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The Top Four Reasons California Is Unsustainable

Thomas Del Beccaro
Contributor

California is a place unlike any other on the Globe. It boasts perhaps the greatest natural resources of any state along with shining high-tech industries. However, like many good economic stories, government policies threaten its future.

Indeed, its government has made California unsustainable.

Of course, it wasn’t always this way. As the 1960s came to a close in California, it had a population of nearly twenty million. In the decade before, its economic strength afforded the construction of a vast State Water Project and higher education system that was the envy of the world. Matched with a majestic and trade friendly coastline, along with visionary business leaders, California’s future seemed secured.

No more – and here are the four major reasons California is at such great risk.

#4. California’s Infrastructure Deficit.
That vast State Water Project was designed for a population not much greater than 25 million. Today, on any one day, California verges on nearly 40 million people within its borders and is projected to reach 50 million if not higher.

In the last 50 years, however, California’s infrastructure needs have been ignored.

The state’s water system remains essentially is as it was in the 1960s. As for its roads, a recent headline declared that “California’s roads are some of the poorest in the nation and rapidly getting worse.”

According to a 2017 infrastructure report card:

“Driving on roads in need of repair in California costs each driver $844 per year, and 5.5% of bridges are rated structurally deficient. Drinking water needs in California are an estimated $44.5 billion, and wastewater needs total $26.2 billion. 678 dams are considered to be high-hazard potential. The state’s schools have an estimated capital expenditure gap of $3.2 billion.”

In 2017, California’s Governor Jerry Brown estimated California was “facing $187 billion in unmet infrastructure needs.” However, the Bay Area Council Economic Institute “pegs the cost of California’s unfunded infrastructure needs at up to $737 billion and possibly as much as $765 billion.” Who is right? It’s hard to know but all of those figures are more than daunting.

#3. Government Debt.
How much in debt are the California governments? That’s hard to know too. According to a January 2017 study, “California state and local governments owe $1.3 trillion as of June 30, 2015.” The study was based on “a review of federal, state and local financial disclosures.”

In other words, that $1.3 trillion in debt is the amount to which California governments admit. Other studies believe it to be more. Indeed, one study says it is actually $2.3 trillion and a recent Hoover Institute stated that there is over $1 trillion in pension liability alone, or $76,884 per household. Incredibly, there are 4 million current pension beneficiaries, a number that continues to grow and which exceeds the total population of 22 states.

What’s the right number? Apparently, it is so large it is hard to accurately estimate. In every case, the number is staggering.

#2. California’s Taxes and Regulations.
When you consider the California legal system and its regulatory system, inclusive of the world’s most comprehensive global warming law, California is likely the most regulated state in the Country, if not the World.

California also is among the highest taxed states in the nation. California has the highest income tax rates. The top rate is 13.3%. The next closest top tax rate is in Oregon at 9.9%. However, Oregon does not have a sales tax. California has the 10th highest sales tax.

What is remarkable about the California income tax isn’t just that it has the highest rate, it is how little income it takes, just above $52,000, to qualify for California rate of 9.3%. Given the high cost of living in California, that means many Californians are subject to that rate.

On the other hand, for more than a decade, less than 150,000 of California’s 35+ million people pay half of all of its income tax – a highly imbalanced system.

Now, many might think California needs all of those taxes given its infrastructure deficit and debt. The problem with that notion is that those prolonged high taxes, debt burden and regulations limit California’s economic future. After all, why would businesses locate in California in the future with the impending tax-aggeddon that must be in the offing?

Also, California’s middle class has been hollowed. A recent CNBC headline read: "Californians fed up with housing costs and taxes are fleeing state in big numbers." Where are they going? Many have left for low tax states offering more jobs than California.

They have been replaced by those taking advantage of California’s magnet government policies, which increase California’s long-term spending needs. For those that remain, according to Smartasset.com "California has the highest debt-to-income ratio in the country.”

Little wonder, the demographer Joel Kotkin concluded that “the state is run for the very rich, the very poor, and the public employees.” It is also how California found itself with the worst poverty problem and why “California ranks dead last among U.S. states in quality of life, according to a study by U.S. News.”

All of which brings us to the number one reason California is not sustainable.

#1. The California Governments.
You would think all of the above would have government officials deeply worried. So much so that they would cut back everywhere they could. If you thought that, you would be wrong – very wrong.

California spends nearly $200 billion a year on budget and even more off-budget in the form of programs paid with bonds, i.e. debt financing. As for the pension debt, of that nearly $200 billion, in the most recent budget less than $2 billion was allocated to paying down that pension debt. More than that was spent this year on a high-speed rail project currently estimated to cost $70 billion and which no one seems to want.

