tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post2000552418763512737..comments2023-12-23T03:49:20.907-08:00Comments on watchpaul: Triple the vehicle license fees! Why not CUT COSTS?Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-15483375897163575472008-11-25T21:34:00.000-08:002008-11-25T21:34:00.000-08:00how. grand,we will now send the worst carpetbagger...how. grand,we will now send the worst carpetbagger in Cal back to help rip us off even more. arnie is just a chump but wes really knows how to kick the can down the road. every time his little can clatters to the ground it spreads more tax payer money to his cronies. ain't poly-tics grand?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-87125579614795577342008-11-25T19:24:00.000-08:002008-11-25T19:24:00.000-08:00Actually, last I heard, McKinleyville had one of t...Actually, last I heard, McKinleyville had one of the best run school districts in the State.<BR/><BR/>The Bond is to build a new gym, and upgrade classrooms for such things as - gasp - computers.<BR/><BR/>It's too bad that as much as we spend on education that it all gets sucked away, and they have to pass bonds for these things.<BR/><BR/>You could disband the entire State dept of education, though, all they seem to do is screw things up , dictate how to teach (which creates that dumbing down thing) - and negotiate for new - and not always better, textbooks.<BR/><BR/>That's be one big chunka change. And the schools would run just fine without it.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-52958478131080785562008-11-25T18:56:00.000-08:002008-11-25T18:56:00.000-08:00Cut funding to the schools. Seems that some of the...Cut funding to the schools. Seems that some of the money isn't well spent like in McKinleyville, who paid $17,000 to pass a bond, and allows a person who is a gambler in charge of the books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-77046188561809560142008-11-25T17:31:00.000-08:002008-11-25T17:31:00.000-08:00Yet another reason for real mass transit.Yet another reason for real mass transit.Tom Sebournhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10181314524021111122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-16415251140959540322008-11-25T10:35:00.000-08:002008-11-25T10:35:00.000-08:00Cut off all subsidies and decrease education spend...Cut off all subsidies and decrease education spending.mresquanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00644535031615078618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-71183163990151963042008-11-25T07:37:00.000-08:002008-11-25T07:37:00.000-08:008:24, you are a sheep. Ca. spends more money in sc...8:24, you are a sheep. Ca. spends more money in schools and gets less returns. I paid all school taxes and homeschooled my children.They are all solid (WORKING) citizens. The Gov should cut costs, starting with high paid, do nothing commission appointments. When Ca. schools get back to basics(3R's,music & phys ed).and stops the socialist push on tolerance and progressive activism they'll find the public better served.The anti-economy logic of 8:24 is typical of a government school non-think education. Higher taxes do not stimulate anything. Gov., including schools must learn to live within the public's means.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-55012706695570378522008-11-24T20:21:00.000-08:002008-11-24T20:21:00.000-08:00Check out those names on http://activistcash.com/D...Check out those names on <A HREF="http://activistcash.com/" REL="nofollow">http://activistcash.com/</A><BR/><A HREF="http://activistcash.com/foundation.cfm" REL="nofollow">David & Lucile Packard Foundation</A><BR/><BR/>caforward's site just went down - I'll look up more once it comes back up.<BR/><BR/>Really, there needs to be some regulation of these orgs - people need to know who is really behind them.BEFORE they place their trust in the flowery rhetoric.<BR/><BR/>Don't know what I mean? Want to see how the trails work?<BR/><BR/>Check this out - <A HREF="http://activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm?oid=209" REL="nofollow">http://activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm?oid=209</A><BR/><BR/>Get a taste of the next four years.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-69819551509234204232008-11-24T19:59:00.000-08:002008-11-24T19:59:00.000-08:00I dunno, Chris - I am suspicious of all these "gro...I dunno, Chris - I am suspicious of all these "groups... I read this... I see Leon Panetta's name... I don't see any overt indicators that this is another Soros type group, but I just don't know...<BR/><I>Origins and Support<BR/>For California to meet the challenges of the coming decades - in the areas of healthcare, education, the environment and economic growth, among others - the state will need to dramatically change how public decisions are made and how public dollars are spent.<BR/><BR/>In recognition of these challenges several major California foundations (The California Endowment, The Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, and The David and Lucile Packard Foundation) came together to ask four civic organizations to recommend a plan to achieve this change.