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California's Pain Is Only Beginning

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posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:20 PM
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Yes, my earlier predictions about the demise of California are coming true way before I even thought they would.

Some here may recall that I said when I left CA in 2005 that I thought the state would end up in hard times due to the fact the "net payers of taxes" such as myself and a lot of business are leaving CA, and being replaced by "net users of tax money" - such as illegals and low income people with high birth rates.

So, we've already seen the IOU's in place of tax refunds, the furloughs of state workers, and now this as the state's infrastructure starts to crumble as well:

article


As Sacramento squabbles over the state's $42 billion deficit, Californians are getting a bitter taste of what's to come after the steep budget cuts that are inevitable when legislators and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger finally hammer out a deal.

Some world-famous parks like Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park may not open this year. After-school programs in low-income areas are being scuttled, putting high-risk teens on the street just as police forces are being cut. Schools are closing classrooms, and some highway projects have ground to a halt. The state may not be able to monitor some sex offenders as required under law.



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:26 PM
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I say if you can, get out now.

You really don't want to be one of the ones left to "turn out the lights" when this goes down.



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:33 PM
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Now state parks closing I wouldn't have a problem with. Really if no one has money to spend how many will actually go to a state park? I can't say for the one mentioned here but the state park where I'm from is not cheap to get into and depending on where you enter depends on how much you pay.

However the schools and sex offender thing is just a little disturbing. I would rather see reducing prison populations and reducing cost there than have schools shut down where they are needed most and sex offenders not tracked.

I mean really most places stuff prostitutes in Jail I could care less about prostitution as long as it's concerning adults what they do is their business. Heck they even do stings on prostitutes and Johns unless there is some violent crime being committed and reported then hey I don't care and what's the point of a sting in that case anyway. That would be just one example maybe not the best but one we can start with.



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:42 PM
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reply to post by Darthorious
 


This goes a lot further than closing a state park.... If that happened, hundreds or thousands of people employed there would be let go. The companies that deliver food and supplies would be let go. The people that are contracted to come in and fix things would be let go. Tourism to the area would stop, local companies would suffer..

I mean, it's all a spiral. Not just the closing of state parks. I think the effects ARE a big deal. California needs tourism. And yes, they NEED taxpayers. Apparently they are very short of taxpayers to pay for the poor with many kids, and illegals.

California, even with tourism and being the 7th(6th?) largest economy in the world, has been run on policies that made it unable to sustain itself.

Not to be cruel, I know it is coming to the rest of us too. And being in Oregon, I have a weird feeling a huge influx of 'refugees' will be fleeing here - MORE damn illegals, and American citizens. Oregon cannot sustain all of California's poor and illegal populations either. And we certainly don't even have enough jobs for the people already here.

So then starts the downward spiral of the rest of the country that was able to balance their budgets a little better, but cannot sustain the brunt of California, and the government in general's failures.



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:45 PM
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I am in California, still. I can't add much here, but I do know that there are concerns about a few of the state parks in my area. If the park rangers must take their furloughs every other Friday, do you close the parks for that day? How can you when there are hundreds of campers that pay up for a week or two to hang out and camp on the beach? How responsible will the park patrons be if the parks are left open, without rangers every 1st and 3rd Friday? That's probably where all the released prisoners will head to party.



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:47 PM
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just move in with the "the real housewives of orange county". problem solved.



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:47 PM
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This gets into another issue, but CA also doesn't want anyone to have the ability to protect themselves, while at the same time getting ready to dump almost 60,000 prison inmates out on the streets.

These are the kinds of things that will only increase the exodus of tax paying citizens.

Great avatar pic, Darthorius.

[edit on 2/11/2009 by centurion1211]



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:48 PM
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As I've said before if California goes under all the other states will follow suit,such as Oregon most the people there are on some government program,other states are reliant on government subsidys such as farming ,when Calif doesn't send in it's billions in taxes to the federal government,do you really think the rest of the country can support itself?be fore you start pointing fingers look at the big picture,those who are under the inception that their state is in good order,just watch



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:52 PM
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reply to post by Oldtimer2
 


Not saying there wouldn't be a "ripple effect". This is more about why socialism doesn't work at the state level. You can't promise to take care of everyone and then fund it solely on good intentions.

And now they want to try this on the national level, too?



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:53 PM
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And in other news, this is a GREAT use of resources huh? Location: Santa Cruz, CA.




Rangers passing out flyers today.... Two rangers were out at rincon parking lot this afternoon around 2:00 putting these flyers on windshields and giving them directly to anyone in the lot. I took a pic of it to post here but it ain't happening so I'll just quote what it says.... (the first part is in large, bold type w/ pic of ranger badge next to it) WARNING TO MOUNTAIN BIKERS "The area of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park which lies between Highway Nine and UCSC has always been closed to bikes and dogs due to the sensitive habitat. The Ranger staff has not been enforcing the rule (CCR 4360) due to the lack of staffing. However, staffing is back up to levels whic will allow us to enforce the NO BIKE rules for this section of the park. Starting Sunday, February 18, 2009, any bike entering or leaving he above listed section of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park may receive a citation for riding in an Area Closed To Bicycles (CCR 4360) and Destruction of Plants (CCR 4306). We are allowing a few weeks to adjust to the renewed enforcement and encourage you to use the designated trails of UCSC and Pogonip for your "Single Track" riding. If this flyer is on our windshield, we have recorded your license plate as proof of notification."


edit for formating

[edit on 2/11/09 by surfinguru]

[edit on 2/11/09 by surfinguru]



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 12:58 PM
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reply to post by surfinguru
 




That's just the point. They're worried about saving the plants in the parks while the rest of the state goes down the tubes.

