Comments on: California Budget Woes: Balance the Budget by Gambling and Letting Inmates Out! http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/ How I Learned to Love Southern California and Forget the Housing Bubble Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:17:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: socalappraiser http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/#comment-7764 socalappraiser Sat, 09 Feb 2008 03:09:09 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/#comment-7764 The prison population in California has a large percentage of illegal aliens. I'm not sure what the per capita yearly figure is on these wonderful individuals "who just want a better life" but I do know its ridiculous. When we figure the cost of the police to catch and process them, the cost of their crimes, the cost to the court system, the cost to build the prisons, the cost to maintain the prisons, the cost of the state employee pensions, etc. it is staggering. I'm pretty sure that if given the actual figures, plus those of other public services being overrun (healthcare, education, etc.) any logical person would likely pay more for their fast food and lawn care or choose to do those thing themselves. The prison population in California has a large percentage of illegal aliens. I’m not sure what the per capita yearly figure is on these wonderful individuals “who just want a better life” but I do know its ridiculous. When we figure the cost of the police to catch and process them, the cost of their crimes, the cost to the court system, the cost to build the prisons, the cost to maintain the prisons, the cost of the state employee pensions, etc. it is staggering.

I’m pretty sure that if given the actual figures, plus those of other public services being overrun (healthcare, education, etc.) any logical person would likely pay more for their fast food and lawn care or choose to do those thing themselves.

]]> By: IvanTerminator http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/#comment-7757 IvanTerminator Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:37:40 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/#comment-7757 We should outsource our jails and send prisoners to Mexico, Russian Syberia, China, Thailadnd, name it. It will have at least two positive effect: cut spendings and prisoners will afraid to do something bad and then go to Gulag. Who's going to pay me for this great idea? We should outsource our jails and send prisoners to Mexico, Russian Syberia, China, Thailadnd, name it. It will have at least two positive effect: cut spendings and prisoners will afraid to do something bad and then go to Gulag.
Who’s going to pay me for this great idea?

]]> By: surfaddict http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/#comment-7709 surfaddict Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:32:09 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/#comment-7709 I love the IRS data AnnScott points out. Those bottom 90% will be receiving their $600 checks this year. That is a tax-cut, or just another govt spending scheme it cant afford, and borrows against our future to pay? Cut spending!! Oops scary words...lets call it "Balance the buget" instead, like Slick Wille had last decade. All these polititcains SPEND too much, I dont care what party affiliation. Similar to an individual speculating on a real home of genious, and finding themselves upside down! I love the IRS data AnnScott points out. Those bottom 90% will be receiving their $600 checks this year. That is a tax-cut, or just another govt spending scheme it cant afford, and borrows against our future to pay? Cut spending!! Oops scary words…lets call it “Balance the buget” instead, like Slick Wille had last decade. All these polititcains SPEND too much, I dont care what party affiliation. Similar to an individual speculating on a real home of genious, and finding themselves upside down!

]]> By: cod.peace http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/#comment-7691 cod.peace Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:25:27 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/#comment-7691 Why not release criminals? A huge proportion (majority?) are there for non-violent drug crimes. Release anyone with a minor maurijauna (and maybe 'harder' drugs too') related crime, like possession with no intent to sell, chill out, and pocket massive budget savings. Then direct the AG not to pursue criminal charges for such minor offenses to avoid the problem in the future by directing drug users to state-provided treatment over prison. This is vastly cheaper and helps reduce the drug problem instead of compounding it by churning out thousands of (drug-using) people who are unemployable due to a prison record leaving them with little recourse but crime (like, say, drug sales) to survive. Why not release criminals? A huge proportion (majority?) are there for non-violent drug crimes. Release anyone with a minor maurijauna (and maybe ‘harder’ drugs too’) related crime, like possession with no intent to sell, chill out, and pocket massive budget savings. Then direct the AG not to pursue criminal charges for such minor offenses to avoid the problem in the future by directing drug users to state-provided treatment over prison. This is vastly cheaper and helps reduce the drug problem instead of compounding it by churning out thousands of (drug-using) people who are unemployable due to a prison record leaving them with little recourse but crime (like, say, drug sales) to survive.

]]> By: AnnScott http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/#comment-7687 AnnScott Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:16:02 +0000 http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/california-budget-woes-balance-the-budget-by-gambling-and-letting-inmates-out/#comment-7687 "In fact, we have these “free-market” thinkers talking about protecting tax cuts for the top 5 percent while the remaining 95 percent of the population tries to figure out what in the world is going on. The Republican party no longer holds the fiscal responsibility mantra. So giving tax breaks to hedge funds is productive? And they seem content in keeping us overseas for decades without explaining how they will pay for it. This election is pivotal in the long-term prosperity of the country. Any of the top Republican candidates seems to be echoing a continuation of the war and we simply cannot afford it. " Interesting data out of the IRS and Treasury the past few month. From 2003-05, the top 1% (incomes of $520,000 and up) saw their after-tax incomes go up by 43.5%. The bottom 90% ($120,000 and down) saw their after-tax incomes go up on average 3% - way less than the rate of inflation during that time. The top 2% households receive 50% of ALL income in the US. The other 98% get the other 50%. The Bush tax cuts distribution was equally disparate. 32.5% of the tax cuts went to the top 1%. 53% went to the top 10%. Heavn forbid they actually tax the income of hedge fund traders as the earned income it is instead of letting it slide by as unearned capital gains. Real simple test shows that it is earned income and they should pay more: Did they have to show up and work at a place to get the money? Answer yes, then it is earned. Why Republicans are considered 'fiscally responsible' is beyond me. They haven't paid attention to spending and deficits since 1980 when spendiing like a drunken sailor started with the senile-actor Ronnie. I wouldn't let the Republican be in charge of running a lemonde stand with just some lemonade concentrate, acard table and chair out in the front yard. They woud find a way to end up in debt. “In fact, we have these “free-market” thinkers talking about protecting tax cuts for the top 5 percent while the remaining 95 percent of the population tries to figure out what in the world is going on. The Republican party no longer holds the fiscal responsibility mantra. So giving tax breaks to hedge funds is productive? And they seem content in keeping us overseas for decades without explaining how they will pay for it. This election is pivotal in the long-term prosperity of the country. Any of the top Republican candidates seems to be echoing a continuation of the war and we simply cannot afford it. ”

Interesting data out of the IRS and Treasury the past few month.

From 2003-05, the top 1% (incomes of $520,000 and up) saw their after-tax incomes go up by 43.5%. The bottom 90% ($120,000 and down) saw their after-tax incomes go up on average 3% - way less than the rate of inflation during that time.

The top 2% households receive 50% of ALL income in the US. The other 98% get the other 50%.

The Bush tax cuts distribution was equally disparate. 32.5% of the tax cuts went to the top 1%. 53% went to the top 10%.

Heavn forbid they actually tax the income of hedge fund traders as the earned income it is instead of letting it slide by as unearned capital gains. Real simple test shows that it is earned income and they should pay more: Did they have to show up and work at a place to get the money? Answer yes, then it is earned.

Why Republicans are considered ‘fiscally responsible’ is beyond me. They haven’t paid attention to spending and deficits since 1980 when spendiing like a drunken sailor started with the senile-actor Ronnie.

I wouldn’t let the Republican be in charge of running a lemonde stand with just some lemonade concentrate, acard table and chair out in the front yard. They woud find a way to end up in debt.

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