Fiscal Insolvency or Political Incompetency?

For too long now, the citizen's of California have put up with the mediocre attempt by our legislators to solve our state's budget crisis; they need to remember that they are in their positions to represent us and serve the better interests of our state and our citizens. It is reprehensible to think that they have let us fall so deep into this economic pit, that we are now issuing IOUs for the first time since the Great Depression.

My message to the state Senate and Assembly:

Stop thinking solely of yourselves and your special interests, stop playing partisan political games and get down to work. This shortfall should have been dealt with months ago, and you have continually dragged your feet and procrastinated. Quit beating around the bush and get a balanced package on the desk of Governor Schwarzenegger quickly. Your constituents are all counting on you to represent them and do what is right for them and the State of California. Regardless of what your party affiliations are and what political ideology you follow, you owe it to the citizens to fix the problem at hand. You are working on something much bigger than yourselves or your individual ideologies. It is up to you to retain the public's trust, do not fail us now!

My message to Governor Schwarzenegger:

Regardless of what agreements you made with the legislature earlier this year, if they give you a balanced budget that does raise some taxes, sign it. Personally, I think we will have to increase taxes on certain luxury items: tobacco, alcohol, and even gasoline. Obviously the increases should not be monumental, but if they need to be raised, so be it. You owe it to the citizens to work with the legislators and compromise on a balanced solution. Thus far, you have not produced any major changes in the way California runs; as a matter of fact, the efficiency of the State has waned under your watch. Work with our representatives to find a solution to the problems facing our State government, and do something that will have long-lasting impacts on our citizens for the better. Otherwise, you will have been no different from Gray Davis and should never have been trusted with the office of Governor of the State of California.

I have a few ideas on how to close the budget gap. They are not the only ideas, and may not be the best ideas, but at least I am working on coming up with a solution. (Somebody has to)

Budget cuts:

Don't play favorites, cut everything equally across the board. All over the country, people are being asked to do more with less. Local governments and private corporations are all feeling the pinch and are have to make do with what they have got; why should State government be any different? Yes, slashing budgets suck, and nobody wants to do it, but sometimes we have to do things that we don't want to. Cut 10% of every budget throughout the state and maybe we can put some back next year if out revenues increase.

Taxes:

Again, not a popular choice by any means, but raise taxes on certain luxury items. I believe a 5% increase in taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and gasoline can be afforded. Believe me as someone who uses all three of these products it hurts me to say this, but I think it will be for the best. I understand that nobody wants to pay higher gas prices, but the reality of the situation is that comparatively throughout the world, our prices are still pretty low. Drivers can afford to pay a few cents more per gallon to benefit our state and pay for the roads that they drive on. Also, in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco, there are decent public transportation systems that can be used for local transportation. Not only will this save the consumers' money, but it will save the roads and freeways by eliminating some of the heavy traffic, and will helps protect the environment with lower greenhouse gases and carbon emissions.

Programs:

Eliminate unnecessary programs. Yes, many of them are great ideas and have many positive aspects and outcomes, but if we can't pay for them we shouldn't have them. The rehabilitation program for the incarcerated is great, but perhaps we should hold off on that for next year, when we can properly budget for it. There are many programs across the State that can be cut or get a lower budget appropriation. It is not ideal, but it is necessary.

Immigration:

Nobody likes to discuss this hot topic, but we cannot continue to prolong the inevitable. We need to come up with some sort of comprehensive immigration reform. To begin, all of the illegal immigrants being held in our prisons for committing crimes need to be turned over to federal authorities for deportation. This will lessen the growing prison population and lower our operating costs for state penitentiaries. We need to create a path towards citizenship, getting those already in the country documented and working as a functional part of society. Get them into the system so we can collect income taxes, so they can contribute to the social programs that take care of them as well as the rest of our citizens. If they work and make the same contributions as the rest of our citizens, there is no reason that they should not be eligible for citizenship within 5-7 years; for those who serve in our military, the eligibility should be quicker.

Welfare and Social Programs:

For those collecting welfare and unemployment, there are qualifying criteria that need to be followed. Specifically for those collecting on welfare, they should be actively seeking employment; otherwise they should be volunteering with local organizations and non-profits. They could be working on cleaning up California to make our state more enticing to tourists thereby increasing our tourism revenues. I don't think that volunteering 15 hours a week to earn your welfare check is too much to ask. Obviously, those collecting disability would be exempt.

There are many things that can be done to help California, and everyone has a role to play. We need to get through this shortfall to create a balanced budget that ensures California's posterity for years to come. We need to all work together to get California back where it was as the 5^th largest economy in the world. We can make California a better place, but we need to work together to achieve it. As citizens, we need to stand up and take ownership; it is our duty to stay informed and involved in our community and our government. Government officials need to work together to solve all of the problems that come our way, regardless of political aspirations, party affiliations, and individual ideologies. Together, we can do it!