Case study in Republican insanity: California to go belly-up?

[Darius871]

Look at what they've cut already. If they are going to let prisoners out, what more do you think there is to cut?

QFT. I can't wait to see taxpayers start complaining (in the press or even in court) about their daughters getting raped and their sons getting shot because prisoners got set loose early, only for the sane to respond "you were the cheap bastards that refused to pay for locking them up, and you got what you paid for!"

Of course, when a halt in various entitlement checks results in massive riots and looting, the response too the lootees can be the same. This is what you wanted. You did this.

[Darius871]

Actually, I wonder if you could have a referendum to allow simple majorities in the assembly to pass tax increases.

AFAICT CA could do that immediately. Of course, administering the balloting would itself cost millions that the state doesn't, you know, have.

[Dis]

QFT. I can't wait to see taxpayers start complaining (in the press or even in court) about their daughters getting raped and their sons getting shot because prisoners got set loose early, only for the sane to respond "you were the cheap bastards that refused to pay for locking them up, and you got what you paid for!"

Of course, when a halt in various entitlement checks results in massive riots and looting, the response too the lootees can be the same. This is what you wanted. You did this.

I just don't want those prisoners heading my way. We have gotten so much crime from California. In fact, I blame all of our crime on California . Back in the day we only had mob killings. Then the California gangs moved in...

[Barnabas]

Why do they have such a large deficit?

[David Floyd]

QFT. I can't wait to see taxpayers start complaining (in the press or even in court) about their daughters getting raped and their sons getting shot because prisoners got set loose early, only for the sane to respond "you were the cheap bastards that refused to pay for locking them up, and you got what you paid for!"

Of course, when a halt in various entitlement checks results in massive riots and looting, the response too the lootees can be the same. This is what you wanted. You did this.

Of course I don't know the solution to the financial crisis. But I do know the solution to this: Empower the police in California to shoot looters on sight. That eliminates the problem of looters AND extra prison space/costs. All you have to pay for are bullets

[OzzyKP]

Half of those prisoners shouldn't be locked up in the first place. So yea, let those non-violent offenders go. Good for the budget, good for the state.

[Patroklos]

Look at what they've cut already. If they are going to let prisoners out, what more do you think there is to cut?

If I remember correctly they have not mandated a single government job be cut. There is your problem right there.

[snoopy369]

They're laying off 20,000 people this week. That's not enough cuts for you?

[Patroklos]

No, what percentage of the state workforce is that?

[chequita guevara]

This shows direct democracy doesn't work. Up with republicanism.

Direct democracy works fine as long as you have an educated public. Direct democracy plus private financing means that really bad policies that favor the rich get passed.

[David Floyd]

As opposed to really bad policies that favor the poor?

No, direct democracy would just result in the less well off masses helping themselves to the property of the rich, via voting.

Not that, of course, you have a problem with that. Most of the rest of us do, though.

[Ramo]

No, what percentage of the state workforce is that?

8.36%

http://www.sco.ca.gov/ppsd/empinfo/demo/index.shtml

[Patroklos]

Ah, then they could use another 12 odd percent off the top. I would pocket half the savings and use the other half to give raises to the rest of the workforce.

I would do this to the Federal government too, though it should have been done years ago.

[Ramo]

What do you base this 20%+ number on?

[Asher]

Half of those prisoners shouldn't be locked up in the first place. So yea, let those non-violent offenders go. Good for the budget, good for the state.

White-collar crimes aren't crimes.