The five states in the worst financial condition--Illinois, New York, Connecticut, California and New Jersey--are all among the bluest of blue states. The five most fiscally fit states are more of a mix. Three--Utah, Nebraska and Texas--boast Republican majorities and two--New Hampshire and Virginia--skew Democratic. link
I'm not surprised.
States reflect their population's attitudes. California and other blue states created programs and services designed to put into play social safety nets that cost lots of money. When you also have an attitude of allowing all comers regardless of their legal status to access services, at some point you will run out of money. California has to educated, house, feed, support and provide other services for many who come there illegally. Public hospital closings are on the rise. Coincidence? No, a symptom of a legislature unwilling to make the hard choices.
ReplyDeleteI really have nothing to add to what Ellen said. I guess the only thing worse is the fact that the state feels like it can continue to do what it has always done.
ReplyDeletedefinition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Well, Ellen, to qualify:
ReplyDeleteCalifornia's legislature is hamstrung by a requirement of 60% for tax increases, even when the voters can "initiative" themselves a program, and the same 60% is not required for programs or tax cuts.
The double standard is one of the big problems.
It's also noteworthy that some of the reddest states accept the most in federal aid.
Alaska kept its house in order by cutting property taxes but increasing royalties on energy companies and securing huge public works projects from Congress - especially one king of pork - Stevens.
The biggest irony is that now Californians are more reviled in Colorado than expatriate Texans. My brother in law, who is a raving liberal that does the Colorado thing climbing mountains all summer, hates seeing California license plates because they symbolize people who want the advantages of high taxation, but who don't see the drawback to doing so blindly. In short, they left California because of economic issues, then move to other states and try to do the same thing there. So for once, when we went skiing, Colorado residents weren't sneering at us. So we do have that to thank you for. Unless people change their attitudes toward expecting government to protect them from all peril and solve all their problems, nothing will change in any of the states that are in trouble. You cannot get blood from a turnip.
ReplyDelete