6 ms·

Do you live in California? As a resident of the great state, I do not see our government as dysfunctional. I find it interesting that people who do not live her

by bebop 8y ago

Do you live in California? As a resident of the great state, I do not see our government as dysfunctional. I find it interesting that people who do not live here think that we are somehow doing it wrong. Last time I checked everything was running fairly well and we had a surplus of 9 billion dollars.

chrisdhoover 8y ago
Bad schools, DMV, poor road maintenance, failing dams, poor water supply, one party rule, over regulated housing market, HSR, and unfunded pensions are some examples of dysfunctional California.
- ryandrake 8y ago
  Despite having the highest state income taxes in the country. Where does it all go?
  - californio 8y ago
    In broad strokes, California's top spending is on Education, Healthcare, and Transportation. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, within those categories there are glaring examples of abuse... Transportation We're currently $37.3b over budget on a "bullet train" (in quotes because much of the track can't run faster than current trains in those areas). And despite having nearly doubled its budget almost before it laid any track, the recently released plan by the commission acknowledges that it still doesn't have enough money to complete a Bay Area <-> Bakersfield first leg. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-train-slow-track-20180315-story.html http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-train-s... A little while back, we also replaced part of a bridge for $6.5b despite early estimates indicating it would be less than $1b. https://www.citylab.com/equity/2015/10/from-250-million-to-65-billion-the-bay-bridge-cost-overrun/410254/ https://www.citylab.com/equity/2015/10/from-250-million-to-6... Education University of California chancellor ran a hidden account with $175m in it while pulling out her pockets and claiming they couldn't educate the students any more. https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/25/california-auditor-slams-uc-presidents-office-over-175-million-in-hidden-funds/ https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/25/california-auditor-sl... The previous UC Chancellor at Davis was booted from office for misappropriating funds, but she's also still on the payroll and making as much as she did while chancellor... which, by the way is $400k+ http://www.slate.com/articles/life/moneybox/2012/03/uc_davis_chancellor_linda_katehi_s_salary_makes_her_a_member_of_the_1_percent_.html http://www.slate.com/articles/life/moneybox/2012/03/uc_davis... Health I can't think of glaring abuses of the healthcare system off the top of my head, but it's worth noting that California has the largest population of homeless people in the US (and while most states' homeless numbers are shrinking, California's is growing) and, being a border state, a higher number of illegal immigrants than most states. Ignoring any political discussion about those groups, they both incur a disproportionate cost on healthcare as they are either incapable or disallowed from buying insurance policies yet they still need and receive healthcare.
  - claydavisss 8y ago
    CALPERS...this is the black hole of the state budget by a mile.
- gamblor956 8y ago
  On a list of the best public schools in the US, half are located in California. There are 49 other states. The DMV has counterparts in every state. If you have an appointment or visit a less-busy office, you can be in and out in under half an hour once every few years. California has more miles of roads than any other state except for Texas, and our roads get used by millions more people than the Texas roads do. More use = more wear and tear. Failing dams. The Oroville dam failed because it was damaged by a storm. While it was being repaired, historic levels of monsoon rains flooded the reservoir behind it, requiring the use of the spillway at volumes it was not designed to handle. However, subsequent investigations revealed that the problem was not as bad as feared due to features of the dam dating back to its construction that had been forgotten in the interrim. Poor water supply. Citation needed. LA has plenty of water. SF's source of water is so pure it doesn't even need to filter it. If we weren't exporting so much alfalfa and almonds, we wouldn't have a water crisis in the state. Literally 80% of California's water supply goes to agricultural needs (40% of California's total water). Those farmers are protected by a labyrinth of state and federal laws, centuries-old contracts, and interstate compacts. One party rule has been a good thing for California. We have a surplus. Growing business, growing tourism, lower unemployment, lower crime. Over regulated housing market. Citation needed. Every part of California that isn't the Bay Area is building housing just fine. (LA is on