Well, many of those states have been governed by both left and right, so I think we can leave most of the partisanship aside.
The biggest state with the biggest problems is California, and it should be a case study of how not to govern. I believe it's two biggest problems are a one-two punch of an inability to slow the flow of immigrants combined with the worst law ever: Proposition 13.
It's reduction of property taxes by 57% and capping them at one-percent began a downward slide that they won't recover from until it's overturned.
Also, California's voting on propositions in general is unfortunately a bad idea, since people will almost always vote for more services and vote against ways to pay for them.
Their democracy has turned into a mobocracy where anyone willing to make the tough decisions gets voted out of office.
Being a resident of the great state of California I can unequivocally state that your logic is flawed and couldn't be more wrong.
California's problems stem from the fact that it's Legislature is infested with Librul Democrats who believe that every illegal alien has a right to a drivers license and healthcare and belief that the best way to stay in political power is to pander to ignorant voters with Government giveaways and pander to powerful unions that dominate Government and education.
California also has become infested with the notion that the environment and green initiatives should displace industries that have provided jobs and tax revenue for over a century; primarily agriculture which needs a LOT of water.
The FACT is that revenue has not gone down, spending has gone UP.
As a result of their anti-business positions and legislation, there has been a recent exodus of businesses from the state to other more favorable tax states where they can do business and not suffer the burden they are under in California.
Over ten years ago the argument was FOR a lottery which would be the answer to all our educational funding woes; yet today we have a HUGE budget shortfall and never seem to have enough revenue.
Several years ago the Governor negotiated a huge tax rate increase on Indian gaming operations; yet today we have a HUGE budget shortfall and never seem to have enough revenue.
What is apparent is that Democrats always seem to argue that what we are having is a “revenue” problem and refuse to see it as a “spending” problem. Even if we repealed Proposition 13, we would be burdened by continuing budget shortfalls and the never ending Librul argument that there is not enough “revenue.” The REALITY is that Librul Democrats will NEVER have enough “revenue” to pander to their ignorant constituents and powerful unions.
The ONLY thing that can FIX the problems confronting the failure of the politics in California is a reform of the way they re-district. If there was a reform of how the districts are drawn to a less partisan form where districts will require politicians to actually fight for their right to serve instead of creating vast “safe” districts, the politics will substantially improve and politicians will have to answer to various constituents over their ineptness to pass a balanced budget.
Enacted Budget - Summary Charts
However, I want to specifically address your comments regarding property taxes and the flaws contained in them:
... combined with the worst law ever: Proposition 13.
It's reduction of property taxes by 57% and capping them at one-percent began a downward slide that they won't recover from until it's overturned.
Property taxes under prop 13 are held to increases of 1% a year on properties that are held by property owners; the minute the property is sold or changes hands, it is re-assessed to current market and thus the revenues are increased.
Property values have skyrocketed in recent years in California which has resulted in a HUGE boost in revenues for the State. Last year property values and the economy tanked. This caused a huge revenue loss as a result of dropping values and mortgage defaults.
The California Legislature flush with revenues spent spent and spent without any regard towards the possibility that these revenues may some day end. This spending is what caused our current problems, NOT the loss of revenue.
But the notion that prop 13 had anything to do with revenue shortfalls is false; it is recent events beginning in the fall of 2008.
Prop 13 allows retired workers who are on a fixed income in a HIGHLY speculative housing market to stay in their homes rather than being forced to sell them at inflated prices to pay property taxes that are above their means to pay. This is a GOOD thing.
Property taxes as a whole are an obscenity that should be banned anyway. What logical sense does it make for Government to TAX the “value” of property that has not exchanged hands? What logical sense does it make for Government to tax business inventories and car values? NONE whatsoever.
Property taxes are an abomination and should be held as unconstitutional. You wish to tax profits and income, fine; but do not tax individuals on property they have already paid huge taxes on when they purchased them. No one who is using their brain can support such double, triple and multiple taxations.
