Will the US Bail Out California?

[Neil]

the safe political way to cut social spending is not to keep up with inflation. over time, the budget for that item is reduced. see Chretien, Jean.

dramatic, over night cuts are politically risky. Mike Harris (ON) got relected on it once but eventually people realised there were real world consequences.

gotta add to this. if you successfully articulate a political crisis over debt through the media and social medias, and line up your attack dogs in the right order, it's a lot easier to make cuts. in other words, design a good PR campaign.

Thatcher pulled it off. there was a political cost, but she was relected. however, Thatcher could not pull off everything she wanted.

Klein got away with it.  He gutted everything, broke the unions and eliminated the threat of the opposition parties.

[jimmy olsen]

So is the feeling that Californians should have agreed to the propositions offered to us?

The feeling is that Californians should pass a proposition giving up their power to vote on propositions.

the protection of gnomes and a generally benign budgetary system. 

Are gnomes endangered in Switzerland?

[Barrister]

Klein got away with it.  He gutted everything, broke the unions and eliminated the threat of the opposition parties.

Alberta has had the grand total of one change in governing party since the early 30s - and even ten it was only to change from one right-wing party to another.

[Caliga]

Kentucky. 'nuff said.

There are nice parts of Kentucky as well.  Why, I'll bet there are nice, as well as shitty, parts of every state!

[Barrister]

Kentucky. 'nuff said.

There are nice parts of Kentucky as well.  Why, I'll bet there are nice, as well as shitty, parts of every state!

Every part of Yukon is nice.

[Fireblade]

Only if Arkansas gets a bailout too.

[Berkut]

Only if Arkansas gets a bailout too.

Arkansas is definitely small enough to fail.

In fact, has it ever NOT been fail?

[garbon]

In fact, has it ever NOT been fail?

That was going to be my question. How would one notice the difference if Arkansas got a bailout or not?

[Syt]

In fact, has it ever NOT been fail?

That was going to be my question. How would one notice the difference if Arkansas got a bailout or not?

They pimp their school system.

[dps]

California is too big to fail!

Maybe Obama can buy it, "reorganize" and then give it to the state employees union.

I don't see how that would work.  Even the idiots who run Fiat wouldn't want to merge with California.   

[Faeelin]

Btw, only an utterly ridiculous person would think that New Jersey should be mentioned in the same breath as New York and California.  The same kind of person who might view Massachusetts and California as rivals.

I'm trying and failing to think of a way that California is superior to New Jersey. You have... better beaches?

Better weather, assuming you're a weird sunnofabitch who hates winter?

More distance between you and New York City?

[garbon]

I'm trying and failing to think of a way that California is superior to New Jersey. You have... better beaches?

Better weather, assuming you're a weird sunnofabitch who hates winter?

More distance between you and New York City?

Oh, you were dropped on your head as a child?

[Faeelin]

Oh, you were dropped on your head as a child?

It's what makes me such a charming character.