June 28, 2009
California's top Democrat: Conservative voters are terrorists
This is perhaps the most outrageous thing I've heard uttered by an American politician in recent history. Karen Bass, the Democratic Party's top dog in the California Assembly, was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times' Patt Morrison; the wide-ranging conversation touched on a variety of topics, including why Bass thinks women are better then men when it comes to governing.
But the Assembly Speaker, who talked about her background as a "community activist" (why am I not surprised?) really got going when asked about the relationship between Republicans and voters.
Q: How do you think conservative talk radio has affected the Legislature's work?
A: The Republicans were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for revenue. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: "You vote for revenue and your career is over." I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair.
Opposition to "revenue" -- notice Bass never says "tax increases" -- is "terrorism"? Voters who demand that Republicans hold fast and vote against tax increases are "terrorists"? My loathing for this politician, this feckless crapweasel who equates fiscal responsibility in this post 9-11 world with terrorism, is incandescent.
And who knew that free speech could be so darn "extremely unfair"? Democracy can be so inconvenient, especially when your putative subjects won't go along with the Politburo's Five Year Plan.
Patterico points out that Republicans pledged to vote against take increases and won the votes of their constituents as a result of their promise to control spending, instead of raising taxes. Pat links to a study from the Reason Foundation laying out in unambiguous terms that California is bedeviled by out of control spending, which cannot be cured or fixed through ever higher taxes.
Examining the state’s revenues clearly demonstrates there is not a revenue problem. Since FY 1990-91, revenues have increased 166.9 percent, or 5.61 percent a year, and have risen rather steadily over this period.
In FY 1990-91, the state took in over $38 billion in General Fund revenues. In FY 2008-09 revenues are $102 billion. Based on these revenues, if California had simply limited its spending increases to the 4.38 percent average increase in the state’s consumer price index and population growth each year since FY 1990-91, instead of a $42 billion deficit, the state would be sitting on a $15 billion surplus this year.
The study examines specific problem areas, including the huge increase in the number of state employees (9.3 for every 1,000 Californians), as well as the explosion in education spending (with crap-tastic results); it's an easy read, with informative charts, too. Check it out.
Pat comments about Assembly Speaker Bass and her Democrat cohorts in Sacramento:
This is the sort of attitude we’re seeing in Sacramento. They want to do what they want to do (raise taxes ad infinitum) — and they’re so very irritated at having to deal with petty annoyances like their signed pledges, and the voters’ wishes.
The arrogance is breathtaking, the condescension maddening, and the contempt for the democratic process (from California "Democrats," no less, is, unfortunately, not particularly surprising.
If this is what passes for political leadership, Californians are doomed.
Posted by Mike Lief at June 28, 2009 04:02 PM
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