<BR/><BR/>California Forward is the result. This new organization was created by California Common Cause, Center for Governmental Studies, New California Network and The Commonwealth Club of California's Voices of Reform Project. The goal of California Forward is to contribute to improving the quality of life for all Californians by creating more responsive, representative and cost-effective government. </I><BR/><BR/>Like "DividedWefail" which SOUNDED good, but is just another front...<BR/><BR/>I hope this one is for real - and not just using Orwellian terms and "narratives" to push an agenda.<BR/><BR/>Because that is more than half our problem.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-66664724308017483642008-11-24T17:31:00.000-08:002008-11-24T17:31:00.000-08:00The phrase "fiscal responsibility" and elected Cal...The phrase "fiscal responsibility" and elected California officials in the same sentence triggers the urge to either upchuck or double over in hysterical laughter. Enjoy your pain.ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04976785560712692275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-26580638328188439922008-11-24T15:23:00.000-08:002008-11-24T15:23:00.000-08:00The bipartisan group www.CaliforniaForward.org pai...The bipartisan group <A>www.CaliforniaForward.org</A> paints a bleak picture of our current state budget, but also offers tough yet feasible solutions.<BR/><BR/>It's time for people of all political stripes to demand fiscal responsibility from our elected officials.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-90959501082126912502008-11-24T14:29:00.000-08:002008-11-24T14:29:00.000-08:00"Got some sense!!!?"You putting words in someone's..."Got some sense!!!?"<BR/><BR/>You putting words in someone's mouth?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-57322524468311571682008-11-24T14:09:00.000-08:002008-11-24T14:09:00.000-08:00Got some sense!!!?You're kidding, right?<I>Got some sense</I>!!!?<BR/><BR/>You're kidding, right?Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-60353601020672825802008-11-24T13:22:00.000-08:002008-11-24T13:22:00.000-08:00I remember that Governor Schwarzenegger cut the ve...I remember that Governor Schwarzenegger cut the vehicle fees sharply when he first became governor, and we got a rebate checks. I think he got some sense and renewed a revenue flow back into the state by bringing the vehicle registration fees back to at least the previous rates.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10082877661130396437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-82275090242826591782008-11-24T11:07:00.000-08:002008-11-24T11:07:00.000-08:00A good start would be reducing ALL the salaries of...A good start would be reducing ALL the salaries of state bureaucrats and <A HREF="http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060228/news_1n28guards.html" REL="nofollow">politicians</A>.<BR/><BR/><I>"An analysis of state payroll data shows the average base pay last year for a guard [i.e. turnkey] was $57,000. <BR/>The [state's] contract [with the guards union] also allows prisons to draw on a pool of reserve guards when a regular correctional officer calls in sick. These fill-in employees, however, can decline an assignment by saying they're sick and <B>receive a full day's pay</B>."</I><BR/><BR/>Some of these prison guards' salaries ($187,000.00) which do not include fringe benefits are approaching the Marxist Messiah's definition of "wealthy".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-27787718110768204812008-11-24T10:48:00.000-08:002008-11-24T10:48:00.000-08:00Prison guards pensionsPrison guards pensionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-46050778152466160252008-11-24T10:33:00.000-08:002008-11-24T10:33:00.000-08:00I'd cut transportation spending. Let the roads ha...I'd cut transportation spending. Let the roads have potholes- Caltrans is very inefficient in my mind.<BR/><BR/>Cut the tax breaks for big business. They will eventually move away anyway because the labor costs in California will never be able to compete with 3rd world countries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-53127080731529089872008-11-24T10:25:00.000-08:002008-11-24T10:25:00.000-08:00I agree, Fred.You could raise taxes to 100% and th...I agree, Fred.<BR/><BR/>You could raise taxes to 100% and they would spend it all and want more.<BR/><BR/>The practice of calling less-than-hoped-for increases cuts has been used very effectively by lobbying groups, and the asleep-at-the-wheel public has been fooled every time.<BR/><BR/>As a result, decisions now will be made in crisis mode when none of this needed to happen.<BR/><BR/>We have been badly failed by our elected officials, and the system that allows them to NOT do their jobs, that encourages them to keep spending to buy votes.<BR/><BR/>And the people like anonymous above, who say we should be willing to pay are USUALLY people who don't pay. It's a nice thought, but just like the family who buys the biggest house, the most expensive cars, the newest gadgets,whole housefuls of furniture on credit - sooner or later it all comes crashing down.<BR/><BR/>Yes, we should be willing to pay for that maserati - maybe we ARE even willing to pay for it - but can we afford the insurance?<BR/><BR/>What would YOU cut?Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-89034624848506461822008-11-24T10:17:00.000-08:002008-11-24T10:17:00.000-08:00The thing is, as Rose alluded to, the legislature ...The thing is, as Rose alluded to, the legislature has had all the money they needed and then some before. That was back during the dotcom boom. They spent all of that, and more.