Ramblings of a Technology Addict

Sunday, January 12, 2003

California's Big Problem...

So, most of the news here focuses on the budget shortfall, all 34 billion dollars of it. The population of California in 2000 was 35.4 million, so, accounting for even small growth, that's roughly $1,000 per person that the state needs to find in order to keep its books even.
$1,000 is how much a good TV costs. Or a used car. Or an iBook. Or 558 gallons of gas here at the Chevron. Or 3.3 5 GB iPods. This is how much money needs to be saved by the State of California.
How are they planning on making up for this? Taxes. Lots of them. 1% sales tax. Making money in this tight economy? Be Prepared to give more of it back to the government to pay for their problems. The other fun place: Indian Gaming Casinos.
What's Davis going to do? Slash budgets. He's already told the University of California it would be on its own for 1.2 billion dollars. Look for community college to cost just over twice what it used to. Tuition at the UCs would grow by 35%.
So let's see...because Davis couldn't keep spending in check, the state is making life more expensive for everyone.
Thanks Gray.
Next time: vote for someone who won't raise your taxes, spend you into the poor house and decrease your services on a local level.
The problem isn't California's deficit, it's California's Chief Executive.
6:02:57 PM comment []

Sunday Links

Here are some Sunday Morning Links and Discussion...
...Plastic has pointed out that Dell Got Protested at CES for using prison labor in its computer recycling programs. Pictures are available. [Link via Plastic]
...The Industry Standard was an interesting magazine that was high on the read lists of technology marketing types when I was working for Edelman in San Francisco. This was a magazine that I read and enjoyed. But then the dotconomy died. And somehow, The Industry Standard couldn't make it. Salon's got a Summary of Their Death up and it's worth a read.
...MeFi has an interesting question: How long until Apple figures out blogging? Well, they seem to have done so already, at least to the point where they're obviously testing their browser to handle the Blogging APIs. An Apple branded blog not too far away? I'd love to see some Apple branded designs for Blogs, or blogging capability in my .Mac account. But changing URLs all the time Blows.
...Ever wonder what would happen If the Bloggers Had Written Lord of the Rings? Me neither. 34 billion dollar shortfall. So how is he fixing it? By handing the bills back to the local communities. Way to shirk your responsibilities. Davis tried to spend California out of the recession and now that he got himself re-elected, he's shirking the situation that he created. Nice Gray. In addition he wants to build all sorts of new education buildings, but not give them any money to be staffed. Gee, thanks Gray! Way to go, being fiscally stupid seems to have paid off for you.
...I've written a piece for MacSlash on the difference between the Mac community and the PC community. PC users want it to work FOR them, where I'd say that Mac users want their Mac to work WITH them. The Macs have the better tools, hands down. We've got a framework, they've got a tool. Not too bad, eh?
11:53:00 AM comment []