Beyond that, as I wrote earlier, California is moving ever farther left and wants the nation to pay for it. The next generation of leaders, Gavin Newsom, Kevin de Leon, Xavier Becerra and Kamala Harris are significantly to the Left of the old (and “conservative” by comparison) Jerry Brown and Diane Feinstein. That new generation of leaders are supported by an influx of friendly voters who are replacing those that are leaving.

All of those leaders support the dozens of lawsuits brought by the Democrat Attorney General Xavier Becerra against the Trump Administration. Many describe those lawsuits as part of California Democrats resistance movement – a resistance designed to result in political gains more than policy benefits.

Gavin Newsom, Kevin de Leon, Xavier Becerra and Kamala Harris also support some form of significantly expanded healthcare benefits if not universal healthcare – which is estimated to cost as much as $400 billion a year (that is not a typo). All of them support the California magnet policies that attracted so many of those in California illegally. In fact, there is no indication that the next generation has any concern for the future debt. Instead, they support higher taxes.

What taxes will those be? Within a decade you can expect higher income taxes and sales taxes. There is always a movement afoot to do away with California’s landmark property tax protection known as Prop 13. You also can expect a service tax – a tax on lawyers and accountants as well as hairdressers and gardeners. That service tax would be on top of the existing income tax. Beyond all of that, sooner or later an asset tax will be proposed. California counties already collect an asset tax on businesses. Look for that to be proposed statewide as California lurches ever farther to the Left and if forced to confront future debt.

Is there a silver lining in this story?

If you are living in one of the 49 other states, you should learn from the lesson that is California. If you are living in California, there is always the lesson of how Michigan came to be governed by a more centrist government. Of course, that came after the failure of the prior government. For now, however, for all its concern for sustainable foods and products, California is on a high-speed rail to unsustainability.



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This makes me very sad. I was born in Los Angeles and lived in California for 51 years before I left. I was educated at UC Santa Barbara. This is not the California I grew up in and it is very disappointing. Unfortunately, the state will go bankrupt before anyone in state government gives a damn.

quote:

This is not the California I grew up in and it is very disappointing.

That can be said for large portions of the US.
CA is the result of one party, inept and corrupt leadership aided and abetted by ignorant voters and special interest groups. Truly a lost cause. The once golden state is rapidly becoming a shithole.

quote:

Originally posted by nasig:

quote:

This is not the California I grew up in and it is very disappointing.

That can be said for large portions of the US.
CA is the result of one party, inept and corrupt leadership aided and abetted by ignorant voters and special interest groups. Truly a lost cause. The once golden state is rapidly becoming a shithole.

I am afraid I just have to agree with these statements. Common sense has gone out the window. We are among the crowd getting ready to leave and never look back.

Tax and spend California gov't officials love to brag about the relative size of their economy, comparing themselves size-wise to sovereign nations rather other states, as if to suggest they are too big to fail. We'll see.

quote:

Is there a silver lining in this story?If you are living in one of the 49 other states, you should

make sure that any peoples coming to your state from California are screened and interviewed as to their competency to support themselves free of public programs for the 'needy' (nothing 'free' for 2 years for any members of the family) and that they can pass the same citizens test formerly required of all immigrants.
Possibly they may be admitted with a low passing score, but voting rights are for those who rate a High Pass or have paid taxes in the new state for 2 years.

quote:

Originally posted by Rustyblade:

quote:

Is there a silver lining in this story?If you are living in one of the 49 other states, you should

make sure that any peoples coming to your state from California are screened and interviewed as to their competency to support themselves free of public programs for the 'needy' (nothing 'free' for 2 years for any members of the family) and that they can pass the same citizens test formerly required of all immigrants.
Possibly they may be admitted with a low passing score, but voting rights are for those who rate a High Pass or have paid taxes in the new state for 2 years.

Yeah, right

The problem is that as the californicators flee, they're turning the states they end up in blue. Look at CO, NV, and MN. AZ is on the cusp of going blue. TX isn't far behind.

quote:

Originally posted by nasig:

quote:

This is not the California I grew up in and it is very disappointing.

That can be said for large portions of the US.
CA is the result of one party, inept and corrupt leadership aided and abetted by ignorant voters and special interest groups. Truly a lost cause. The once golden state is rapidly becoming a shithole.

As the author points out, this is self-inflicted and truly a shame. Progressive/Socialists/Leftists always boast of their "good intentions" but never want to be accountable for the results.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:

quote:

Originally posted by Rustyblade:

quote:

Is there a silver lining in this story?If you are living in one of the 49 other states, you should

make sure that any peoples coming to your state from California are screened and interviewed as to their competency to support themselves free of public programs for the 'needy' (nothing 'free' for 2 years for any members of the family) and that they can pass the same citizens test formerly required of all immigrants.
Possibly they may be admitted with a low passing score, but voting rights are for those who rate a High Pass or have paid taxes in the new state for 2 years.

