Part of California's problems (certainly not all!) are exactly because the taxpayers have too much control of what is spent and borrowed. The number of social w

Part of California's problems (certainly not all!) are exactly because the taxpayers have too much control of what is spent and borrowed. The number of social welfare things that appear on the ballot when voting time comes around is crazy, but no-one will vote for the taxes required to support them. Only if the state politicians had full control of the books could they say "there's no money for this" and not have their hands forced by the voter to spend money they don't have. Californians want a welfare state, but won't pay for it, and you can't have it both ways (personally, I prefer the welfare state and higher taxes, but that's just me).