California Scheming

I think that sometimes enough is never enough.  Perhaps this is always true, when it comes to governments and budgets.  Like Donald Trump, they just can't stop embarrassing themselves in the search for more.

California's ruling crew passed tax increases a while back, designed to close the gap between income and outgo created by the economic meltdown.  That wasn't enough.  In a special election just held, they tried to get the tax increases extended for an extra two years (after the initial two year run).  

Not surprisingly, the electorate voted these extensions down.  Who knows where we will be in two years?  Why extend the taxes now - maybe they won't be needed?  No one addressed these questions, and so most people voted 'No'.

Now, in the aftermath, dire predictions of huge budget cuts to schools and other essential services are flying out of Sacramento.  Now?  We have the extra taxes already for the next two years, why cut now, why alarm people now?

Because we have numbskulls who can't see beyond their own political infighting, who can't talk directly and honestly with the public if their lives depended on it, that's why.  Or maybe they just aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.

Those of us who live in the 'Golden' State have become intensely skeptical of our leaders.  We didn't used to be.  Objectively the state has never been run as well as it deserves to be, but we tolerated it and passed most initiatives presented to us (even those so legally untenable that they never became law).  

We've grown up a bit now, but our 'leaders' haven't.  They continue their political scheming and we suffer the consequences.