Yeah, right

There is no doubt that california is in deep trouble. And despite the nearly perfect, year round weather, some days the impending disaster is difficult to ignore. However, I think most fleeing residents realize this and tend to lean towards conservative. I have not spoken with many people leaving who are democrats. California is their paradise. I think a large portion of the blue swell, in other states is due to younger voters, lured by free, well free everything. It's going to be interesting to watch how this mess unfolds in the coming years. And how the growing entitlement crowd develops. I was especially surprised to see Oregon, a place where several of my conservative friends fled to, has now started looking into allowing 16 year olds to vote. The legislature knows how these youngsters will likely lean.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:

quote:

Originally posted by Rustyblade:

quote:

Is there a silver lining in this story?If you are living in one of the 49 other states, you should

make sure that any peoples coming to your state from California are screened and interviewed as to their competency to support themselves free of public programs for the 'needy' (nothing 'free' for 2 years for any members of the family) and that they can pass the same citizens test formerly required of all immigrants.
Possibly they may be admitted with a low passing score, but voting rights are for those who rate a High Pass or have paid taxes in the new state for 2 years.

Yeah, right

Back in the early 90s when we began getting really over-run by them, my proposal was to charge each and every transplant $100,000 a head to come here. Paid in cash. If they leave, they get it back.

The other option, favored by many, was gut shooting them at the border. At least I was trying to be a little more humane.

quote:

However, I think most fleeing residents realize this and tend to lean towards conservative. I have not spoken with many people leaving who are democrats. California is their paradise. I think a large portion of the blue swell, in other states is due to younger voters, lured by free, well free everything. It's going to be interesting to watch how this mess unfolds in the coming years. And how the growing entitlement crowd develops.

I think there's something to that.
Sure, some Californians leave and take their voting habits with them. But that doesn't completely explain what's going on elsewhere.

The youngsters are seeped in socialism in the socialist schools. They don't have to be from California. It's home grown.
California is just ahead of the curve.

New York is on the same path.

quote:

Originally posted by SigLaw:
This makes me very sad. I was born in Los Angeles and lived in California for 51 years before I left. I was educated at UC Santa Barbara. This is not the California I grew up in and it is very disappointing. Unfortunately, the state will go bankrupt before anyone in state government gives a damn.

Born and raised in the Bay Area. NOT the California I grew up in.

House in Sunny, Southern Utah should be finished in June. Wife will be there in July, I'll probably work until the end of the year, to pay for the pool she "needs".

quote:

Originally posted by mlazarus:
I think most fleeing residents realize [that there is an impending disaster] and tend to lean towards conservative. I have not spoken with many people leaving who are democrats. California is their paradise.

In my experience, this is not even remotely true. In both Flagstaff and Prescott, Arizona, the phone in the C of C office would ring off the hook every time a tremor was felt in California, this in addition to the increasing burden of taxes, and the congestion of the urban areas. Lots of Democrats are fleeing. Even ex-California Republicans seem to want a lot of the things they fled. Go figure.

Shugart, what in the entire fuck is the meaning behind the stupid GIF you posted?!?

I only need one reason, Californians.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

However, I think most fleeing residents realize this and tend to lean towards conservative. I have not spoken with many people leaving who are democrats. California is their paradise. I think a large portion of the blue swell, in other states is due to younger voters, lured by free, well free everything. It's going to be interesting to watch how this mess unfolds in the coming years. And how the growing entitlement crowd develops.

I think there's something to that.
Sure, some Californians leave and take their voting habits with them. But that doesn't completely explain what's going on elsewhere.

The youngsters are seeped in socialism in the socialist schools. They don't have to be from California. It's home grown.
California is just ahead of the curve.

Finally, someone who grasps the concept that the voting and political demographics are changing NOT entirely based on where you're from BUT from the gradual indoctrination of liberal ideals taught to our youth through our school systems. This, along with the understanding that larger cities require MORE government to operate, encourages voters to support bigger government thus giving government even more control.

Californians didn't make your state liberal. Show me a state where the people who have been elected to local or state office(governors, assemblymen, senators, mayors, councilmen/women) were born and raised in California; there are not many. No matter where you live, you have "homegrown" liberals near you.

You don't need Californians to screw up cities like Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit, New York City and state, Boston, Philadelphia, etc or states with elected officials like Nevada (Harry Reid), Colorado and New Mexico (the Udalls), Illinois (Durbin), Massachusetts (Warren), New Jersey (Booker), Virginia (Kaine) or New York (Schumer). Politicians like these and those at the state and local levels, especially those that are catering to the illegals and sanctuary cities for voter support, contribute to the problems that are found in states other than California.