Other California Facts

We have the oldest living creatures on Earth.

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2686571080052372595bGvPUh

None other than Sherm!

Also, the largest... the Sequoias.

We are the first state to reach a trillion dollar economy.

Depending on the state of the overall economy, if we were our own country we would have between the 5th and 7th largest economy in the world.

Since 1/8 Americans live here, I'd say the rest of you need to up your productivity! We're sick of doing all the heavy-lifting!

Don't you guys have something like a $14,000,000,000.00 (man, that's a lot of zero's) deficit!!!

And you're going to preach to us???

Really???

Aaron wrote:Don't you guys have something like a $14,000,000,000.00 (man, that's a lot of zero's) deficit!!!

And you're going to preach to us???

Really???

See? We even do deficits bigger than the rest of you. Get to work!

Umm, dude, that's not a good thing.

You can think your in paradise but I got to tell you man, the beeping ain't an exotic animal, it's the cement truck backing up getting ready to pave. But hey, it least you'll have one more place to park, right dude!!!

Aaron wrote:Umm, dude, that's not a good thing.

You can think your in paradise but I got to tell you man, the beeping ain't an exotic animal, it's the cement truck backing up getting ready to pave. But hey, it least you'll have one more place to park, right dude!!!

Truth is we are victims of Direct Democracy. Everything is put to a Ballot Initiative and as you would guess the majority vote for everything. They also vote against funding everything.

Add to it that the most powerful lobbying group in the State is for the Prisons. That's why we have more people in jail than any country on the planet except China. That's only California.

Prisons are very expensive so the 3 strikes thing, mandatory minimums, etc all cost us dearly. Arnie is going to dump the "criminals" on the street soon.

Are those your pictures? Do you have a new baby at home?

ohio county wrote:Are those your pictures? Do you have a new baby at home?

No, not me. Thanks for your interest, though.

But wasn't it funny to see "The oldest living creature on earth - General Sherman Giant redwood tree - 3000 years old"?

Do you know how the tree got its name?

Since the tree is older than Sherman the General who liberated most of the southland.

Yes. I'll admit I thought it might be a personal touch. Maybe this isn't the place for that. I have a hard time opposing people all the time. I've lived among hard-core democrats my whole life and have very few enemies. I'd far rather protect my personal relationships at the expense of my political relationships.

ohio county wrote:Yes. I'll admit I thought it might be a personal touch. Maybe this isn't the place for that. I have a hard time opposing people all the time. I've lived among hard-core democrats my whole life and have very few enemies. I'd far rather protect my personal relationships at the expense of my political relationships.

Not sure I follow you OC. Is that in reference to the "picture" question?

No doubt. I'd wandered a bit too far into the sweet lucy that evening...

SFCraig wrote:

Aaron wrote:Don't you guys have something like a $14,000,000,000.00 (man, that's a lot of zero's) deficit!!!

And you're going to preach to us???

Really???

See? We even do deficits bigger than the rest of you. Get to work!

Well done, Craig.

A man who can laugh at his own cause is a friend of mine.

Direct democracy is a fascinating matter, and I'd like to explore it. As I understand it, the three common methods right now are referendum, initiative, and recall. I think people like direct democracy when they agree with the majority and "don't trust it" when they don't!

Exactly. It might surprise you to know that I routinely vote against initiatives, even if it's for "the children". They've managed to make me slightly more "anti-tax" than I was in Chicago. I pay 13 or 14 thousand a year on property taxes and yet they always want to add a parcel tax for "insert cause here".

People are shocked when I tell them that. I respond that we should have a renter's tax for the (library, college, high school) and they begin to understand. I pay more than my fair share of state and federal taxes, believe you me.

That being said, it really is the vortex. Amazing shit happens here, regardless of what they tell you on TV.