Wouldn't (criminally) misguided be an appropriate word to use here?



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 01:34 PM
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Here's the solution:

1) Pass a law decriminalizing marijuana possession.

2) Set up a permit structure for businesses to be able to lawfully keep and sell marijuana in any form.

3) Release marijuana possession/distribution convictions with nothing else on their record from jail, no questions asked.

4) Allow private enterprise to do what it does and create vast fields of marijuana plants virtually over night, then tax the living crap out of it.

Revenue problem solved, prison overpopulation solved, and thousands upon thousands of new jobs created.

This, BTW, from someone who hasn't indulged in the ol' Mary Jane in many years.

[edit on 11-2-2009 by pernox]



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 01:38 PM
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Movie HollyWood to Florida and sell California to Mexico?



posted on Feb, 11 2009 @ 03:36 PM
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reply to post by xbranscombex
 


LOL

I'M FROM THE UK, MY OPINION... SELL/GIVE CALIFORNIA TO THE CHINESE AS PAYMENT FOR THE MONEY U GOOD US CITIZENS OWE TO THE CHINESE..

"According to Ron Paul, a member of the house banking committee, we owe China about 2 & 1/2 trillion American dollars"(answers.yahoo.com...)

OMG

SHHHH MAYBE THE CHINESE HAVEN'T HEARD ABT CALIFORNIA BEING SUBMERGED.....


"when will California break off the continent and sink the ocean floor," the answer is "never." The sea, you see, is only about two miles deep. California is about twenty miles thick.

Perhaps you mean "when will there be a major earthquake?" (An earthquake centered at the San Andreas Fault could involve a lot of vertical slip, which could conceivably put some California coastline underwater.) In that case the answer is "any day now, maybe." (www.straightdope.com...)



posted on Feb, 13 2009 @ 01:39 AM
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posted on Feb, 13 2009 @ 01:51 AM
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Originally posted by centurion1211
reply to post by Oldtimer2
 


Not saying there wouldn't be a "ripple effect". This is more about why socialism doesn't work at the state level. You can't promise to take care of everyone and then fund it solely on good intentions.

And now they want to try this on the national level, too?



YA I was thinking the same thing about deregulation... We just got robbed blind and now we want DEREGULATE the sectors that just robbed us?



Thats why FACISM and SOCIALISM both suck



posted on Feb, 23 2009 @ 02:50 PM
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Here's a new article to further make my original point:

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The world's leading maker of microprocessors plans to create 7,000 jobs in new and expanded plants that will churn out computer chips 30% more powerful than the current generation of chips.

But California-based Intel won't make them in California.

Instead, the company is expanding in Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico. Anywhere but California, which is now so unfriendly to business, even its home-grown firms don't want to expand there.


and


As Intel shows, businesses are struggling to stay and grow in California. In the first 10 months of last year, the state lost 25,000 high-quality manufacturing jobs — and has lost 25% of its industrial work force since 2001, according to the California Manufacturers & Technology Association.

As a story in the Wall Street Journal recently noted, "Several Western states are launching aggressive efforts to poach jobs, talent and industry from California, sensing an opportunity to capitalize on the Golden State's current political and financial woes."

Well-trained, well-educated Californians are leaving in droves — and are being replaced by poor immigrants from Latin America and Asia. Since 2005, there's been a net outflow of middle-class Californians — and 260,000 people left for other states in 2007.



posted on Mar, 2 2009 @ 06:15 PM
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Originally posted by surfinguru
And in other news, this is a GREAT use of resources huh? Location: Santa Cruz, CA.




"... due to the sensitive habitat. The Ranger staff has not been enforcing the rule (CCR 4360) due to the lack of staffing. However, staffing is back up to levels whic will allow us to enforce the NO BIKE rules for this section of the park. Starting Sunday, February 18, 2009, any bike entering or leaving he above listed section of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park may receive a citation for riding in an Area Closed To Bicycles (CCR 4360) and Destruction of Plants (CCR 4306). We are allowing a few weeks to adjust to the renewed enforcement and encourage you to use the designated trails of UCSC and Pogonip for your "Single Track" riding. If this flyer is on our windshield, we have recorded your license plate as proof of notification."



I think the mountain biking here is out of control. I can't even take a walk with out constantly jumping out of the way for the bikes at Henry Cowell. This trail is really crowded and the plants seem to take a beating. I think closing down certain areas like the Redwoods to mountain biking is fine as is closing some of our parks. Let the land recoup!



posted on Mar, 3 2009 @ 11:22 AM
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reply to post by JerichogirlLA
 


Yes, mountain biking ...

I'm sorry, but exactly how high up on the list of important issues facing the state of California is mountain biking?

Seems to me that this type of thinking is more a symptom of the PC and socialism diseases pervading CA than it is a solution.



posted on Mar, 3 2009 @ 01:59 PM
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Enforce immigration laws by arresting employers that employ illegals. Illegal immigrant problem would be solved. Legalize marijuana and release non violent drug offenders. I don't use the drug but with a tax similar to cigarettes what a revenue source it would be for CA!

Get rid of the super majority rule to increase taxes. But if the steps mentioned above were undertaken I would doubt there would be a need raise taxes.

Restore our manufacturing base by repealing unfair trade policies.



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