track to build several hundred thousand new units of housing from 2015 through 2020.) The problem is that so many people want to live in California that we can't keep up--there simply aren't the construction workers to build the houses/condos/apartments that we need to build to keep up with demand. HSR. Yes, we have this thing. Unfunded pensions. True, we have $333 billion of unfunded pension liabilities. But we can pay 69% of promised benefits, and unlike other states, California's public pensions can be reduced by legislative action, so the problem is one of political unwillingness rather than an actual crisis. (And you better believe that if a politician is faced with increasing taxes versus cutting pensions, they're going to cut pensions.)
  - claydavisss 8y ago
    > Poor water supply. Citation needed You cannot be serious. Why do you think Brown is proposing the Delta Tunnel project? Because the state basically lurches from water crisis to water crisis. Need a citation? Call your governor.
- dmode 8y ago
  1. California is home to the best public universities in the country 2. DMV - I will give you that, but honestly I never have an issue with it. Everything is online, and the last time I went to a DMV was 5 yrs back 3. Failing dams - there was literally one dam that failed due to an extraordinary storm. You are reaching there 4. Poor water supply - not sure what this means. Quality of water is so good, that I always drink directly from the tap. Unlike in many parts of the country. 5. One party rule - they are democratically elected, and California has very strong direct democracy as well. Besides, most states in US are one party rule. Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Utah etc. etc. 6. Housing - sure, but we already have 40 million people, some of the densest urban areas, and heavy traffic. Pushback is to be expected on new housing 7. HSR - I love it. Connecting rural areas to urban areas through modern transport will unlock the American economy like no other. Think about it - why are we restricted to living within 30 miles of our work in the 21st century. I had a team member in China, who daily commuted 150 miles one way to Shanghai in a HSR. 8. Unfunded pensions - this is a new talking point. Has very little impact on state finances.
briandear 8y ago
It’s great until you spend literally 4 hours at the DMV and “appointments” are available two months away at a minimum. And, if we have a 9 billion surplus, why are my taxes so high? Other than the weather, there’s nothing I see running better than Texas where taxes are much lower. Downtown San Francisco, especially near Tenderloin, looks like a refugee camp — if the refugees were crazed drug addicts. Houston is a city of millions and has fewer homeless than the city of San Francisco. You also don’t have tent cities on the sidewalks. Nor do you have parking garages blaming thefts of auto owners who have the audacity to leave items in their car. It’s as if local governments were warning girls to not wear revealing clothing, lest they be raped. Rather than locking up smash-and-grab theives, Prop 47 treats that crime like a traffic ticket — and then blames the victim for “tempting” the crime. How backwards is that? Prop 47 — more “great” government? But sure, it’s a “great” government here in California — the weather outside this morning is delightful. The California Office of Weather Control is doing a smashing good job. To be fair, I am happy I relocated here; but it isn’t because of the competency of the government. Taxes, politics and government were in the “cons” column when I made the decision. Even housing costs were not a particular negative because I’d also be making a salary that could more easily afford it. But, I am not convinced that our expensive government provides a good value compared to other states.
- smcameron 8y ago
  > Houston is a city of millions and has fewer homeless than the city of San Francisco. I lived in Houston for 30 years, and the bay area for 3. If you were living outdoors, would you stay in Houston? Not a chance. If you're outdoors, go where the weather's good. Houston's weather is the opposite of good. SF's is the epitome of good.
- lliamander 8y ago
  > It’s great until you spend literally 4 hours at the DMV and “appointments” are available two months away at a minimum. In case you (or anyone in this thread) is unaware, AAA ("Triple-A") is a fantastic way of circumventing the DMV. I've never waited more than 15 minutes (no appointment), and the staff is quite adept at helping with more complicated situations.
barnesto 8y ago
