This state deserves the bankruptcy it's going to get. The mob has spoken and the fate of the state of California has been squandered. Voters are a fickle bunch--their values shifting one moment to the next.
Have we forgetten why we put Arnold in Sacramento in the first place? With what magical powers did anyone expect him to be able to carry out the daunting mission of which he was charged? Was he supposed to will the state out of dire straits? Apparently.
Do school districts not get more than enough money to mismanage? Does Medicaid not pay enough money for non-essential drugs such as Viagra or Levitra? Is the truth irrelevant? Must emotions always fuel the fire?
The fact of the matter is, the overwhelming majority of this state's budget is tied up in healthcare and education. As much as possible has already been cut from the state budget outside of these areas. How is it that these groups have managed to convince voters that they are above reproach? What is the incentive for them to trim the fat?
As a public servant I'm supposed to be blindly opposed to any cutbacks in my sector, unfortunately this kind of attitude was used to scare the public into defeating all of the governor's initiatives. Too bad it's this very same attitude that has sealed the state's fate.
Case in point: Prior to 9/11 Delta Airlines' pilots union successfully negotiated the industry's highest-paying contract. After 9/11, union members refused to re-negotiate in order to offset the losses incurred from post-9/11 expenses. Delta pilots remained the highest paid in the industry while several other airlines received concessions from their pilots. What Delta pilots didn't count on was a sudden increase in operating costs resulting from skyrocketing fuel prices. Since Delta pilots were unwilling to sacrifice some temporary comfort, Delta went bankrupt and those very same pilots are no longer the highest paid in the industry. Why? Because they no longer have jobs...or pensions. They have since been laid off.
Ignorant Californians can laugh at the governor now but will pay in the long run. Everyone wants to paint those who go after the bloated healthcare and education budgets as evil megalomaniacs. It's hard to win when your opponent says that you hate children and nurses.
The only way to the solve the budget problem is to cut the money off. There will never be any incentive to reduce spending until there is no more money which to spend. This can happen one of two ways: 1) intentionally, in a structured and calculated approach, or 2) unintentionally by implosion. Voters have rejected the first possibility and now we must wait patiently for the latter to run its course. Why do so few people realize that if healthcare and education (among many other bloated cost centers) were forced to make due with less that the leaders in these respective fields would be forced to cope with responsible spending. Only then would they realize that the public has had enough of their ways. When will we decide it's time to send a message telling them that it is time to manage efficiently and effectively?
Why is it that the school district that spends the highest per student in the nation (Washington D.C. spends nearly $15,000 per year, per student) suffers the lowest performance? Throwing money at the problem is not the solution. The money is not used how the public thinks it is. Why did voters in Los Angeles then approve yet ANOTHER huge school bond to subsidize one of the most corrupt school districts in the nation? What has the LAUSD done with the now over $10 billion that it has been given over the past eight years (which will total $20 billion after interest)? Nothing. I guess it's because when you deceivingly name your initiative the "Safe, Healthy Neighborhood Schools MEasure" it's kind of hard to wage an opposing campaign. Afterall, the public--in its infinite wisdom--would never be able to see past the fluff. Perhaps we can call it the iPodding of America.
Truly, the people in this state deserve exactly what they're going to get.
posted at 00:57