I asked my AI search engine why California continues to elect politicians that are irresponsible with money… the response:

Great question—and one with deep roots in political science, psychology, and California’s unique history. Here’s an expert, balanced look at why the electorate often continues to favor the same political party, even amid visible policy challenges:
1. Party Loyalty and Tribalism
Many voters have strong, longstanding identification with a particular party. This loyalty often overrides dissatisfaction with specific policies or politicians. Party identity may be shaped by family, community, culture, or a sense of belonging.
2. Perceived Lesser of Two Evils
Voters may perceive the opposing party as being less aligned with their values or as even less competent, regardless of current disappointments. In California, for example, many view Democratic stances on social issues, environmental policy, and immigration as preferable, even if there are concerns about fiscal management.
3. Structural and Demographic Factors
California has experienced significant demographic changes—increasing diversity, urbanization, and an expanding younger electorate—trends that statistically favor the Democratic Party. Republican registration has shrunk, especially in coastal and urban areas, making it challenging for alternatives to gain traction.
4. Incumbency Advantage and Name Recognition
Incumbents have significant advantages: name recognition, campaign funding, media access, and established networks. Voters often stick with familiar candidates, even if they aren’t thrilled with their performance.
5. Gerrymandering and Election Rules
District boundaries, “top two” primaries, and other election rules can insulate incumbents or the dominant party from meaningful competition. This reduces voter choice and entrenches party power.
6. Voter Apathy and Low Turnout
Many voters feel disengaged or cynical about politics, believing “all politicians are the same.” As a result, only the most engaged partisans reliably vote, perpetuating the status quo.
7. Blame Deflection and Issue Complexity
Pension issues and other fiscal challenges are complicated. Politicians can often deflect blame (“not my fault,” “blame the other party,” “unions,” “Wall Street,” etc.), and voters may be uncertain where responsibility truly lies.
In Summary
Even in the face of policy failure or dissatisfaction, voters often stick with the dominant party due to loyalty, perceived alternatives, demographic trends, structural barriers, and messaging. Meaningful change is hard unless alternative parties can offer compelling, trustworthy leadership—or unless a crisis triggers a large shift in public opinion.
For those seeking change, building broad coalitions, supporting reform-minded candidates in primaries, and encouraging civic education and turnout are potentially effective strategies.

Sadly, I think the above applies to essentially all Democratic Party managed States and Cities.

‘Tis sad, ‘Tis true; ‘Tis true, ‘Tis sad…

Welcome to Commifornia. ..They got exactly what they voted for. .................................. drill sgt.

Didn't FJB already bail these fuckers out with the " AMERICAN RESCUE ACT" AKA inflation fuel and fires act

Well, that was four years ago, plenty of time for them to mess it up again

8. The Democrat Party in California rules the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. And they count the votes, with impunity.

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Same reason Illinois is. Without fixing the pension problem first there’s no way to make the state solvent. The politicians think the answer is to keep raising taxes but they are already chasing people and tons of great businesses out because of that one reason.

9. Democrats by their very nature are mentally ill people, choosing evil over good, wrong over right, criminal behavior over law and order.

Don't forget voter fraud. There is a huge amount of voter fraud here, and the Dems control the state government from top to bottom. 60% of the population voted that "stealing up to $950 per day should be a misdemeanor".

There is no shortage of Demwits here, but they are not 60% of the population.

Well, I asked my AI to write a reply to this thread for me (since I couldn't be bothered to come up with one myself), and here was its response:


"It seems rather counterproductive to the intent and ultimate goals of a discussion forum for people who ostensibly participate in such a social media forum in order to glean insight from the original thoughts, individual perspectives, and unique experiences of other members to instead resort to simply copying and posting what a piece of software managed to regurgitate via its mish-mash overview of the language libraries that had been fed into it."



Huh. These darn AI things get smarter by the day.


(Sigforum: Quality firearms. Quality discussion copy/pasting of AI-generated content.)

To be fair, pensions are only one of dozens issues leading to their problems. Individually the problems were addressable at one time. Collectively not a chance.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Well, I asked my AI to write a reply to this thread for me (since I couldn't be bothered to come up with one myself), and here was its response:


"It seems rather counterproductive to the intent and ultimate goals of a discussion forum for people who ostensibly participate in such a social media forum in order to glean insight from the original thoughts, individual perspectives, and unique experiences of other members to instead resort to simply copying and posting what a piece of software managed to regurgitate via its mish-mash overview of the language libraries that had been fed into it."



Huh. These darn AI things get smarter by the day.


(Sigforum: Quality firearms. Quality discussion copy/pasting of AI-generated content.)

My AI couldn’t figure out my password, but I’m sure it would have agreed wholeheartedly with your AI if it weren’t a tin man.

‘What can’t go on forever, won’t go on forever’.

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:
Welcome to Commifornia. ..They got exactly what they voted for. .................................. drill sgt.

Not all of us voted for this…

I know more than both hands full of people with 6 digit pensions and health bennies for life and they are in their 50’s and 60’s. I know 2 medically retired LEO in their 40’s. These are people with 30-50 years left to live. Multiply this by tens of thousands of state employees. The feds can just print more money. These state and municipalities have 2 choices. Raise taxes or cut benefits. Neither will go over well. But as noted CA keeps voting for more so not my problem.

The state pension system(s) in California are independent from the state budget process. They have their own investment staff.

I heard that the state got in trouble some years ago when they both tried to take some money for state purposes and when they tried to defer payments to the system from active employees. That hasn't stopped the state from making laws to require divestment of investments made to funds the state wants to cut off. The boards for the systems are supposed to be in a fiduciary relationship with their retirees, not the state.

When former Republican Kentucky Governer Matt Bevin stated the pension problem needed to be addressed
the unions got together and got him voted out.
I'm sure many states have ticking tlme bombs someone is going to have to pay for. I wonder who?
I wish I had a six figure pension.

quote:

Sadly, I think the above applies to essentially all Democratic Party managed States and Cities.

But if the pension system goes bust and doesn't pay out ... it'll put gov. employees where most people are now.
Most people don't have a pension.