Too True
From Victor Davis Hanson:
This weird “they” is what killed California, the notion that somewhere in a room a group of plutocrats sits on bags on ill-gotten gold and can be dragged out and forced to cough up bullion in tough times. Do we believe that the Big Four of Huntington, Stanford, Hopkins, and Crocker are still around, hoarding half of the state’s resources? (Rule Six: No matter how broke California becomes, there is always someone else somewhere who can and should pay for others.)
Nathan, you nailed it.
I’ve seen the internet debates and musings about California’s failed financial policies, and no one is willing to say that MAYBE the state just went a little overboard in extending services.
“Did you ever think of blaming the government for continuing to expand services in a manner that was unsustainable?”
Instead, they were tweeting and sharing headlines such as “California GOP would rather screw the old and disabled than raise taxes.”
I asked the question, “Have you considered that raising tax rates might just have the impact of lowering overall tax revenues? Are you interested in truly helping people, or do you think yours is the only prescription?”
I got no answer.
Ike
29 Jun 09 at 8:16 am