5 ms·

I don't disagree, but this was a very narrow, and IMHO naive analysis. PG&E is screwed because of years of graft and mismanagement. But now also because they a

by fargle 7y ago

I don't disagree, but this was a very narrow, and IMHO naive analysis. PG&E is screwed because of years of graft and mismanagement. But now also because they are now (thank you) saddled with decades of deferred maintenance (technical debt) and lawsuits (thank you). But they can't raise rates and they can't generate more revenue. So the only path is cutting costs (corners) more. So... guess what isn't getting fixed anytime soon. The "affordable" housing crisis is not a crisis, it's a bubble. Again (2007). Again (1999). It will, again probably, fix itself but at the great expense of mass foreclosures when it pops. The fires are as much a constant as they are an effect of mismanagement and inattention to the fact that Californian's love to build sorta very super expensive suburban homes in the middle of tinder dry scrub-waste-land. Whatever you blame on climate change, this is not it. This is building high-density in the desert with blinders on. And blaming "Climate Change" isn't going to clear the brush. Which BTW, we already pay the state, county and cities large sums of taxes and fees to do. But (see PG&E) they don't. They neglect more and more of the work to pad more and more of the bureaucrat salaries, so they in turn can barely afford to scrape by in the "overpriced" housing markets (and also afford to drive Audis/Teslas/Range Rovers, etc.). So yes, California is becoming unlivable. And it's due to it having become ungovernable and economically unsustainable.

CodeWriter23 7y ago
IMO we need to repeal Prop 14 / 2010, the “Top Two Primaries” Act. I’m not saying Republicans are any better than Democrats. I’d pick neither if there was an actual choice (there isn’t thanks to that law). What I am saying, the current SuperMajority has substituted “collegiality” for critical thought and imposing tough choices, and chooses instead to vote as a bloc, called by the Quarterback of their house. The Capitol is literally full of mostly empty suits. Empty until some agenda to benefit their corporate donors is in play. Having lived through it, I can say the gridlock of the past was preferable to what we have now. The bad part about Prop 14, it’s only reversible through another ballot initiative. Without a groundswell of support to get this changed, someone is going to have to raise tens of millions to pay for the signature collection and the media campaign.
- masonic 7y ago
  it’s only reversible through another ballot initiative It was a Constitutional Amendment. It can replaced by another Constitutional Amendment, which can come via the Legislature or via initiative. Whichever process is used, it must be approved by popular vote, but only a simple majority.
- fargle 7y ago
  It's also reversible by a single vote. Mine - when I leave and take my production and my consumption elsewhere.

by fargle 7y ago

CodeWriter23 7y ago

IMO we need to repeal Prop 14 / 2010, the “Top Two Primaries” Act. I’m not saying Republicans are any better than Democrats. I’d pick neither if there was an actual choice (there isn’t thanks to that law). What I am saying, the current SuperMajority has substituted “collegiality” for critical thought and imposing tough choices, and chooses instead to vote as a bloc, called by the Quarterback of their house. The Capitol is literally full of mostly empty suits. Empty until some agenda to benefit their corporate donors is in play. Having lived through it, I can say the gridlock of the past was preferable to what we have now. The bad part about Prop 14, it’s only reversible through another ballot initiative. Without a groundswell of support to get this changed, someone is going to have to raise tens of millions to pay for the signature collection and the media campaign.

masonic 7y ago
it’s only reversible through another ballot initiative It was a Constitutional Amendment. It can replaced by another Constitutional Amendment, which can come via the Legislature or via initiative. Whichever process is used, it must be approved by popular vote, but only a simple majority.
fargle 7y ago
It's also reversible by a single vote. Mine - when I leave and take my production and my consumption elsewhere.