October 31, 2018
…I want to get off!
My Number #1 California Concern is getting the Bullet Train project canceled! Sadly, it looks like at least part of it is going to be built — so California tax payers are going to be saddled with even more debt — most likely passed onto our children and grandchildren — because billions have been promised the companies who were awarded the Train contract.
And please don\’t threaten to withhold fire-fighting funds Mr. President — as California is the No. 1 donor state to the federal treasury. But we get the least amount of money back per capita! 2015 figures suggest that we paid $405,851,295,000 — with Texas running a distant 2nd at $279,904,425,000. 2015 IRS figures suggest that the Feds jilted us to the tune of $13,000,000,000 in payback that year!
So Let\’s Make a Deal! You withhold whatever monies you feel we don\’t deserve — and we\’ll subtract that amount from the monies We pay for the joy of being a State in the US of A.
And now I turn my attention to our departing governor: It\’s clear that lobbyists for special interests have spun his head around one-too-many-times — getting him to agree to a bullet train and twin water tunnels running under the delta. A Jerry Brown who could think straight (not sure that this was ever the case) would never have capitulated to these greedy capitalists (who will go over-budget and deliver an inferior product — just like the Bullet Train).
Somebody also talked Jerry into raising our car registration/licensing fees, and, add a tax to gasoline without the California populous being able to vote on it. (I have bitched about this elsewhere.)
I hate to say it — but I stand with the Republicans on this one: I want to have the choice to vote on increasing taxes and not have it rammed-up-my-you-know-what! And if the gas tax is defeated in our November 6th elections — I will be a happy camper! But if new legislation is drafted to reinstate the taxes — I will vote \”Yes\” — because this time I\’ll have a choice.
Our incoming governor suggests that he will cut our losses with the bullet train by halting construction after the first over-budget section is completed. He also stated that he is only in favor of One delta water tunnel, not Two.
But Gavin Newsom is a cagey character — who will play to voters until he has what he wants. After all, as mayor of San Francisco, he stated that he was going to correct the homelessness problem. Now he says he will make it his #1 priority when he is elected governor (after San Fran has become a poster child for homelessness!).
Speaking of unbridled corporate greed, I\’ll be attending my final USC home game as a season ticket holder. I may purchase tickets to future games of significance — but I can support my alma mater no longer (and I\’ve been a season-ticket holder since 1986!)!
I am upset with SC! SC is raising ticket prices to fund Coliseum remodeling and probably, to fund the settlements for all of the women the naughty gynie molested. To top it off — President Nikias was aware of the nonsense and tried to cover it up — and then wouldn\’t step down after he promised to…shades of the White House…?
Sometimes I feel like a passenger on a train to nowhere…having to bite-the-bullet…