As the Dust Settles on California in the Wake of The Thankfully Failed Special Election Initiative, Revisit One More Time Exactly What The Golden State's Problem Was, Is, and Continues to Be...

Nick Gillespie | May 20, 2009

Matt Welch and Tim Cavanaugh rightly do a jig on the massive failure of yesterday's special election initiatives in California. Proposals so odious that even Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger high-tailed it to the East Coast rather than watch the results come in.

This isn't just a California story (though let's all admit that those of us not living in the Golden State, or who once lived there, enjoy seeing the place hit the skids). It's the story of virtually all states in the country, and the underlying causes are the same: Rampant, out-of-control spending by the government. Revenue hasn't been the issue for the states; it's always on the spending side of the ledger. Check out the May issue of Reason for the details.

And watch once again the Reason.tv joint "Hasta La Vista, Arnold!: What California's economic mess means for America," produced by Ted Balaker, Alex Manning, and Paul Detrick:

For downloadable versions and related links, go here. For a YouTube version, go here.

Comments

|5.20.09 @ 11:46AM|#

This isn't just a California story (though let's all admit that those of us not living in the Golden State, or who once lived there, enjoy seeing the place hit the skids).

While it may be that - like alcoholism - one has to admit the problem to confront and treat the disease, I take no pleasure in any state being f'd up. No need to be a prick Nick.

Xeones|5.20.09 @ 12:23PM|#

Can we please keep bumping this video? Please?

|5.20.09 @ 12:50PM|#

Rush Limbaugh just referenced Matt's post on the CA newspaper endorsements. Time to hike the advertising rates.

|5.20.09 @ 12:56PM|#

You are the hole in my jeans
I am the drain in your veins
You are the chain `round my throat
I am the aching in your brains
We are taxed and
Our stuff's stolen
We are living where all's forbidden

apologies to John Doe

JB|5.20.09 @ 1:25PM|#

Fuck California, the land of fruits and nuts.

Until they stop electing Democrats, they deserve worse than they get.

Joel|5.20.09 @ 2:02PM|#

Oh, they've elected the odd Republican and remained utterly, absolutely and in every other way fucked up.

I once lived in California, couldn't wait to leave, and completely agree with Nick's schadenfreude.

Joel|5.20.09 @ 2:05PM|#

Oh, and please. Could you bump that video about thirty more times? I think someone in Mozambique may not have seen it yet.

Gil|5.20.09 @ 2:48PM|#

Well, it was "Hasta la vista" to the car tax (featured in the video).

Doesn't it mean "See you later?"

Sam Grove|5.20.09 @ 5:02PM|#

Until they stop electing Democrats, they deserve worse than they get.

By electing Republicans, too.