Having a budget surplus is rose-colored glasses? Conservatives can’t even accept good news when it happens? What a bunch of whiners. “If the budget is balanced, then taxes must be too high!”
State budgets (like the federal budget) are always somewhat relative items. During the recent economic difficulties in the Great Recession, which was the worst such econ0mic trouble since the Great Depression of the 1930’s, many states had great trouble in balancing their budgets. And as California IS the leading economic entity among all the states of the union by quit a way (and the only state generating a GNP of over $2 trillion), it should be expected that California would also be a leader in those budgetary troubles. As it was.
And like other states as the general economy improves from its low point of 2008-2009, so will the budgetary picture for all of the states, including California. And it is!
And Governor Brown HAS done a reasonable job of keeping spending under reasonable control, while at the same time maintaining excellence in such important areas as higher education (and California has the best in not only the US, but possible in the entire world) for the future of the all important high tech area of California’s economy.
While there are particular good areas in every states economy within all 50 of the great states of the union, some states in particular are better off in certain areas.
California has four major areas in this that will keep California very well, both now and in the future.
One of these is an incredible variety of climate and geography that generates both a thriving tourist industry and great variety for the citizens of this state. Just about every possible climate and geography that is imaginable from the lowest point in the lower 48 states to the highest exists with this one state. On the same day you can be snow boarding in the mountains, and then still be surfing in the Pacific Ocean without even freezing your tail end off!
Two, is something a whole lot of people in other states do not seem to realize. And that is the value of the agriculture in the state of California (even with the industry that exists to serve the highest population of any state) is larger that the values of the agriculture of the next most valuable states put together.
Three, the strategic location of the California Coast (while to some extent a danger due to the “Ring of Fire” volcanoes and earthquakes) allows California to have the largest economic volume ports within the US. From San Diego (a very important port for the US Navy) to the incredibly busy ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, on up to the very strategically important port of San Francisco. Most of the imports from the entire Pacific Region to the US come through California.
Finally, there is the very lucrative and important high tech industry of such areas as Silicon Valley. And those industries are not gong to be leaving California any time soon, as that excellent higher educational system supplies these types of industry with the type of educated workers that they so desperately need.
All of this has led to California being the eighth largest economy in the world. With no other state being even in the top ten economies of the world. If ANY state within these United States could make it entirely on its own, it would be California. And guess what, we too have our nutcase secessionists also. But the vast majority of Californians are luckily relatively moderate in their political leanings. so Californian will continue to be one of the greatest single sources for federal monies with the union. And all of those red “taker” states are even welcome, even though the only thanks we get are sometimes cartoons such as this one, and bad remarks such as some of our more ultra conservative fellow US citizens make on these comment boards!!
May everybody in these great United States Have A Very Great Day!!
“Tax and Spend is great until you run out of someone else s Money.”Yes, yes. That mantra is well past old. Let’s go back to the Republican strategy of borrow, give more tax cuts to the rich, and spend.
There’s a great joke about a general wanting to know why he needs an accountant, an auditor, and a budget analyst….He goes to each and asks, what is 2+2?The accountant says, approximately 2 plus approximately 2 is approximately 4.The auditor says, exactly 2 plus exactly 2 is exactly 4.The budget analysts says nothing. Then he goes to the door, looks both ways into the hall and closes the door, locking it. Then he goes to the window, looks out for a moment, and closes the blinds. Then he sits right next to the general, leans forwards and whispers….“How much do you want it to be?”A friend of mine to whom I put that question believes this fiscal outlet is the result of working with a budget analyst.As much as I would like good news for our country and its states, I tend to believe he’s right.Respectfully,C.
Maybe little Stevie Breen should move out of San Diego…he obviously has it so tough here. Or maybe he’s just drawing it to please his owner, Mr. Doug Manchester, of Propsition 8 fame.
Mneedle about 11 years ago
And the Federal government is following the same path.
ARodney about 11 years ago
Having a budget surplus is rose-colored glasses? Conservatives can’t even accept good news when it happens? What a bunch of whiners. “If the budget is balanced, then taxes must be too high!”
