Californians are in financial trouble...
The facts are plain and simple for everyone to see. In spite of previous "flush" times when the state's coffers were filled with the tax revenue generated by the technology and housing boom, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the leadership of the legislature, Senate, Don Perata, and Assembly, Fabian Nunez, failed to curtail their profligate spending on "social engineering" projects which benefited Mexican and citizens of other countries than they did Californians.
Simply heeding the advice of California State Senator Tom McClintock to adjust spending to the actual revenue income and make allowances for debt services and emergency funds went unheeded. Tom's efforts in budgetary reform were ignored and he was side-lined as a major player in the budgetary wars by the nefarious actions of our RINO (Republican In Name Only) Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Threatening the populace...
Now, as a $14 BILLION dollar major budgetary crisis looms, all California citizens should be prepared for our leadership to threaten us.
Threaten us with the possibility that our security and safety will be compromised by a layoff of emergency personnel such as police officers, fire fighters and other law enforcement personnel such as prison guards.
Threaten us with the possibility that our medical services may be cut.
Threaten the senior citizens and working poor who may be accessing social services with the insinuation that their funding programs may be significantly reduced.
Threaten our children's future with a reduction in education spending.
And, threaten to close many of California's popular recreation sites.
It's a question of leadership...
Yes, California is in financial trouble. Yes, the Governor has caved to the democrats in the state legislature when it comes to significant reforms. And yes, there is something that can be done about it.
Time for a budget czar...
It is time that California appoint a budget czar, someone of impeccable standing and an overall knowledge of both the inner workings of government and an intimate knowledge of California's budget. An incorruptible man who is not beholden to the special interests and has a proven record of fiscal responsibility. And I hereby nominate State Senator Tom McClintock for that position.
The budget czar's duties...
The budget czar would gather the facts, as does the impartial State Legislative Analyst, and present a coherent plan for California's fiscal survival. The information would be presented directly to the people, unfiltered and uncolored by any political considerations.
The leadership's response...
The leadership would be forced to accept or reject each item on the budget czar's list of proposed forms, in writing, with a reason for their decision.
Based on the information developed by the budget czar, the Governor and legislature would then present their budgetary recommendations. The goal a balanced budget with provisions for debt reduction. A budget that allocates money by supporting public safety and security first, healthcare second, repair or replacement of our crumbling infrastructure third, education fourth and recreation and the arts fifth -- should anything be left over.
California State social services should be limited to legal residents of California and legal residents of the United States.
Non-productive boards, commissions and all of the prestige patronage positions should be eliminated in reverse order of their importance. Least useful first.
Will it work?
There is no doubt that the fiscal crisis can be averted, moderated or eventually eliminated by eliminating much of the waste, fraud and corruption -- especially that found in social programs administered by dubious third-party "activists" and other special interests.
There is no doubt that the fiscal crisis can be averted, moderated or eventually eliminated by removing a number of social engineering and special interest projects from the budget.
There is no doubt that the fiscal crisis can be averted, moderated or eventually eliminated by removing a number of incompetent and ineffective government employees from the bureaucracy.
In today's financial environment, there is no reason why a government employee should receive a guarantee of lifelong employment with ever rising salaries and benefits.
In today's financial environment, there is no reason why government workers should receive salaries, benefits and pensions far in excess of those received by non-government workers.
And there is certainly no reason to be pouring profligate amounts of money into an educational system which runs on political correctness rather than the proposition that all children should be taught reading, writing, arithmetic, life skills, an appreciation for our historical heritage and good citizenship. An education system which should realize that not everyone is destined for indoctrination as a left-wing radical at our local state colleges and should be taught a useful trade or skill to help them master the demands of life. A educational system which allows a city to spend $1 BILLION dollars building a single high school.
Much of this crisis can be contained by controlling the influence of the unions. Is it any wonder than many of Schwarzenegger's earlier proposals were shot down by misleading saturation advertising by the public service unions. Unions are about two things: membership dues and the money and power to enhance the union's power over those who make decisions. They care not one whit for the individual union member or the organizations which they loot and plunder.
California citizen's should remember that when viewing campaign or position advertising by the unionized representatives of the police, firemen and nurses, the public does not object to the compensation and benefits for these hardworking and often heroic individuals -- it is just that the citizens should question why safe cubicle dwellers and others in California's bloated bureaucracy should receive similar benefits. Union contracts which tie wages to the wages of other service providers should be eliminated. Who is to say that a school guard is facing the same daily danger as that faced by California Highway patrolmen who are patrolling our streets. Why should those assigned to desk jobs received what amounts to hazardous duty pay?
There are any number of ways to cut costs and provide superior services.
CAP: my idea for citizen involvement...
Perhaps we need to involve ordinary citizens in the process of curtailing waste and profligate spending. After all, it is OUR money that is being spent by representatives we elect to do our bidding while we go about our daily chores.
So, I would like to propose a citizen program called CAP. Citizens Audit Program. The catchy slogan can be "Let us all put a CAP on government spending." The initial capital requirements are little more than a toll-free hotline to the proposed budget czar and a website allowing the unconditional posting of information relating to waste, fraud and corruption. The site would be essentially un-moderated and available for all to see. People could argue their positions in a display of good citizenship. Profanity could be limited simply by filtering the incoming data stream. Whoever said that sunlight is the best disinfectant for government had it right.
The death of political correctness...
We need to move beyond the exaggerated political correctness that is crippling today's government. Where a prank-playing fireman is given millions of public dollars when he shouts racism and when the government refuses to defend their case -- and instead hires outside counsel (not subject to public scrutiny or voter backlash) to facilitate the racial handout.
We need to spotlight those who are making public service into a lottery ticket worth millions with phoney claims of stress issues or hostile work environments.
Holding the elected officials responsible...
And we need to start right now by holding this current group of leaders responsible for what they have wrought -- even if it means throwing the lot of them out of office and electing virtual unknowns with little or no party affiliations. Perhaps it is time to go back to the concept of citizen-legislator instead of allowing professional politicians to run our lives into the ground.
What can YOU do?
Hold our current elected officials responsible for California's problems.
Throw the bastards out of their cushy jobs with their profligate salaries and pasha-like perks and benefits.
Prosecute those who have broken the law and return their public pension money to the state coffers.
Do not vote for any candidate or current politician who is willing to subvert the safety, security, sovereignty and economic strength of the United States or limit an individual's right of self-defense for their personal philosophy, power, prestige or profits.
-- steve
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