tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post3775810062505852152..comments2024-02-25T08:16:25.546-08:00Comments on Exurban Nation: Fundamentally FlawedRob Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042154106850545479noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-63183275072813358432008-01-14T12:43:00.000-08:002008-01-14T12:43:00.000-08:00Looks like snowflake dr.phil episode will be final...Looks like snowflake dr.phil episode will be finally aired this wednesday:<BR/>http://www.drphil.com/shows/Tigihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16256806377404816837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-3131237653985354802008-01-14T11:54:00.000-08:002008-01-14T11:54:00.000-08:00Rob, with all due respect, California's crisis isn...Rob, with all due respect, California's crisis isn't due to handouts (although there are probably too many of those) as much as it is due to horribly outdated government-employee relations. The old union contracts are killing the state, as they prevent it from cutting non-performing government workers and restructuring retirement benefits.<BR/><BR/>The best long-term solution may be to put a freeze on hiring and let attrition reduce the government headcount, all while replacing with contract workers who can be severed at will and who do not receive retirement benefits. The Federal government is already slowly moving in that direction, but the pace may pick up as further budget crunches hit.<BR/><BR/>The cut to projects is also a step in the right direction, however. That's where budget surpluses get eaten up and then some (e.g. NYC subway project, Boston Central Artery, Washington D.C. stadium, Utah Legacy Highway.) It's arguable that in many cases those projects are worthwhile--they just aren't worth nearly what the government ends up paying for them.Peripheral Visionaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02489447120517274000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-12814990659972186412008-01-14T10:59:00.000-08:002008-01-14T10:59:00.000-08:00Why would you include a picture of a dirty pool in...Why would you include a picture of a dirty pool in an ad like that?Ogg the Cavemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05176616237386296114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-75902956014866654142008-01-14T03:26:00.000-08:002008-01-14T03:26:00.000-08:00tyrone - nice one, follow the link to zillow and t...tyrone - nice one, follow the link to zillow and the aerial picture shows the pool a nice emerald green. Now where have I seen that before?Arthur Wankspittlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04295165908114975618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-27537995936988628712008-01-13T22:20:00.000-08:002008-01-13T22:20:00.000-08:00Off-topic, but also fundamentally flawed...Diamond...Off-topic, but also fundamentally flawed...<BR/><A HREF="http://sacramentohomesre.com/properties.bank/7012/70122461.php" REL="nofollow">Diamond in the Rough</A><BR/><B>Remarks</B> A True Diamond in the Ruff. Bank Owned - Great neighborhood, incredible potential, light fixer, park like backyard (with some tlc),...<BR/><BR/>Hat tip to Lockwood.Tyronehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04226876002855072090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-25626981018951251422008-01-13T15:53:00.000-08:002008-01-13T15:53:00.000-08:00This "budget crisis" is more posing and posturing ...This "budget crisis" is more posing and posturing by Ahnohld. He is using this opportunity to burnish his fiscal conservative credentials. Just wait until the actual goods are delivered. Most of his supporters are living off the state. Nobody is going to take a cut, because supplying the state and living off the largess of the budget is not just the province of a few highly paid civil servants, but countless contractors as well. <BR/><BR/>Of course, it is easier to blame the workers and retirees. But they are not politically weak anymore. But they are not nealy as strong and as rich as those who get most of the state's money.Lost Causehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396272153746076615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-69773275549776860502008-01-13T15:24:00.000-08:002008-01-13T15:24:00.000-08:00I hear a lot about how inefficent Caltrans is. Do ...I hear a lot about how inefficent Caltrans is. Do they do the actual construction work themselves, or put it out to bid as is done in some other states?Ogg the Cavemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05176616237386296114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-22269208881168371462008-01-13T13:36:00.000-08:002008-01-13T13:36:00.000-08:00Tell me if I am wrong... California is looking to ...Tell me if I am wrong... California is looking to cut 10% from the budget as a first step to balancing the budget that is forecast with annual increases already in place. To the government a budget cut is when their God given right to an annual increase is cut. Not only are departments going to conceivably lose 10% (or some amount) across the board but they cannot count on annual increases they have already budgeted for.whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10180422369180931361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-55819419499679312992008-01-13T11:19:00.000-08:002008-01-13T11:19:00.000-08:00Caleeforneeah is uber funny! It's like the circus,...Caleeforneeah is uber funny! It's like the circus, only with more clowns and such.