California - A "Shining" example of where this country is heading!

[Darin Jordan]

The 2/3 majority needed to pass a budget is what kills us. We end up in grid lock every year with one party or the other holding the entire process hostage. Democrats hold 63% of the seats in our legislature. So the Republican minority holds them hostage.

What I hear when I read this is that things would be even worse if it weren't for the conservative party keeping the spending from truely going wild...

Or are you seriously arguing that, if the Dems could get their programs through, taxes would go down, the environment would be more business friendly, and that fiscally irresponsible entitlement programs wouldn't be expaned/growing/implemented???

Really...???

I may be missing YOUR point... but I'm not sure THAT is the point...

[Bill-SOCAL]

What I hear when I read this is that things would be even worse if it weren't for the conservative party keeping the spending from truely going wild...

Here's a recent example of how this works. During the last budget crisis the Republicans held up legislation to reform our water laws which are way out of date and causing significant problems. Why did they do this? So they could get the votes to pass a waiver for a real estate guy to build a new football stadium. SO I guess you are right. The Democrats were trying to reform water laws to the benefit of everyone while the Republicans stalled to get a special waiver for a rich contributor to build a new football stadium. So in your mind the system works.

And if the majorities were reversed the same crap would go on. The minority party can always hold the majority hostage. And with the budget locked with only 10% up for change each year the system is broken. You want to make this the fault of Democrats. It is not. In our case it is the very system that is broken. Neither party can effect any real change.

[Darin Jordan]

The Democrats were trying to reform water laws to the benefit of everyone while the Republicans stalled to get a special waiver for a rich contributor to build a new football stadium. So in your mind the system works.

And I'm sure that's the whole story...

I'm not sure what water laws or gay rights have to do with the fiscal crisis in California, but I'll look further into it and see if I can draw some conclusions... I'm sure they are tied to higher business taxes and out of control entitlement programs someone... And I'm SURE that the Dems, with their majority, have NEVER blocked any legislation that might otherwise improve the business climate down there... And I'm equally sure that if a simple majority was all that was needed, the Dems would push VERY hard for spending reform and lower taxes and other measures that would bolster the economy from within...

I'm sure of it...

If the system is that broken, then the two sides need to get together and fix it...

[RCprince]

Dude... you gotta lay off whatever you are smoking... History has NOT shown Ronald Reagan to have "failed"... JIMMY CARTER... now THERE is an example of a president who has FAILED!

And Arnold??? A "Republican"??? In name only, dude...

Dude the only thing Ronald Reagan did was end the cold war. Domestically he terrorized working poor people, with his trickle down economics and war on drugs. Reagan was President in title only, he started literally loosing his mind early in his presidency. Reaganomics my arse!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTcL6...ayer_embedded# For real, who tells the President of the UNITED STATES to Speed it up? Wall Street of course.

[Darin Jordan]

Dude the only thing Ronald Reagan did was end the cold war. Domestically he terrorized working poor people, with his trickle down economics and war on drugs. Reagan was President in title only, he started literally loosing his mind early in his presidency.

That is a very obscured view of history, my friend...

[domwilson]

Why does it have to be the Dems or the Reps.? Remember the housing bust or the gouging by Enron? Out of control spending came from both sides with pet programs and loosely regulated entitlement programs.