You are what's wrong with my state if you think everything is fine. 1st - that $9 billion surplus isn't a surplus. The state has debt and unfunded liabilities of over $1 TRILLION. $9 billion is couch change in comparison. Also, Brown has already said that "surplus" is being spent. https://californiapolicycenter.org/californias-total-state-local-debt-totals-1-3-trillion/ https://californiapolicycenter.org/californias-total-state-l... http://www.capradio.org/articles/2018/05/11/governor-brown-to-release-updated-california-budget-proposal/ http://www.capradio.org/articles/2018/05/11/governor-brown-t... https://www.ocregister.com/2018/04/06/with-california-taxpayers-facing-a-1-trillion-unfunded-pension-liability-lawmakers-focus-on-foam-and-plastic-straws https://www.ocregister.com/2018/04/06/with-california-taxpay... 2nd - this state is over taxes and when they can't tax us more, they levy fees. Like the the 12 cent gas tax for infrastructure projects that have already been paid for, and the increase DMV registration fees for the same. This state is one of the worst for business, which is why so many people and businesses are fleeing the state. 3rd - we have the largest homeless population in the country and are doing nothing to prevent or solve the issue. also, over 40% of people living here (citizens and non-citizens) are on some form of welfare or entitlement. where do you think that $9 billion "surplus" is going? 4th - we are at the bottom of schools systems and quality of life. see #3. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/03/01/california-ranks-last-quality-life-new-report/384853002/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/03/01/ca... https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/02/08/geographic-disparity-states-best-and-worst-schools/1079181001/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/02/08/geog... 5th - destruction of the middle class. our open borders policies provide cheap labor. we've also allowed non-citizens to obtain professional licenses - construction, lawyers, medical, etc. this takes away opportunities for citizens - you know the ones that are fleeing the state. 6th - speaking of non-citizens. we've issued over 1,000,000 driver's licenses to non-citizens and over 3,000,000 million own homes in our state. you don't think that amount of people, here illegally, have an affect on our middle class, our lower class - come on, this affects everything from quality of life to our school systems. but sure it's all fine and dandy. where's the meme with the dog in the room on fire?
- claydavisss 8y ago
  for perspective - CalPERs has a projected shortfall of over $1 Trillion, meanwhile the entire federal debt of Canada is less than $700 billion. unlike Canada, the state of California cannot simply print its own currency to address the issue
majormajor 8y ago
Most CA state services I've interacted with eventually get the job done (DMV, unemployment insurance, road repair) but far later than it could be done and without great service compared to living in big cities in red states in the south. So the gap between quality of service and quantity of money is concerning. CA-run single-payer terrifies me, for instance. Mandated insurance is great, but we haven't shown the ability to effectively manage a state monopoly service so I don't want us doing it ourselves. Good intentions, spectacularly bad execution. Currently I prefer that to bad intentions, better execution, but it's trying my patience.
CalChris 8y ago
Sacramento was in fact dysfunctional until the Democrats won a supermajority. Every year was brinksmanship with the budget. They have since lost that supermajority; the CA Assembly is one seat short of a supermajority. Nevertheless, Republicans have been relatively well behaved knowing they have been punished and can be punished again by the electorate.
- dragonwriter 8y ago
  The supermajority budget requirement was removed by ballot measure while the Democrats held a supermajority, so while they've lost it, not having it no longer creates predictable annual budget crises.
  - CalChris 8y ago
    Thanks, I remember this now. Prop 25 back in 2010 allows a simple majority for the budget. https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_25,_Majority_Vote_for_Legislature_to_Pass_the_Budget_(2010) https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_25,_Majority_... However, the same election voters passed Prop 26 which requires a 2/3 supermajority for levy and fee increases.
    - dragonwriter 8y ago
      Both the Prop 26 levy/fee supermajority and the pre-existing one for taxes can be bypassed by going straight to the voters, which Brown did for tax increases. The budget was the one thing where the supermajority requirement had no practical safety valve.
      - CalChris 8y ago
        No complaints about Brown going to the voters. It was the right thing to do. My complaints are about my soggy memory. They tried this 2/3 majority thing again. It's not hard nor is it especially expensive to get a ballot initiative passed, more so in an off election. Prop 8 passed the same election that Obama got elected. https://ballotpedia.org/California_Two-Thirds_Vote_for_State_and_Local_Revenue_Increases_Initiative_(2018) https://ballotpedia.org/California_Two-Thirds_Vote_for_State...