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-84355668549765769412008-01-13T10:03:00.000-08:002008-01-13T10:03:00.000-08:00I do think people get carried away with blaming Me...I do think people get carried away with blaming Mexicans for everything. I suspect that even if there wasn't a single illegal in California ya'll would still be looking into the abyss with your budget.<BR/><BR/>Revenue was up 40% in just 3 years, and your politicians pissed it all away. Don't they believe in saving for a rainy day? The rainy day has arrived, only it's a deluge.<BR/><BR/>I don't make 40% more now than I did 3 years ago. Few of us do. If I had to cut 10% from my family's budget we'd do just fine. No trips to Chuck E. Cheese and no Disneyworld this summer. BFD. California can provide the same level of service with a 10% cutback. The budget would still be a huge increase over what it was 3 years ago even with a paltry 10% cut. State governments are larded with waste and fraud and dead weight. Politicians simply lack the will. They are also on the take from the government unions.Lou Minattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16096986232572086745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-35501663365392007022008-01-13T07:59:00.000-08:002008-01-13T07:59:00.000-08:00Poor? Are you crazy? My kids go to school with t...Poor? Are you crazy? My kids go to school with their kids. My wife went to school with them. Rich don't even begin to describe these farmers and ranchers. Interestingly they are to a person very hard workers and down to earth types. <BR/><BR/>Ohhhh, you mean the laborers they hire. Well... yes they are a problem. We really need to help them and far more improtantly their families. Our twisted and sick immigration policy is tearing apart families luring away the best and brightest people from places that sorely need their efforts at social reform and productivity.Rob Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10042154106850545479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-26166921967509266922008-01-13T01:08:00.000-08:002008-01-13T01:08:00.000-08:00What is there to read here today? Rich white men p...What is there to read here today? Rich white men picking on the poorest members of our society. They have few rights. They are the people who actually do the work, while you get fat.<BR/><BR/>Do you realize that you are complaining about poor farm workers needing food to feed their families during a catastrophe? What a dog, indeed.Lost Causehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396272153746076615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-17241287253963607802008-01-13T00:33:00.000-08:002008-01-13T00:33:00.000-08:00to add insult to injury GSPG.OB is currently $10,0...to add insult to injury GSPG.OB is currently $10,000 in the green for our favorite snowflake.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12592207825094726008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-10180448117412681912008-01-12T23:32:00.000-08:002008-01-12T23:32:00.000-08:00Trial by fire is a good thing<A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXA7RtM_GFY" REL="nofollow">Trial by fire is a good thing</A>Akubihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214321836465499032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-22575505895857225132008-01-12T22:47:00.000-08:002008-01-12T22:47:00.000-08:00Well, the comments over at SFGate are pretty clear...Well, the comments over at SFGate are pretty clear about what needs to be done.<BR/><BR/>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/11/MNCUUD91O.DTL<BR/><BR/>Rich people need to pay more taxes. So there you are. Problem solved.Lou Minattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16096986232572086745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-75453352181919406352008-01-12T20:11:00.000-08:002008-01-12T20:11:00.000-08:00No, no, no... illegal immigrants have small carbo...No, no, no... illegal immigrants have small carbon footprints. The goal is make us all live their lifestyle not the reverse. Ask the Kalifornia based Sierra Klub who have as one of their biggest threats to Kalifornia population pressure. They also favor essentially uncontrolled borders. Well, not really. Good: people, diseases, terrorism. Bad: energy, freedom. <BR/><BR/>Global Warming is only for the headlines. For insiders there are better definitions. The enemy is global climate change and the target is anthropometric atmospheric carbon dioxide. For the real insiders you have to make the sociologically important distinction of first world emissions as distinct from developing world necessity. A lawnmower in Austin = bad, a coal plant in Central China = good.Rob Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10042154106850545479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-29362242087409966952008-01-12T19:36:00.000-08:002008-01-12T19:36:00.000-08:00Not to be snarky or anything, but I was under the ...Not to be snarky or anything, but I was under the impression that global warming would put a stop to this.Lou Minattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16096986232572086745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7514357.post-74528847100390197392008-01-12T19:16:00.000-08:002008-01-12T19:16:00.000-08:00Ho Ho Ho - It's Santa Flipper ClauseLike housing, ...Ho Ho Ho - It's Santa Flipper Clause<BR/><BR/>Like housing, the California budget is going to get much worse before it gets better.<BR/><BR/>Murst?<BR/><BR/>Santa F. ClauseSanta Flipper Clausehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18417238958466019434noreply@blogger.com