Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

Some of you seemed to be dancing like Rumplestiltskin in a happy mood when you were talking about the economic pit California (which you called the "Land of the Fruits and Nuts") was in. You poohpoohed the idea that California would be out of those problems soon. Today's New York Times has it that California's surplus right now is at least 4 billion dollars. Since you depend on them, we've still got plenty of fruits and nuts to sell to you, too.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

Maybe you don't understand the meaning behind the Land of the Fruits and Nuts... and maybe you don't understand California's economics.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

The right wing does not ever, ever, ever, consider revenue in any of its calculations.

They are cut and slashers and to hell with the good of the nation. They are slaves to a fake balance sheet that is stuck in some time warp of no growth and to assure the no growth they will cut and slash!

California may be the land of fruits and nuts but the right wing is the land of dumb,stupid, and ignorant!

NOSLEEP Loc: Calgary

May 1/13
The combined debt of California’s state and local governments is at least $848 billion and could escalate past $1.1 trillion, according to a new report.

The California Public Policy Center – focused on the analysis of California’s financial information on the state and local government levels — based its findings on official reports from the offices of the state controller and treasurer.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s $27.8 billion “wall of debt” was only part of the state’s official debt that the report put at $132.6 billion.

Much of the state’s debt comes from general obligation bonds — funds for public works — totaling $73.1 billion, unemployment insurance loans totaling $10.9 billion, and lease-revenue bonds totaling $11.3 billion.

The debt of K-12 public school districts was estimated at $49.7 billion, city government debt was $68.1 billion, county government debt was $22.1 billion, redevelopment agencies and special districts was $110.4 billion, unfunded pension liabilities at 7.5 percent interest was $128.3 billion and unfunded retiree healthcare liability was $136.8 billion.

According to the report — at 5.5 percent interest — an additional $200 billion would be added to unfunded pension liability.

The total $848.4 billion state and local government debt is called a “low estimate” by the report.

Adding, California’s long-term debt acquired by K-12 schools, cities, counties, special districts and redevelopment agencies as well as unfunded pension liabilities and future retirement healthcare could balloon the debt to $1.13 trillion.

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

You could say much of the same for almost any state in the Union. However, if you check out today's New York Times you will see that the income this year exceeds what was needed to meet obligations, and in fact has over a 4 billion dollar surplus.

What you are trying to imply is that California is going top sink beneath its huge obligations. It isn't, despite how much you may want this to happen.

Following your reasoning, anyone who has any credit card debt at all is hopelessly in debt. Not so.

California is successfully meeting its obligations and ending up with a surplus above that, Rumplestiltskin.

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

Well said !

Remember us, right-wingers, the next time you eat peaches or almonds. We're the people who supply you with at least 1/3 of your food, and probably a great deal more.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

This thread is about as useless as yesterday's t.p.

artlover Loc: NM

CA used to be the 6th economy in the world, now the 9th.
It used to be the "bread basket" to the world. Farmland was
being developed about 20K acres per year. Farmers retiring and
no one around to take charge.

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

Interesting facts, if indeed they are facts. Where did you get your information about the economic ranking of California ?

"Bread basket" is a term usually used in reference to the middle of the country, the states that produce wheat. What is not a very biog crop in California, as far as I know.

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

ArtLover, we are still awaiting the source of your information about the size of California's economy.

Croce Loc: Earth

I see the our local socialist, communist posing as a highly decorated veteran of the US Armed forces has his GI dentures flopping around again this morning spewing his hatred for all Republicans. Old feeble fool!

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

So CA gets a big one time boost by putting into place a retroactive tax and also enjoys an additional temporary boost caused by portfolio adjustments prior to the capital gains tax increase. Already your state legislators are looking for ways to spend this money before they are certain that the revenue increase is truly sustainable.

Check back with us in a year or two and let us know how that is working out...

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

The left wing never ever looks to cut government waste, as if it is the right of our legislators to waste money for their political gain or to enrich their friends and influential allies...

Beyond that the left has always felt that it deserves the fruits of the labors of others.... Our Government spends too much with unsatisfactory results, roads and bridges, airports and electric grids, all are crumbling while the government spends 40% of our GDP and refuses any attempt at accountability...

You can cry all you want about Dumb, Stupid, and ignorant when you are no better than a thief in the night advocating for armed robbery as you demand the property of others be appropriated for waste and the endless consumption of an ineffective government. It is you who refuses to recognize the plainly obvious, I would characterize that is being outrageously stupid and ignorant.

Festus Loc: North Dakota

Very well said! Why is ole sarg "In Hiding"? Could it be that he is living in one of those highly liberal communities, i.e., Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, etc., that are completely devastated by the squander and mismanagement of other peoples money? And just maybe he hasn't gotten his obama check yet.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Ole Sarg does not hide, he is almost a neighbor of mine as he lives a couple of hours down the interstate from where I live, I will not question his integrity, I just strongly disagree with his collectivist POV.