Will California become America's first Failed State?

[Quackers]

Well when the Mexican Government provides manuels for would be immigrants to show where they can recieve benefits and health care and their are 10 million of them all overwhelmingly unskilled and pay very low to zero in taxes living in California. This problem combined with a moveout of native californians to surrounding states.

Kind of just blows up the argument that immigration is essential to the economy.

 

[Babbler]

Maybe splitting the state into two or more manageable states could help. Although it would be a lot trouble replacing all those flags.

Besides that, a new constitution, a program of cutting spending and raising taxes (unpopular, but necessary), reforming the electoral system, etc. Unfortunately, that takes leadership, a quality in desperate shortage in the state, the union and the around the world.

 

[Azale]

Well when the Mexican Government provides manuels for would be immigrants to show where they can recieve benefits and health care and their are 10 million of them all overwhelmingly unskilled and pay very low to zero in taxes living in California.

I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE!

But yea, California's problems are structural. A state this rich should not be this broke. The elected representatives are both unrepresentative of the political beliefs of the population (from what I've read, they lean more to the extremes of both parties and NOTHING gets done or compromised). The heavy use of the referendum needs to go.

But it's ok you guys, Texas is the new California

 

[Lord Gay]

you miss interpreted what I said (and I wasn't very clear)
for every $1 California pays to the Fed we get about $0.70 back while many smaller/Republican states get more than $1 on the $1

CT is even lower IIRC, getting about $0.64, and we're doing sort of okay.

Your problem is that you're thinking, trying to use facts 'n figgurs 'n stuff. You need to look at problems emotionally. It's OBVIOUSLY because CA denied gay marriage, and God is punishing the state. That's the only plausible explanation.

 

[Quackers]

I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE!

But yea, California's problems are structural. A state this rich should not be this broke. The elected representatives are both unrepresentative of the political beliefs of the population (from what I've read, they lean more to the extremes of both parties and NOTHING gets done or compromised). The heavy use of the referendum needs to go.

But it's ok you guys, Texas is the new California

Finally someone saw it

 

[Azale]

Maybe splitting the state into two or more manageable states could help. Although it would be a lot trouble replacing all those flags.

There are states in China & India that dwarf California in size, and while they are not Singapore or anything they are run satisfactorily enough where Cali really has no excuse.

 

[Cutlass]

Yeah, but California's budget deficit is under $800 per capita. Connecticut's is over $2000 per capita. Which leads me to think that a little sanity and bipartisanship could go a long way towards resolving things.

 

[Huayna Capac357]

1. Get downtown to move back.
2. Annex Nevada.

 

[Imperialmajesty]

Legalizing Pot would help a tad, along with releasing people on pot related offenses.

Oh, much stiffer penalties for the hiring of illegal immigrants combined with a national drive to change the citizenship laws of this country.

 

[emzie]

For all the left points at Bush's failings, the prospect of the people who ruined California being on the national stage is equally as frightening.

And...

There is no such thing as a British dream. Even within America, there is no Kansas dream or New Jersey dream.

Yeah there is, it's leaving New Jersey.

 

[Cutlass]

A lot of the people who ruined California are the voters themselves, with that freaky referendum system.

 

[Leonel]

Now, incredibly, California, which has been a natural target for immigration throughout its history, is losing people. Between 2004 and 2008, half a million residents upped sticks and headed elsewhere. By 2010, California could lose a congressman because its population will have fallen so much – an astonishing prospect for a state that is currently the biggest single political entity in America.

Dear God...

All those Californians are gonna come to Oregon and Washington! CLOSE THE BORDERS NOW!!!

 

[Cutlass]

I think Nevada and Arizona are getting a lot of them.

 

[Abaddon]

Why are they leaving?

 

[sophie]

I remember hearing from someone that California, as it's one entity has the 7th largest economy in the world. Unfortunately, unlike most large economies, we have to balance our budgets every year

As for how to solve our problems, I'd say bring back the car tax, change the req for budget changes from 66% vote to 50%. Having a minority not only impede, but totally upend the democratic process is really becoming a problem now. Elect reps that will at least make an attempt at biparitsanship.

A few things that would most likely help.

Being a student at one of the more liberal and protest-ey UCs, I tend to hear this kind of topic come a lot. Sadly, I don't see a lot of change coming in the forseeable future. These problems we have have been building up for decades now. It's just like with forest fires, if you keep putting out every fire that breaks out, eventually all the preserved underbrush is going to contribute to a big one that can't be controlled.

Oh well, Newsom '10!

EDIT: It's interesting that you don't have the car tax as an option. Among educators and students it seems to be very popular, mainly because they hope the revenues will allow an expansion of funding for public education, and a reduction or even abolition of "tuition" costs (remember UCs are mandated to be tuition free) at the public universities. The issue is getting very hot in the light of recent employee/teacher layoffs, furloughs, and a proposed 30% increase in student fees (tuition, but they aren't allowed to call it that).

Thank you Former Governor Reagan, thanks for privatizing public institutions.

 

[Cutlass]

Land costs are very, very high, both for residential and commercial uses. Energy costs are one of the highest in the US. Electricity deregulation was a complete scam. Both contribute to labor being expensive. The regulatory climate is tough. So the business climate faces some ugly challenges. Which makes business inclined to relocate. And people are inclined to relocate because of the costs. The schools are challenged. The air sucks. Transportation sucks. Taxes are not the highest in the country, as some claim, but are in the top quarter. Water is increasingly rationed.

In short, it's challenge on top of challenge.

 

[Leonel]

I think Nevada and Arizona are getting a lot of them.

Well that's a relief. Although I know Washington and Oregon will get their share of Californians too. At least it'll bring Washingtonians and Oregonians together. Both states think the other one sucks but both are united in their mutual hatred for Californians.

 

[Cutlass]

Well that's a relief. Although I know Washington and Oregon will get their share of Californians too. At least it'll bring Washingtonians and Oregonians together. Both states think the other one sucks but both are united in their mutual hatred for Californians.

Isn't the north of California that's nearest Oregon the lower population part of the state?

 

[Leonel]

Isn't the north of California that's nearest Oregon the lower population part of the state?

No, SoCalifornians come up too. Especially the college hippies.

 

[Cutlass]

No, SoCalifornians come up too. Especially the college hippies.

Well I know hippies like it. My hippie cousin from Vermont lived there for years.