by bebop 8y ago

chrisdhoover 8y ago

Bad schools, DMV, poor road maintenance, failing dams, poor water supply, one party rule, over regulated housing market, HSR, and unfunded pensions are some examples of dysfunctional California.

ryandrake 8y ago
Despite having the highest state income taxes in the country. Where does it all go?
- californio 8y ago
  In broad strokes, California's top spending is on Education, Healthcare, and Transportation. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, within those categories there are glaring examples of abuse... Transportation We're currently $37.3b over budget on a "bullet train" (in quotes because much of the track can't run faster than current trains in those areas). And despite having nearly doubled its budget almost before it laid any track, the recently released plan by the commission acknowledges that it still doesn't have enough money to complete a Bay Area <-> Bakersfield first leg. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-train-slow-track-20180315-story.html http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-train-s... A little while back, we also replaced part of a bridge for $6.5b despite early estimates indicating it would be less than $1b. https://www.citylab.com/equity/2015/10/from-250-million-to-65-billion-the-bay-bridge-cost-overrun/410254/ https://www.citylab.com/equity/2015/10/from-250-million-to-6... Education University of California chancellor ran a hidden account with $175m in it while pulling out her pockets and claiming they couldn't educate the students any more. https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/25/california-auditor-slams-uc-presidents-office-over-175-million-in-hidden-funds/ https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/25/california-auditor-sl... The previous UC Chancellor at Davis was booted from office for misappropriating funds, but she's also still on the payroll and making as much as she did while chancellor... which, by the way is $400k+ http://www.slate.com/articles/life/moneybox/2012/03/uc_davis_chancellor_linda_katehi_s_salary_makes_her_a_member_of_the_1_percent_.html http://www.slate.com/articles/life/moneybox/2012/03/uc_davis... Health I can't think of glaring abuses of the healthcare system off the top of my head, but it's worth noting that California has the largest population of homeless people in the US (and while most states' homeless numbers are shrinking, California's is growing) and, being a border state, a higher number of illegal immigrants than most states. Ignoring any political discussion about those groups, they both incur a disproportionate cost on healthcare as they are either incapable or disallowed from buying insurance policies yet they still need and receive healthcare.
- claydavisss 8y ago
  CALPERS...this is the black hole of the state budget by a mile.
gamblor956 8y ago
On a list of the best public schools in the US, half are located in California. There are 49 other states. The DMV has counterparts in every state. If you have an appointment or visit a less-busy office, you can be in and out in under half an hour once every few years. California has more miles of roads than any other state except for Texas, and our roads get used by millions more people than the Texas roads do. More use = more wear and tear. Failing dams. The Oroville dam failed because it was damaged by a storm. While it was being repaired, historic levels of monsoon rains flooded the reservoir behind it, requiring the use of the spillway at volumes it was not designed to handle. However, subsequent investigations revealed that the problem was not as bad as feared due to features of the dam dating back to its construction that had been forgotten in the interrim. Poor water supply. Citation needed. LA has plenty of water. SF's source of water is so pure it doesn't even need to filter it. If we weren't exporting so much alfalfa and almonds, we wouldn't have a water crisis in the state. Literally 80% of California's water supply goes to agricultural needs (40% of California's total water). Those farmers are protected by a labyrinth of state and federal laws, centuries-old contracts, and interstate compacts. One party rule has been a good thing for California. We have a surplus. Growing business, growing tourism, lower unemployment, lower crime. Over regulated housing market. Citation needed. Every part of California that isn't the Bay Area is building housing just fine. (LA is on track to build several hundred thousand new units of housing from 2015 through 2020.) The problem is that so many people want to live in California that we can't keep up--there simply aren't the construction workers to build the houses/condos/apartments that we need to build to keep up with demand. HSR. Yes, we have this thing. Unfunded pensions. True, we have $333 billion of unfunded pension liabilities. But we can pay 69% of promised benefits, and unlike other states, California's public pensions can be reduced by legislative action, so the problem is one of political unwillingness rather than an actual crisis. (And you better believe that if a politician is faced with increasing taxes versus cutting pensions, they're going to cut pensions.)
- claydavisss 8y ago
  > Poor water supply. Citation needed You cannot be serious. Why do you think Brown is proposing the Delta Tunnel project? Because the state basically lurches from water crisis to water crisis. Need a citation? Call your governor.
dmode 8y ago
1. California is home to the best public universities in the country 2. DMV - I will give you that, but honestly I never have an issue with it. Everything is online, and the last time I went to a DMV was 5 yrs back 3. Failing dams - there was literally one dam that failed due to an extraordinary storm. You are reaching there 4. Poor water supply - not sure what this means. Quality of water is so good, that I always drink directly from the tap. Unlike in many parts of the country. 5. One party rule - they are democratically elected, and California has very strong direct democracy as well. Besides, most states in US are one party rule. Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Utah etc. etc. 6. Housing - sure, but we already have 40 million people, some of the densest urban areas, and heavy traffic. Pushback is to be expected on new housing 7. HSR - I love it. Connecting rural areas to urban areas through modern transport will unlock the American economy like no other. Think about it - why are we restricted to living within 30 miles of our work in the 21st century. I had a team member in China, who daily commuted 150 miles one way to Shanghai in a HSR. 8. Unfunded pensions - this is a new talking point. Has very little impact on state finances.