<BR/><BR/>To suggest if we just raise taxes (and, yes, even make some supposed cuts) will solve the problem is naive. Any tax increases will be permanent tax increases and, as they raise spending even more, we'll be back in the same hole.<BR/><BR/>Keep in mind that the most recently passed budget is something like 3 billion dollars larger than last year's. Still, we're being told everybody's facing severe budget cuts.<BR/><BR/>It's almost an unsolvable problem with a legislature that regularly calls spending increases "cuts"( because the spending increases aren't as big as some would like) and an electorate that, despite knowing we're facing heavy debt, keep passing bond issues each election putting the state deeper in debt.<BR/><BR/>The situation seems almost hopeless to me.Fred Mangelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15746646487480850444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-46321935721600033852008-11-24T10:14:00.000-08:002008-11-24T10:14:00.000-08:00Across the board cuts is much too simple a solutio...Across the board cuts is much too simple a solution in my mind. Some programs would be able to make do, some would lose all effectiveness. Seems to me that if we want these programs, then we have to pay for them. Period. Some serious editing needs to be done in Sacramento, but the end result will still be a large deficit. An automobile tax makes sense to me because it affects everyone rather than just singling out one group, like say homeowners, etc. It could also get people to try public transportation for a change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-75816694063803941572008-11-24T09:40:00.000-08:002008-11-24T09:40:00.000-08:00Honestly, I don't know. I suppose the easy answer ...Honestly, I don't know. I suppose the easy answer is to cut across the board, 10%, 20%, whatever it takes.<BR/><BR/>But that's a cop out.<BR/><BR/>It's a multi-faceted answer that has to include living within your means, just as families must, it has to stop the partisan fighting, budgets delayed because one side doesn't want to give in - but above all, the legislature has to sit down, and not get up, until they have identified the basic essentials, made sure they are fully funded, and then eliminate the unnecessary add ons until the budget is not only balanced, but they are putting away money for disasters and rainy days.<BR/><BR/>I don't have the answers, but there are people who do - and your legislators SHOULD (ours don't, I am convinced.)<BR/><BR/>McClintock would have made a better governor than Schwarzenegger. He wasn't "electable" because he wasn't flamboyant and charismatic. But he was and is sharp.<BR/><BR/>In some ways, it will be a moot point, decisions will be made for them - the financial crisis has erased vast amounts of wealth.<BR/><BR/>I find it all very depressing. there is no white knight on the horizon to save us.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-86427674258868189702008-11-24T09:31:00.000-08:002008-11-24T09:31:00.000-08:00I'm not trying to ask a loaded question Rose, I wa...I'm not trying to ask a loaded question Rose, I was just curious what you would choose to cut based on your solution to simply cut spending.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-55138544372398883082008-11-24T09:28:00.000-08:002008-11-24T09:28:00.000-08:00Why, none of them, of course! They are all so vita...Why, none of them, of course! They are all so vital and important, the only solution is to print money. We're past the point of borrowing our way out.<BR/><BR/>In fact it's time for a massive new spending spree to boost revenues, dontcha think?<BR/><BR/>And we'll just raise income taxes, bed taxes, sin taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, death taxes, capital gains taxes and fees to cover it all.<BR/><BR/>How's that for a plan?Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-53943073870642833942008-11-24T08:55:00.000-08:002008-11-24T08:55:00.000-08:00What programs would you cut Rose?What programs would you cut Rose?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-89386086256264071082008-11-24T08:54:00.000-08:002008-11-24T08:54:00.000-08:00Ahh, then you believe they would have been more fr...Ahh, then you believe they would have been more frugal if only they'd had more money?<BR/><BR/>No. We're where we are because every step of the way, the legislature has refused to cut spending.<BR/><BR/>They have increased entitlements, they have robbed from the counties, and continued their mad spending spree.<BR/><BR/>When the State was flush and money was coming in, they did nothing to prepare for the rainy day, which is now upon us.<BR/><BR/>It may now be that those who fought cuts will end up with zero. there will be some poetic justice in that.<BR/><BR/>In the meantime, businesses flee California because of excessive fees and taxes and an onerous business climate.<BR/><BR/>The only thing saving us so far is that California is so big that even those who don't want to do business here must.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-42166638283693906292008-11-24T08:24:00.000-08:002008-11-24T08:24:00.000-08:00They should have went forward with the registratio...They should have went forward with the registration hike years ago, just before Arnold took Davis's seat. Our schools would be in much better shape.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com