H P Hundt Premium Member about 11 years ago
The CA budget is balanced only if you ignore pensions and bond payments.
frodo1008 about 11 years ago
State budgets (like the federal budget) are always somewhat relative items. During the recent economic difficulties in the Great Recession, which was the worst such econ0mic trouble since the Great Depression of the 1930’s, many states had great trouble in balancing their budgets. And as California IS the leading economic entity among all the states of the union by quit a way (and the only state generating a GNP of over $2 trillion), it should be expected that California would also be a leader in those budgetary troubles. As it was.
And like other states as the general economy improves from its low point of 2008-2009, so will the budgetary picture for all of the states, including California. And it is!
And Governor Brown HAS done a reasonable job of keeping spending under reasonable control, while at the same time maintaining excellence in such important areas as higher education (and California has the best in not only the US, but possible in the entire world) for the future of the all important high tech area of California’s economy.
While there are particular good areas in every states economy within all 50 of the great states of the union, some states in particular are better off in certain areas.
California has four major areas in this that will keep California very well, both now and in the future.
One of these is an incredible variety of climate and geography that generates both a thriving tourist industry and great variety for the citizens of this state. Just about every possible climate and geography that is imaginable from the lowest point in the lower 48 states to the highest exists with this one state. On the same day you can be snow boarding in the mountains, and then still be surfing in the Pacific Ocean without even freezing your tail end off!
Two, is something a whole lot of people in other states do not seem to realize. And that is the value of the agriculture in the state of California (even with the industry that exists to serve the highest population of any state) is larger that the values of the agriculture of the next most valuable states put together.
Three, the strategic location of the California Coast (while to some extent a danger due to the “Ring of Fire” volcanoes and earthquakes) allows California to have the largest economic volume ports within the US. From San Diego (a very important port for the US Navy) to the incredibly busy ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, on up to the very strategically important port of San Francisco. Most of the imports from the entire Pacific Region to the US come through California.
Finally, there is the very lucrative and important high tech industry of such areas as Silicon Valley. And those industries are not gong to be leaving California any time soon, as that excellent higher educational system supplies these types of industry with the type of educated workers that they so desperately need.
All of this has led to California being the eighth largest economy in the world. With no other state being even in the top ten economies of the world. If ANY state within these United States could make it entirely on its own, it would be California. And guess what, we too have our nutcase secessionists also. But the vast majority of Californians are luckily relatively moderate in their political leanings. so Californian will continue to be one of the greatest single sources for federal monies with the union. And all of those red “taker” states are even welcome, even though the only thanks we get are sometimes cartoons such as this one, and bad remarks such as some of our more ultra conservative fellow US citizens make on these comment boards!!
May everybody in these great United States Have A Very Great Day!!
Jason Allen about 11 years ago
“Tax and Spend is great until you run out of someone else s Money.”Yes, yes. That mantra is well past old. Let’s go back to the Republican strategy of borrow, give more tax cuts to the rich, and spend.
chazandru about 11 years ago
There’s a great joke about a general wanting to know why he needs an accountant, an auditor, and a budget analyst….He goes to each and asks, what is 2+2?The accountant says, approximately 2 plus approximately 2 is approximately 4.The auditor says, exactly 2 plus exactly 2 is exactly 4.The budget analysts says nothing. Then he goes to the door, looks both ways into the hall and closes the door, locking it. Then he goes to the window, looks out for a moment, and closes the blinds. Then he sits right next to the general, leans forwards and whispers….“How much do you want it to be?”A friend of mine to whom I put that question believes this fiscal outlet is the result of working with a budget analyst.As much as I would like good news for our country and its states, I tend to believe he’s right.Respectfully,C.
kamwick about 11 years ago
Maybe little Stevie Breen should move out of San Diego…he obviously has it so tough here. Or maybe he’s just drawing it to please his owner, Mr. Doug Manchester, of Propsition 8 fame.