Comments on: Which California cities will be Germany or Greece under Prop 31?

By: Richard Rider

Richard Rider — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 22:10:36 +0000

The important thing to look at is who OPPOSES this measure.

Among other left wing outfits:

California Democratic Party
Working Families Issues Committee (AFL CIO)
AFSCME (city employees union)
Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs
California Schools Employees Association

There’s not much money being raised against this measure (because of more important props the unions are heavily funding), but the opposition funding comes from the organizations above (except for the Democratic Party). No unions support this measure.

Trust the unions to know what’s in their best interest. And NOT in ours.

By: Joshua Marcus

Joshua Marcus — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 17:24:05 +0000

The UK has a council tax with Bands(A-I, (A) being the lowest property value and so on through the alphabet, a residence like Buckingham Palace getting an (I).) Living in Band A, you pay the least, and if you are a student living alone the tax would be waived, along with the hordes of immigrants and their families, only people who work, pay the tax and the harder you work, the more you pay. Again, California is aspiring—and for a growing number of states—to become europe. The tax payers and high earning Californians are suckered into paying for illegal Mexican Nationals and those other countries south. And then there’s the Unions who’s presidents and administrators have their own ranks believing they deserve more than the average Californian, so the death spiral of unsustainable salaries and retirement benefits continues unabated. Now Brown and his social justice minions want us working class citizens to pay for a drug infested city like East Palo Alto; gang ridden East L.A., Compton; and all the mismanagement cities like those would cause the responcible cities and towns to play mommy and feed their irresponcible child. The Conservative parts of California better consider seceding from Sacremento before Brown and his brown shirts redistribute everyone to the poor house.

By: Wayne Lusvardi

Wayne Lusvardi — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:19:15 +0000

The problem with many of the comments above is that voter approval is not needed for greater transparency, for a two year budget cycle, installing performance budgeting, or for identifying sources of funding before legislators vote on a bill. Those are just window dressing to get voters to fall for the other provisions that voters would be required to vote on such as greater powers for the governor to call a financial emergency to circumvent laws and the formation of unelected super committees to carry out Strategic Area Plans by siphoning funds from suburbs toward the broke big cities. I think the voters understand a Trojan Horse when they see one.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 17:07:35 +0000

I am not even sure how to respond to this latest surge against Prop 31.

Prop 31 may seem cumbersome to some, but the measure really can be summed up very simply. Prop 31 will hold government accountable, stop wasteful spending, increase transparency in the budget process, and shift decision making to local communities.

These are not some new controversial ideas, but tried and tested reforms that have been implemented across the country with good results. YES ON 31!

By: The DA

The DA — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 03:33:52 +0000

Prop 31 has the sincerity, concern, and helpfulness of a kid who sprinkles the backyard with all the little treats that will attract birds while he lies in wait behind the tree with his new bb gun.

By: Rosie

Rosie — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 01:33:54 +0000

Stanley: I think that requiring specified funding sources, an open-to-the-public legislative process, and required department auditing are pretty NEW to California. If we had had these sorts of rules in place before, maybe we wouldn’t be in such a mess. Prop 31 feels like reform to me!

By: Stanley K.

Stanley K. — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 01:07:15 +0000

To all the Prop 31 campaign workers who are endlessly posting here: Prop 31 is ITSELF neither transparent nor accountable, as the author of this article has uncovered. That fact alone should tell voters all they need to know.
It is now obvious that the new “reformers” are no such thing but are selling the same old stuff that has been ruining the State of California for years.
Sell it somewhere else, we’re not buying it.

By: Janae

Janae — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:56:33 +0000

Prop 31 give us our BEST shot at an honest Government. I am on board with that! It is sad that voters aren’t aware of what is going on in their own towns. We don’t discover things until it is far too late and the damage has already been done. Prop 31 will make sure that voters are not only aware of how their tax dollars will be spent, but they will also have opportunities for input on where those funds go! It’s about time!

By: Jordan

Jordan — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 00:21:13 +0000

Proposition 31 provides excellent improvements to a failing California government. It increases transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility in Sacramento. How can that be a bad thing? It allows Californians to have a better understanding of what happens in Sacramento. With all the corruption and mismanagement of funds in Sacramento (billions of dollars wasted in bullet train fiasco, $53 million lost in the State Parks and Recreation budget, raises for senior legislative staff ALREADY making six figures) I for one feel that we NEED to make some changes. While I admit proposition 31 is not perfect, it provides an excellent starting point in which to begin a cleansing of the mess that is Sacramento. Lets get California working for US again.

By: Janae

Janae — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 23:42:58 +0000

US Citizen:
This is a serious issue, the only way our politicians will take our needs seriously is if we show them that we mean business! Our time to shine will happen this coming Election. Bring your sentiments to the poll, and help get CA back on track with Prop 31.