Thread: Liberals have ruined California

Originally Posted by sinebar

I just read that California is now banning all flat screen TV's that use too much energy. This is just the kind of absurd liberal regulation that has ruined the golden state. I think the Wall Street Journal summed it up pretty good with the following.

The Wall Street Journal has described the result:

“The Golden State -- which a decade ago was the booming technology capital of the world -- has been done in by two decades of chronic overspending, overregulating and a hyperprogressive tax code.…”

One might argue that’s this is a politically biased assessment. So here are some facts, not assessments:

California’s state expenditures grew from $104 billion in 2003 to $145 billion in 2008.
California has the worst credit rating in the nation.
California has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the nation, 9.3 percent -- higher even than the car manufacturing state of Michigan.
California has the second highest home foreclosure rate.
California’s tax-paying middle class is leaving the state. California’s net loss last year in state-to-state migration exceeded every other state's. New York, another Left-run state, was second.
Since 2000, California’s job growth rate -- which in the late 1970s was many times higher than the national average -- has lagged behind the national average by almost 20 percent.
California has lost 25 percent of its industrial work force since 2001.

Joel Kotkin, one of the leading observers of urban America, the presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University, recently wrote an essay on California, “Sundown for California.” He begins with these words:

“Twenty-five years ago, along with another young journalist, I co-authored a book called “California, Inc.” about our adopted home state. The book described ‘California’s rise to economic, political, and cultural ascendancy’...But today our Golden State appears headed, if not for imminent disaster, then toward an unanticipated, maddening, and largely unnecessary mediocrity.”

That is what left-wing policies have done to California. In Kotkin’s words, “the state legislature decided to spend its money on public employees and impose ever more regulatory burdens on business.”

Last week, Intel, the world’s largest maker of computer chips, announced that it would invest $7 billion to expand its facilities. Where? In Arizona, Oregon, and New Mexico. But not in California, the state in which Intel is headquartered.

The Left is bringing the greatest state to its knees.

...

There is more.

Prager has an important message because what liberals did for California they are trying to do for the rest of the country.

I do have a problem with his last quoted sentence. At this point Texas is a greater state than California and is becoming the home of more companies because it has rejected liberalism.

the article is mistaken, michigan has a much higher unemployment rate than we do...

Originally Posted by Imperator

are you referring to CFL's?

No, the manufacturers of flat panels.

It was a piece on the radio this morning; I don't have a link to it.

Originally Posted by pramjockey

What you're failing to mention is that the industry itself is applauding the increased efficiency standards. In the long run (a foreign concept to many, I know), the savings in energy benefits all of us.

I think that was more a 'they have bigger fish to fry' complaint

Originally Posted by Imperator

Too many referenda with conflicting requirements have significantly contributed to the problems seen in California.

hey thats cool, I am for it then, I just don't want to see a replay of the car tax again for cars not manufactured to suit calis whim.

Originally Posted by pramjockey

Too many referenda with conflicting requirements have significantly contributed to the problems seen in California.

if you mean there are to many that are not explained properly, sure, in the end its the bond measures and the lack of the electorate understanding what they are being asked for....its a sham...

Originally Posted by Imperator

if you mean there are to many that are not explained properly, sure, in the end its the bond measures and the lack of the electorate understanding what they are being asked for....its a sham...

Exactly.

While I do believe that an involved and informed (gotta have both) citizenry is cruicial to the success of our nation, I think that the referendum/amendment processes have gotten out of hand in some states. Here in CO we are finding ourselves in some interesting budget situations because of unforeseen long-term impacts of Amendments that were passed years ago.

Government regulation and mandates on energy efficiency are vital to making industry respond to global reality. Yes its true that by subsidizing oil, coal, and other fossil fuel prices, the government has screwed with the free market which would clamor for more efficiency if energy prices weren't subsidized to be so low. The only solution is either to remove those subsidies and have everyone's fuel and power bills skyrocket, or to mandate more efficiency in the worst energy-abusing segments of the market.

Average Gasoline Consumption for New Vehicles, United States, 1972-2007 (in miles per gallon)

Average Gasoline Consumption for New Vehicles, United States, 1972-2007 (in miles per gallon)

In 1975, after the First Oil Shock, the US Congress authorized the Department of Transportation to set and enforce new automobile efficiency standards known as CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy). The fuel efficiency of new vehicles increased substantially between 1975 and 1988, in part because of the legislation but also in part of new imported fuel efficient vehicles, namely from Japan. After 1988, the fuel efficiency of new vehicles leveled off at about 28.5 miles per gallon. Today, CAFE standards are 27.5 mpg for passenger cars and 20.7 mpg for light trucks. From the late 1980�s, light trucks, particularly Sports Utility Vehicles, gained market share and began to have a negative impact on the average fuel efficiency. In 2007, the CAFE standards for light trucks were increased from 20.7 mpg to 22.2 mpg which resulted in an improvement in fuel economy. Rising oil prices have also played a substantial role.

The only reason Ford is still in business is Mulally pushed Ford in the right direction just in time. Japanese companies have known for a long time its all about fuel efficiency. Detroit never figured it out until Ford did a couple of years ago.

California seems to be the place willing to push us to the bottom of the barrel as far as the rest of the world is concerned.



If the rest of the world can figure out how to be more efficient, why can't the US?

Originally Posted by pramjockey

What you're failing to mention is that the industry itself is applauding the increased efficiency standards.

Says who, an industry source who wishes to remain anonymous? PR people within those companies?

I don't buy this.

Originally Posted by pramjockey

In the long run (a foreign concept to many, I know), the savings in energy benefits all of us.

Of course it'll save us money as cap-and-trade pushes electrify costs many times higher than they are today. But that's about the only benefit.

Kramer

Originally Posted by kramer

Says who, an industry source who wishes to remain anonymous? PR people within those companies?

I don't buy this.

I don't know who said it. I'll see if I can find something more specific.

Of course it'll save us money as cap-and-trade pushes electrify costs many times higher than they are today. But that's about the only benefit.

Kramer

Reducing consumption of foreign-based energy sources ends up increasing our own security.

Originally Posted by pramjockey

Too many referenda with conflicting requirements have significantly contributed to the problems seen in California.

I don't disagree with this. However..

The net cost of illegals to the state of California is 5 to 10 billion per year (after taxes, etc.). This is a huge part of the problem.

Another problem are too many regulations.

Report says regulations hurt state's economy

Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, September 25, 2009

(09-25) 04:00 PST Sacramento - -- Regulations on small businesses in California have cost the state's economy $492 billion and 3.8 million jobs, according to a report quietly released by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office this week.


Read more: Report says regulations hurt state's economy

Taxes are also too high, even the liberal entertainment industry is moving out of state.

In general, I agree with the OP that liberals has ruined California. And I see them destroying this country with huge debt of which the vast majority of it is for social programs that aren't even constitutional.

What bugs the living democrat out of me is why we just let these things continue to happen. I long for the day when tangible concrete actions are taken to permanently stop this insanity.

Kramer

Originally Posted by kramer

I long for the day when tangible concrete actions are taken to permanently stop this insanity.

Kramer

And what would those be?