briandear 8y ago

It’s great until you spend literally 4 hours at the DMV and “appointments” are available two months away at a minimum. And, if we have a 9 billion surplus, why are my taxes so high? Other than the weather, there’s nothing I see running better than Texas where taxes are much lower. Downtown San Francisco, especially near Tenderloin, looks like a refugee camp — if the refugees were crazed drug addicts. Houston is a city of millions and has fewer homeless than the city of San Francisco. You also don’t have tent cities on the sidewalks. Nor do you have parking garages blaming thefts of auto owners who have the audacity to leave items in their car. It’s as if local governments were warning girls to not wear revealing clothing, lest they be raped. Rather than locking up smash-and-grab theives, Prop 47 treats that crime like a traffic ticket — and then blames the victim for “tempting” the crime. How backwards is that? Prop 47 — more “great” government? But sure, it’s a “great” government here in California — the weather outside this morning is delightful. The California Office of Weather Control is doing a smashing good job. To be fair, I am happy I relocated here; but it isn’t because of the competency of the government. Taxes, politics and government were in the “cons” column when I made the decision. Even housing costs were not a particular negative because I’d also be making a salary that could more easily afford it. But, I am not convinced that our expensive government provides a good value compared to other states.

smcameron 8y ago
> Houston is a city of millions and has fewer homeless than the city of San Francisco. I lived in Houston for 30 years, and the bay area for 3. If you were living outdoors, would you stay in Houston? Not a chance. If you're outdoors, go where the weather's good. Houston's weather is the opposite of good. SF's is the epitome of good.
lliamander 8y ago
> It’s great until you spend literally 4 hours at the DMV and “appointments” are available two months away at a minimum. In case you (or anyone in this thread) is unaware, AAA ("Triple-A") is a fantastic way of circumventing the DMV. I've never waited more than 15 minutes (no appointment), and the staff is quite adept at helping with more complicated situations.

