Governator Turns Real Estate Agent
I don’t know how the US press is reporting it, but according to the UK press, California is on the verge of economic collapse. IOU’s were issued to public workers, lawmakers can’t agree on a budget and neighbouring Nevada has instigated an advertising campaign to lure businesses away from California. Governor “Ah-nuld” Schwarzenegger (who for the rest of the article will be referred to as “AS” as I can’t be bothered to write his name out every single time) is trying his best to bring business to “Cali”. He’s gone on a jaunt to Asia to try and drum up trade. And his press folk will announce even the smallest win.
Bloomberg reports that Hyundai is investing $150m to expand its (already existing) North American headquarters, which is already located in California. The whole project will involve constructing a new building in Orange County (about 1500 new construction jobs … until the building is up) and doubling the amount of Hyundai employees (reducing the Californian unemployment rate). “This means thousands of jobs for California at a time when they are needed most and an important boost to our local and state economies, “said Governor AS, “I have pledged my continued support as these fantastic companies move forward with these investments.” This expanded Hyundai venture will create $273m in economic output for California.
There might be a quid-pro-quo. AS took a test ride on Korea’s KTX bullet train. California is planning to build a high-speed railway (if they can find the mony) and companies from Germany, France, China, Japan and Korea are interested in the $40b project.
“We hope Korea will bid on the high-speed rail. It will be a terrific partnership,’’ AS said.
Any other Asian entities want to help plug the $19b budget gap California has? Now is the time to do it. The press you get from buying a building will be worth the investment. A few years ago, you could buy a mansion in 90210 for more and people would have complained that the neighborhood is going down. These days, you may get a railroad thrown in.
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Lived in California from 1957 to 1993 when I fled to re-enter the USA. One has t6o experience the horde of low-skilled fast-breeding legal and illegal immigrant tidal wave to understand the social and economic costs. Last statistic I saw showed that 2/3rd of Los Angeles County births were to illegal aliens. Illegals cost California BILLIONS of dollars more than what they inputted into the tax systems. Ample info resources upon the Web for those who want to investigate. Other reasons for economic problems in California but the illegals can not be discounted and being the number one destination for legal immigrants hurts. One Washington Beltway think tank determined that every individual South Vietnam refugee from that era cost the taxpayer a minimum of one-million dollars each. I do not have the time to seek info sources to sate others' whims, I am working on memory alone but I spent several years of researching during my "activist years." Other legal immigrant groups have also been quite costly and so many have never been very productive, being a net economic loss except for, interestingly, immigrants from China, Japan and Korea whose cultures have tended to produce immigrants that have mostly been a net positive for the state and the USA as a whole. It is obvious that not all cultures are equal!!!!! IF the majority of "entrants had been from northern Asia California MAY have been in an economic boom period the past three decades!!!!! What is scary is the adage declaring that as California goes so will the rest of the country in the next 20 years. To simplify affairs..... I will place the blame upon political correctness. Too many in the USA have lost the backbone needed to be a viable country. The barbarians are not at the gates... they have entered the California and the USA by the multi-millions and the realm is decaying, likely doomed to fall. The house is divided. The "diversity is our strength" cult has defeated any demands for at least a minimal set of unifying bonds.
Nothing wrong with referendums and it's not the fault of having two parties. The problem is: 1) Conflicting laws. If a new law is established by referendum, for better or for worse, all prior laws that contradicts the new law must be scraped. 2) Lack of law enforcement. For example, IOU is not legal currency. Paying employees IOU isn't really legal. If everyone adhere to the law, then no IOU should ever be issued, the employees will be automatically laid off when there is no funding. Problem solved. Public workers get pay for their work. Citizens get the service they pay. No deficit, no debate. New referendum if you are not satisfied.