posted on August 8, 2003 06:56:30 PM new
fenix - How many average workers do you know that are buying a brand new car every year? It's a $263 average increase on a new car. It was used so a comparison could be made. And yes, with the interest rates as low as they have been, many middle class wage earners are/have purchased new cars for that reason alone. It's all relative, fenix...new car, one year old car, two year old car...it still is a tripling of any tags registration from what they were since 1998. Last straw kind of thing,I believe.
Better never to have granted the increase? Like I said before,it was decreased because times were good. Taxes of the one's you guys refer to as "rich" paid for the decrease with the taxes THEY paid. But I did also mention that I've read, and will try to find the article where it stated the license tag fees were not being used for their original purpose...roads etc.and that was part of the decision to lower them in the first place. And some portion of these fees is also put into the general fund. And we all know what happens when any money is put in the general fund. It gets used for other purposes and we tax payers usually aren't even aware of it.
In my opinion, Davis deserves to be raked over the coals. A VERY close look at how he's spent the states money when times weren't so hard. To see if the voters feel it was wasted or not. He has managed the state for the last five years and has funded the programs of his contributors very well. He and other liberals are always voting for more social programs. Did you agree with your legislators getting a retirement package of 90% of their working salaries?
So...as I say goodnight...we'll see what comes of this recall and election. It's going to be a circus between now and Oct. 7th.
posted on August 8, 2003 07:34:35 PM new
Linda - I'm sorry but I have to ask the question here. Do you live in California?
If so, and you are up on the current cuts being made, which departments do you think should be cut more. Do we sacifice more educatioal funds? Public works? healthcare? How do you raise education levels in the state while shutting down schools and firing teachers? Do we solve the problem for three years only to increase it in the next decade with a welfare department overburden by the unemployable products of a skeletonized educational system?
EbayAuctionGuy - Great idea on that 10-15% budget cut. Which 10% of the kids do we decide not to teach next year?
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If it's really Common Sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on August 8, 2003 07:47:34 PM new
BTW - I do have a suggestion for cutting educational costs acroos the state without cutting teachers or services.
Warning: Personal experience will be refered to in the following text.
When i was in high school my senior year a neighboring school has a ceiling colapse. Resulting tests found... you guessed it... asbestos. School closed. Now obviously you can't just close a school, you have to find a place for the students. Solution... One building...two student bodies.
From 7am to 2 pm - Student Body one attended class
From noon to 7p Student Body two attended class.
Cross over hours were carefully scheduled. Most students don't carry a full class load so student body ONes finals classes were a bit light, student body twos early classes were light.
Different teaching staffs for each school.
This would free up property which could be sold and cut upkeep costs. In reality, you could increase the improvement budgets of each remaining school while lowering the overall maintance budget for each district. It could also reduce overcrowding if you were to say shut down only 1/3 of schools but put all remaining ones on split schedules thereby lowing classroom numbers.
It's just an idea, but that's what this state needs right now.
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If it's really Common Sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on August 8, 2003 08:08:25 PM new
Across the board:
Police (including 911, CHP, Local and Sheriffs)
Penitentiaries and department of corrections
Probation Department
Court Facilities (State and Local)
Fire
Emergency response
Education
Public Health
Caltrans
Medical
State Parks
Grants to local municipalities from state funds
Vector Control
Mosquito Abatement
Water Quality Assurance
Animal Control
All other state funded programs or departments.
Yeah cut them all then we can have bedlam in the streets!
posted on August 8, 2003 08:55:44 PM new
If you look in the front of the phone directory there are an incredible number of state offices listed. I assume then that it's OK to blanketly close 20% of those offices and let those employees go.
posted on August 8, 2003 10:33:21 PM new
EG - can you give me directions to your world? Sounds like an interesting place to live.
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If it's really Common Sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on August 8, 2003 11:01:39 PM new
I was half-joking, though I bet there are plenty of state workers making over a hundred grand. State workers are very well paid and their pay should be cut. California prison guards make about $80,000 a year and that's no joke!
By the way, the CA prison guards union is one of Gray Davis' biggest campaign donors.
posted on August 9, 2003 12:37:01 AM new
Starting salary for a California State Correction Officer is $35,000K - 45k per year depending upon facility. It's going to take a few years to get up to 80K and turn over rates dictate that few stay that long.
Are we done with the inaccurate and irresponsible generalities now?
BTW - how well would you survive is your income was sumarily cut by 15%. Since you advocate it for your educators, works, public safety officers et al and feel that it would be no hardship on them I assume then you make that judgement because it would also be no hardship for you.
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If it's really Common Sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on August 9, 2003 05:56:32 AM new
My boyfriend has been wanting to move to California for as long as we've been together (5 years this month) and has been wanting to drag me along. I've resisted for 5 years. Now, he's changed his mind! Thank you, Arnold, Larry, porn star and Gary!
Seriously, I hope things work out for the best in California. I wish I could make a judgement like the rest of you, but I don't live there and have not experienced the current government. I know that in Ohio our taxes were just raised and it hurts the pocketbook. A lot! Right after the taxes were raised, millions mysteriously turned up. Did they rescind the tax? Heck no. So, on the tax issue I feel your pain. But, taxes are being raised all over the country. Ohio is still one of the highest taxed states in the country.
Cheryl
Power to the people. Power to the people, right on. - John Lennon
posted on August 9, 2003 07:51:39 AM new
Here's a site for all you people who live in CA. It's the Legislative Analysts Office report. Shows were cuts are going to be taken, etc.
Major Features of the 2003 California Budget (August 1, 2003)
The budget package, as passed by the Legislature, authorizes total spending of $98.9 billion. Of this amount, $70.8 billion is from the General Fund, $20.5 billion is from special funds, and $7.5 billion from bond funds.
It addresses an enormous General Fund shortfall through a combination of program savings, borrowing, new revenues, funding shifts, and deferrals.
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To answer your question fenix, no. My husband and both of our grown sons are native Californians. I lived there most of my life until 4 years ago. Very glad not to be living there.
posted on August 9, 2003 08:14:52 AM new
Linda - I understand your relief , with any luck I will be leaving soon myself. In the mean time though, I would like to see some real leadership in place.
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If it's really Common Sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on August 9, 2003 09:08:13 AM new
Fenix - "What do you mean NOW Linda...we discussed there here close to a year ago"
Yes, but my point was that Davis didn't support issuing the licenses to illegals. But now that the recall is on...he's changing his position to get those votes.
From the Mercury News [San Jose]
Monday Driver's license bill needs work. Last year, Gov. Gray Davis vetoed a bill to let undocumented immigrants get driver's licenses. He said it came close but ultimately failed to meet post-Sept. 11 security requirements.
In response, a frustrated Sen. Gil Cedillo has introduced a new bill that not only ignores Davis' objections, but compounds the potential for fraud and identity theft.
Organized labor and Latino groups have made it clear that he must deliver a license bill if he wants them to deliver their votes against a recall. Davis shouldn't knuckle under. This bill is too important.
posted on August 9, 2003 10:08:56 AM new
Linda - from the wording it looks like that is an editorial piece. Unfortunately I find those almost as reliable as ebayauctionguys salary estimations for California Correctional officers . Is there any mention as to what offending clauses are?
Also I have real trouble with the concept that these labor leaders are demanding this in order to gain a recall vote since the bill would have to pass thru the house before it lands on his desk for him to sign in the first place.
Also considering that Davis supported the actual concept of the original bill but felt it needed reworking for security purposes why do you say that he supports giving illegals licenses NOW? He did before too, just wanted more security aspects put in place.
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If it's really Common Sense, why do so few people actually have it?