barnesto 8y ago

You are what's wrong with my state if you think everything is fine. 1st - that $9 billion surplus isn't a surplus. The state has debt and unfunded liabilities of over $1 TRILLION. $9 billion is couch change in comparison. Also, Brown has already said that "surplus" is being spent. https://californiapolicycenter.org/californias-total-state-local-debt-totals-1-3-trillion/ https://californiapolicycenter.org/californias-total-state-l... http://www.capradio.org/articles/2018/05/11/governor-brown-to-release-updated-california-budget-proposal/ http://www.capradio.org/articles/2018/05/11/governor-brown-t... https://www.ocregister.com/2018/04/06/with-california-taxpayers-facing-a-1-trillion-unfunded-pension-liability-lawmakers-focus-on-foam-and-plastic-straws https://www.ocregister.com/2018/04/06/with-california-taxpay... 2nd - this state is over taxes and when they can't tax us more, they levy fees. Like the the 12 cent gas tax for infrastructure projects that have already been paid for, and the increase DMV registration fees for the same. This state is one of the worst for business, which is why so many people and businesses are fleeing the state. 3rd - we have the largest homeless population in the country and are doing nothing to prevent or solve the issue. also, over 40% of people living here (citizens and non-citizens) are on some form of welfare or entitlement. where do you think that $9 billion "surplus" is going? 4th - we are at the bottom of schools systems and quality of life. see #3. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/03/01/california-ranks-last-quality-life-new-report/384853002/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/03/01/ca... https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/02/08/geographic-disparity-states-best-and-worst-schools/1079181001/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/02/08/geog... 5th - destruction of the middle class. our open borders policies provide cheap labor. we've also allowed non-citizens to obtain professional licenses - construction, lawyers, medical, etc. this takes away opportunities for citizens - you know the ones that are fleeing the state. 6th - speaking of non-citizens. we've issued over 1,000,000 driver's licenses to non-citizens and over 3,000,000 million own homes in our state. you don't think that amount of people, here illegally, have an affect on our middle class, our lower class - come on, this affects everything from quality of life to our school systems. but sure it's all fine and dandy. where's the meme with the dog in the room on fire?

claydavisss 8y ago
for perspective - CalPERs has a projected shortfall of over $1 Trillion, meanwhile the entire federal debt of Canada is less than $700 billion. unlike Canada, the state of California cannot simply print its own currency to address the issue

majormajor 8y ago

Most CA state services I've interacted with eventually get the job done (DMV, unemployment insurance, road repair) but far later than it could be done and without great service compared to living in big cities in red states in the south. So the gap between quality of service and quantity of money is concerning. CA-run single-payer terrifies me, for instance. Mandated insurance is great, but we haven't shown the ability to effectively manage a state monopoly service so I don't want us doing it ourselves. Good intentions, spectacularly bad execution. Currently I prefer that to bad intentions, better execution, but it's trying my patience.

CalChris 8y ago

Sacramento was in fact dysfunctional until the Democrats won a supermajority. Every year was brinksmanship with the budget. They have since lost that supermajority; the CA Assembly is one seat short of a supermajority. Nevertheless, Republicans have been relatively well behaved knowing they have been punished and can be punished again by the electorate.

dragonwriter 8y ago
The supermajority budget requirement was removed by ballot measure while the Democrats held a supermajority, so while they've lost it, not having it no longer creates predictable annual budget crises.
- CalChris 8y ago
  Thanks, I remember this now. Prop 25 back in 2010 allows a simple majority for the budget. https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_25,_Majority_Vote_for_Legislature_to_Pass_the_Budget_(2010) https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_25,_Majority_... However, the same election voters passed Prop 26 which requires a 2/3 supermajority for levy and fee increases.
  - dragonwriter 8y ago
    Both the Prop 26 levy/fee supermajority and the pre-existing one for taxes can be bypassed by going straight to the voters, which Brown did for tax increases. The budget was the one thing where the supermajority requirement had no practical safety valve.
    - CalChris 8y ago
      No complaints about Brown going to the voters. It was the right thing to do. My complaints are about my soggy memory. They tried this 2/3 majority thing again. It's not hard nor is it especially expensive to get a ballot initiative passed, more so in an off election. Prop 8 passed the same election that Obama got elected. https://ballotpedia.org/California_Two-Thirds_Vote_for_State_and_Local_Revenue_Increases_Initiative_(2018) https://ballotpedia.org/California_Two-Thirds_Vote_for_State...