Ben's Bankruptcy sweepstakes!

[Ben Kenobi]

You get bragging rights. If you go california like me, you get to rub it into Oerdin.

[Al B. Sure!]

You get bragging rights. If you go california like me, you get to rub it into Oerdin.

Who cares? Who has state patriotism in 2013? I'm an American, not a Pennsylvanian.

[Dinner]

What if Ben is the first person to guess correctly?

Then he has to ban himself.

[onodera]

Who cares? Who has state patriotism in 2013? I'm an American, not a Pennsylvanian.

Who has country patriotism in the third millenium? World government ftw!

[Dinner]

You get bragging rights. If you go california like me, you get to rub it into Oerdin.

Meh, it's the inland deep red areas of the state which suffer from bankruptcy. FACT!

The fact that you don't know this just shows what a clueless person you are.

[The Mad Monk]

Lots of people have state patriotism. It's not mutually exclusive.

[Ben Kenobi]

Meh, it's the inland deep red areas of the state which suffer from bankruptcy. FACT!

The fact that you don't know this just shows what a clueless person you are.

San Bernardino County: Obama.
San Jaoquin County: Obama.

Both are solid Obama counties. FACT

[Ben Kenobi]

Lots of people have state patriotism. It's not mutually exclusive.

True, but how many people have Pennsylvanian patriotism?

[giblets]

Texas Town May Have to Declare Bankruptcy

By Mary Ann Pekara

Realizing you need to file bankruptcy to save your personal finances can be a frightening thing. But, for many, once the process begins, there is a sense of relief: you're now on the long road to financial health. So what happens when your personal finances are fine, but the city you live in is on the verge of bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy laws are designed to provide relief and protection to individuals struggling with debt. Learn how bankruptcy laws can help you by speaking with a local bankruptcy lawyer.

The citizens of Edcouch, Texas, are finding that out.

Edcouch, a town of 4,400 in southern Texas, is struggling to stay afloat, reports The Monitor.

After laying off 75% of its 21-person work force in September, the city's law enforcement staff now reportedly only consists of a police chief, one detective, and an interim city administrator who's paid a $100 weekly stipend.

In an effort to further reduce unnecessary spending, the city removed 103 unused trash bins which had been costing $1,800 a month to maintain, according to the Monitor.

Though such cutbacks have apparently helped to stabilize the city's finances, greater changes are needed. Sources say Edcouch is $1.2 million in debt and its only sources of tax revenue are a few convenience stores and restaurants.

So why hasn't the town gone to file bankruptcy yet?

Apparently, officials are hoping for change. Currently operating on a $55,000 loan until property tax revenues begin coming in later this year, the city is reportedly reluctant to declare bankruptcy because of the potential blow to the morale of its citizens.
Speak to a Bankruptcy Lawyer Today

Some claim the city's financial troubles worsened under the former city administrator, who resigned this August after allegations that he starved and disposed of the city's stray dogs, according to reports. The interim administrator allegedly hopes to stay afloat by getting a debt consolidation loan in the coming months.

The Monitor reports that many of Edcouch's residents view bankruptcy as a last ditch effort that wouldn't be very helpful to the city. And it seems they're determined to do all they can to keep the city churning away until something happens.

Residents have reportedly taken to performing city maintenance duties themselves. One main apparently mows the lawns of and clears the brush from vacant lots, in an effort to maintain the visual quality of the town. Others, according to sources, are volunteering at City Hall by answering phones and completing paperwork.

One man has organized neighbors to help him fix potholes in the streets, the Monitor notes.

And the lack of city officials is becoming evident, according to some. Some claim they've seen more speeding with the reduced police force, and some have allegedly bought more durable locks for their homes.

The town of Edcouch is struggling through the financial difficulties many bankrupt Americans face-and its residents are feeling the effects.

http://www.totalbankruptcy.com/news/articles/miscellaneous/edcouch.aspx

[Ben Kenobi]

town of 4,400

Cities over 100k

Hey, get another 30 of em, and you'll get one of these cities. Another 160 and you'll get a Detroit!

[Dinner]

San Bernardino County: Obama.
San Jaoquin County: Obama.

Both are solid Obama counties. FACT

Look at their congressional reps as well as who they send to the state house. They're red, red, red. Most of the inland central valley is red, red, red.

[giblets]

Don't let facts bother Ben.

[Ben Kenobi]

Look at their congressional reps as well as who they send to the state house. They're red, red, red. Most of the inland central valley is red, red, red.

Gonna need a [[citation needed]] for that. There are plenty of republican counties in California that voted for Romney. Any county that voted for Obama cannot be considered 'heavily republican'. You might want to try Kern, or Orange or Shasta County if you want to find 'heavily republican'.

But why I am telling you this? Oerdin is always wrong even when it concerns California.

[Dinner]

As if I care enough about you to bother. But in case anyone who isn't a brain damaged syphilitic ape is interested.

In 2004 the map looked like this:


2008


2012


If you go back further than 2004 the inland areas were pretty much all red with the exception of the Lake Tahoe area and the main reason those worthless red areas are now declaring bankruptcy is because their Republican mayors and Republican city council members bet the house on the housing bubble in the early 00's and they lost. In the actual desirable coastal parts of the state if a developer wants to build a new subdivision we require them to foot 100% of the cost to build new city roads, to extend public utilities, to meet environmental impact costs, and dozens of other things. You see, demand for the land is so high SOMEONE will deliver and taxpayers don't want to have to pay more just so some out of town developer can turn a quick buck and then leave. Where as in the undesirable red inland areas no one wanted to build anything there because those places are that crappy, they're no where near the major job centers and few people want to drive 3-4 hours each way to work, and because Republican controlled areas tend to be **** with no civic pride nor any desire to make their areas more desirable with amenities.

Thus in order to get developers to build in their backwoods ****hole inland areas the Republican lawmakers put the city on the hook for all of those costs, they made their cities take out massive (and I do many truly massive compared to the tax base) loans to pay for everything we make private developers pay if they want to build a development. Then when no one bought those crappy slapped together Levytown homes the Republican controlled cities were on the hook for massive loan payments they can't pay. They bet the house on subsidizing their preferred campaign donors and then lost the house. THAT is why the ****ty red districts are all in financial trouble, you brain damaged toady. They have virtually nothing in the way of public services, they have the fewest police, fire, or government workers per capita, certainly the lowest paid with the smallest pensions, yet they're ones dropping like flies because Republicans are corrupt, they can't manage ****, and all they really did was loot those towns and then scram. Sadly, the central valley has more in common with Kentucky than the sophisticated urban centers of the coast so the voters of those backwards red districts were not savvy enough nor engaged enough in their own cities were run to realize they were screwed by corrupt Republican politicians and out of town developers.

In other words, Ben, you're a drooling idiot and you really should just kill yourself but failing that please for the love of god stop trying to talk about subjects which you know nothing about. Killing yourself is the preferred option though.

[Dinner]

The 2012 map (where San Barnadeno switched) had more to do with Romney being a terrible candidate and the GOP being determined to let everyone know they hated hispanics than anything else. Prior to 2012 you'd have to go back to the 1940's to find that county going blue and virtually all the state reps and congressional reps (outside of a few inner city areas) are red. So, once again, Ben, please do the honorable thing and kill yourself for being so stupid.