Schwarzenegger's Blockbuster Budget Cuts Terminate the Safety Net

When financial crisis hit, the California legislature didn't raise taxes, end tax giveaways, or cut corporate welfare Instead, they cut services to the people made most vulnerable by the recession -- children, the elderly, the sick, victims of domestic violence, and people just trying to get back to work. Now -- where could our legislature have learned their priorities? Too many movies? ColorLines' Darlene Pagano takes on the Governator.

Former California State Senator Sheila Kuehl has written an excellent essay detailing exactly who the cuts affect: http://www.sheilakuehl.org/sheila-s-essays/budget-essay-13-women-children-fir...
Spoiler alert: it's not anyone who can bear the burden.

Also check out this L.A. Times article that digs into the question of whether Schwarzenegger's last-minute vetoes were constitutional: http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-schwarzenegger-vetoes6-2009aug06,0,6067486....

As posted to RaceWire: http://racewire.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• arnold
• schwarzenegger
• california
• budget
• legislature
• funny
• movie
• clips
• safety
• net
• welfare
• domestic
• violence
• education
• health
• kindergarten
• cop
• conan
• mr
• freeze
• total
• recall
• terminator
• colorlines
• racewire
• arc
• race

[flipgood89]

@truthadvocate ....ur entitled to your opinions.

[truthadvocate]

@flipgood89,

Taxation was established over 5000 years ago as a way for rulers to take wealth from those they conquer.

I define theft as taking wealth from others in an involuntary way. Murder as killing someone without their consent. A fair system of law would treat all people equally. But U.S. law does not.

Some who drop bombs on innocent civilians are considered heroes, while others are considered terrorists. Some who steal are considered public servants while others are considered criminals

[flipgood89]

@truthadvocate ....where are you getting this idea that taxation is theft? Taxation has been established as a bedrock of our nation to improve our infrastructures, provide social services, and maintain a social safety net. If you want to change the laws that govern, or move, thats your issue. Theft denotes that a crime has been a committed --- taxation is an agreed upon principle of this country, and whether you see it or not, benefits you greatly.

[truthadvocate]

@flipgood89,

You claim in essence that theft is not theft if the money stolen is used to help the poor. I simply demonstrated the perverse nature of this argument by applying it to another crime. I wasn't assuming you would support murder. I was betting you would be more civilized than that, which you obviously are.

It's ironic that you started this debate by accusing ME of contradictions.

If you want others to take your world view seriously, you need to use consistent logic.

[flipgood89]

@truthadvocate Murder? Huh? Thats a very common thought process/reflexive debating tactic among objectivists: If you support X, then you support X (taken to its most insane fantasy extreme).... The growth of income inequality may not be of concern to you, but its always spelled economic instability, when the wealthy exploit the working class and hoard the wealth. Money isnt being exchanged. Society becomes too top heavy. Who has any money to buy another. U.S is n oligarchy

[truthadvocate]

@flipgood89,

The fact that people earn different amounts of money is not the problem. My life doesn't get worse if my neighbor makes more money. The problem is that there is a group of people that are given the legal right to commit aggression against others. Those with lots of money can pay this group of people to commit aggression. That's the problem. This group is the government.

Stealing is stealing no matter how you use the money. Is it ok to murder if you use the meat to feed the hungry?

[flipgood89]

@truthadvocate ...this has developed into two different convos....now if we are to talk about inequities of America, and how to fix them ---- YES! In the past 30 yrs. worker to CEO earnings went from 30 to 1 ratio, to about 400 to 1 in the span of about 30 yrs. Deregulation and tax manipulations have been devastating. Unjust wars. ext. But to lay problems on the poor and say that taxes that help them are stealing, and that services should be abolished allowing them to "adjust"...well, b.s

[truthadvocate]

@flipgood89,

I use 1st person pronouns because:

1. Fact: I can most reliably & accurately describe my own thoughts, not the thoughts of others.

2. Singular pronouns allow complex ideas to be communicated easily.

3. I am defending myself against your ad hominem attacks.

Most police do not serve & protect the people. Firefighters do provide a service I would pay for. This society is not "functioning" as well as it could be. It could more effectively help the poor. Are you apposed to improvements?

[flipgood89]

@truthadvocate ...You are completely fluent in the narcissist language. Me, I, Me, I.....Your worldview doesnt extend beyond your mirror and material value. You equate maintaining a functioning society with "stealing". So I guess because I have a big gun and a big water hose, police and firefighters should be eliminated. Right? I commend you on your charity, but a few people volunteering for a soup kitchen is not the same as erecting a social system to keep families from becoming destitute.

[truthadvocate]

@flipgood89,

So because I oppose stealing, I'm uncivilized?

I support charitable voluntary giving. I give to charity on a monthly basis & have donated years of my time to worthy causes. I'm a caring son, husband, father & friend. You don't know me well enough to call me narcissistic or selfish.

"they'll PHYSICALLY beat & rob you" Personal & home defense is just another need I'm willing to pay for.

I'm sure "they" will be no more violent than the state.

What apparatus are you referring to?