Arnie, looking out for the little guy.

[Hosakawa Tito]

The first cut is the deepest (http://www.my58.com/politics/17024362/detail.html).
I'm not sure I understand the strategy here. Why not "temporarily" take a self-imposed pay cut to mininum wage and impose one on the other state politicians and assorted patrons? You know, the highest paid tax-payer supported employees...

The day this is imposed I would be "temporarily" on workers compensation along with 200,000 of my fellow peers.

[HoreTore]

Oh your freakin' god!

If California isn't completely shut down by strikes soon, I'll lose what respect I had for the US.

[Spartan198]

Good looking out for the little guy, Arni! :rolleyes:

[LittleGrizzly]

That seems somewhat unfair, aren't these people's pay protected somehow by thier contracts ?

surely a much fairer way to do it would be a small percentage decrease in all but the lowest paid state workers...

[Spartan198]

That seems somewhat unfair, aren't these people's pay protected somehow by thier contracts ?

surely a much fairer way to do it would be a small percentage decrease in all but the lowest paid state workers...
Couldn't agree more, Grizzly.

[CountArach]

That seems somewhat unfair, aren't these people's pay protected somehow by thier contracts ?

surely a much fairer way to do it would be a small percentage decrease in all but the lowest paid state workers...
Or, better yet stop being so stingy with the pay...

[seireikhaan]

:inquisitive:

Is this even legal? Isn't he required to at least pay them the state minimum wage?

I suppose this might decrease the deficit though, especially when all the gov't workers start striking and/or quitting.

[Husar]

Good job Arnie, when you want to increase profits, you have to decrease spending and/or increase income, now he decreses spending instead of increasing income which would mean selling those workers into slavery. :idea2:

15.2 billion minus is quite a lot maybe he should sell Los Angeles to Mexico or something.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I never expected it, but Schwarzenegger turned out to be one fine politician. For a start, more Liberal than one would expect.
And in the current budget crisis, showing his tougher side too. Good. The culprits are the legislative leaders, not the executive leaders. From what I gather, partisan reflexes have created a deadlock in budget negotiations. Something's got to give, soon, and I think Schwarzenegger is right in raising the pressure in this way. Let the legislators explain to their constituency why they would rather jeopardyse middle class financial stability than be responsible, moderate politicians willing to work constructively in a politicised environment.

Partisanship seems out of control in America. Politicians, parties, and the electorate must learn to accept that politics is not about outrage and beating the other, but, instead, about reaching a workable consensus.
District elections mean a two-party system. A two-party system means opinion and temperament will move towards two camps (witness any internet thread for the psychology of this). The nature of elections mean a cycle where one camp will hold power, with the other obstructing their functioning, only for this to be reversed every four or eight years. Without a responsible politicical class and electorate, a complete deadlock can be reached very soon. It is one of democracy's pitfalls.

Democracy is not about reaching a majority at the expense of all others, that's authoritarianism with the gloves off. Democracy, contrary to it's more infantile definition, is not rule by majority, but rule by all. It is about empowering all groups, voices and individuals in a pluriform society. Translated to the political process, a legislative assembly is not the place for partisan strife, but for reaching consensus. Rather, since we are not angels but competitive beings, the place were the power struggles of a pluriform society are fought out in a civilised, constructive manner. This sublimation of societal power struggle is precisley the point of an assembly. Instead, what we are witnessing in California, as elsewhere in American legislative assemblies, is the reverse. The legislative assemblies are no longer the end of this political process, the place where these struggles are resolved. They are the beginning, the catalyst for this strife.
[/anti-partisan rant]



15.2 billion minus is quite a lot maybe he should sell Los Angeles to Mexico or something.If I were Arnie, I'd buy LA back from Mexico...

:creep:

[yesdachi]

I would trade our mole covered liberal for Conan any day.

[Gregoshi]

Partisanship seems out of control in America. Politicians, parties, and the electorate must learn to accept that politics is not about outrage and beating the other, but, instead, about reaching a workable consensus...

Louis, you put my thoughts into words better than I ever could have. Thank you. :bow:

[Reverend Joe]

Why not "temporarily" take a self-imposed pay cut to mininum wage and impose one on the other state politicians and assorted patrons? You know, the highest paid tax-payer supported employees...

Do you really think that the California Congress will accept a pay-cut without destroying Arnie's ability to operate as Governor? That's like stealing fish from the mouths of sharks. Not too bright.

But seriously, he has to do something, and although this might me one ugly-ass decision, it's the fastest, easiest solution there is, and it avoids having to deal with the System.

Edit:


Partisanship seems out of control in America. Politicians, parties, and the electorate must learn to accept that politics is not about outrage and beating the other, but, instead, about reaching a workable consensus.
District elections mean a two-party system. A two-party system means opinion and temperament will move towards two camps (witness any internet thread for the psychology of this). The nature of elections mean a cycle where one camp will hold power, with the other obstructing their functioning, only for this to be reversed every four or eight years. Without a responsible politicical class and electorate, a complete deadlock can be reached very soon. It is one of democracy's pitfalls.

Democracy is not about reaching a majority at the expense of all others, that's authoritarianism with the gloves off. Democracy, contrary to it's more infantile definition, is not rule by majority, but rule by all. It is about empowering all groups, voices and individuals in a pluriform society. Translated to the political process, a legislative assembly is not the place for partisan strife, but for reaching consensus. Rather, since we are not angels but competitive beings, the place were the power struggles of a pluriform society are fought out in a civilised, constructive manner. This sublimation of societal power struggle is precisley the point of an assembly. Instead, what we are witnessing in California, as elsewhere in American legislative assemblies, is the reverse. The legislative assemblies are no longer the end of this political process, the place where these struggles are resolved. They are the beginning, the catalyst for this strife.

YEAH! :2thumbsup:

[naut]

A $15 Billion deficit?! Wha... How?

Good on Arnie, pleased someone's got the balls to do something and not just beat around the bush.

[Gregoshi]

Good on Arnie, pleased someone's got the balls to do something and not just beat around the bush.
Yeah, Bush gets beat up for all our country's woes.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Partisanship seems out of control in America. Politicians, parties, and the electorate must learn to accept that politics is not about outrage and beating the other, but, instead, about reaching a workable consensus.
District elections mean a two-party system. A two-party system means opinion and temperament will move towards two camps (witness any internet thread for the psychology of this). The nature of elections mean a cycle where one camp will hold power, with the other obstructing their functioning, only for this to be reversed every four or eight years. Without a responsible politicical class and electorate, a complete deadlock can be reached very soon. It is one of democracy's pitfalls.


:bow:

You've got it completely right. I've been urging Americans to vote for something other than the main parties - I think it would be better for that country to have a multi-party legislature.

[Ice]

I would trade our mole covered liberal for Conan any day.

Could you imagine Granholm trying that? That would actually be funny, yet painful to watch.

[yesdachi]

Could you imagine Granholm trying that? That would actually be funny, yet painful to watch.

we did close the government for 4 hours last year (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21073122/)~D