sweeping reform initiatives – measures placed on the ballot by signature-gathering campaigns that put hard caps on state spending; that reaffirm and strengthen the constitutional provision that taxes can only be raised on a two-thirds vote of the Legislature; and that require the suspension of all “autopilot” spending mandates whenever revenue plunges significantly in the short term or by even small amounts over a longer span.
Only then can the next stage of cleanup begin, one in which state leaders establish a handful of core priorities and pare away the many tasks and programs California simply can no longer afford.
We believe Californians are ready to take these decisive steps. Just as they showed with the property tax revolt that led to Proposition 13 in 1978 and with the recall of Gov. Gray Davis in 2003, voters realize Sacramento is incapable of fixing itself.
If they act on this realization, 2009 will go down in history not as a brutal year for California but as a turning point – a year in which voters rescued the state from its own leaders. All aboard!
Brilliant!
or just another one of them Aesop's FaiRy Tales?
Regardless, the ship is packed top-heavy and thin-hulled, so the dems decide 'let's go looking for more icebergs!' .. we're unsinkable.
when laws mean nothing, you will know the dems have won.
I envision four things: tar, feathers, a rail and a naked politician.
Ca is completely controlled by special interests, corrupt politicians and unions. The taxpayers have neither the means nor the will to change it.
A Governor or even a president really can’t change things. Change must come from the bottom up. California needs to elect conservative and replace all the “feel good” liberals with no practice experience. We need businessmen, military men, successful people in office who know how the world really works.
“Voters can force change in Sacramento”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thud
You are absulutely right. However, California will never again obtain the class you mention. Since 1960 there has been a great inversion and those that were once our societies outcasts are now in office.
A severe earthquake might do it ala Louisiana.
No, they cannot. A vote throwing the bastards out would be ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL by the state “courts of law”.
That is why a whiff of grapeshot might be necessary. Google the phrase "Battle of Athens" to see what I mean.
California and New York State have nothing to fear. Obama and friends are most likely planning a bailout for both. Both States are to large to fail. Besides, they also need the liberals votes in both States for his reelection.
This is our last resort. I believe the Dems are daring another voter revolt. Bass, Steinberg and Arnold are daring the voters to place a referendum on the ballot. However they will be CRUSHED. Arnold won by repealing the car registration fee and defeated Phil Angeledis by calling him a “tax and spender”. Well Arnold you are a “borrow and spender”. The credit card bill catches up with you. With no more smoke and mirrors Arnold wants taxes. Well we CAN force a referendum and send a message “NO to increases in taxes and fees” and it will force Sacramento to cut, cut, cut.
This last resort is possible. As for New York State they are screwed they have no voter initiated referendum process, they will pay higher taxes and have no recourse but to vote politicians who will ultimately lie to them and raise their taxes over and over.
This is one reason I continue to live in California, amid all the stinking politicians we barely have on branch of government the Initiative, Referendum and Recall. And the Liberals desperately want to get rid of our right to dissent and petition our government for redress of grievances.
They might start by actually, you know, like vote out the idiots they keep putting back in power. I know, I know...they're too many liberals in CA to do that.
If my company asked me to move to CA I wouldn't do it for any amount of money. I value my freedom and my family too much.
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