Trees

As we all know, the State of California is in a budget crisis.  Despite having the highest income and sales tax rates in the country, we spend so much that we can only sustain our budget during times of economic boom.  So, when we are in a recession, we go into a budget deficit.  It's like having a two-income household, always spending more than your two incomes can afford and then one of you gets laid off.  It ain't good.  But, Californians always find new ways to spend every new dollar when times are good and never save the surplus for rainy days.  So, today we find ourselves in financial trouble and, despite the Governator's pleadings for new taxes, the voters (the few that showed up to vote) said no and rejected all the new tax propositions.  I was one of those voters.  But, my record is consistent in every election:  I always vote NO on any new spending plan or taxation plan regardless of what it is for.  I love our vets and our children and our elderly and our firefighters and our police, but I am not willing to pay any more taxes than I am currently paying to this State.   If the State wants to fund new stuff, they have to budget for it or they have to skimp on something else, not keep raising more money.  

So, here is the real story:  I came home a couple days ago to find a tree cutting truck parked at my home.  The guys told me that they were sent by the City to cut my trees that were growing too close to the telephone and electric wires.  I was pleased that the City was going to cut my trees without my having to pay for it (I would have willingly paid for it or hired my own gardener to do it since it is a safety issue), but I found it odd that while the Governator is threatening to cut health and education spending, that tree trimming was still being done.  But there is more.  Next, I noticed another critical City service being performed in my neighborhood.  Apparently, the storm drains in the City are allowing trash to flow out to the ocean so a team of men were now installing these specially crafted metal screens in the openings of all the storm drains.  Again, I think this is a wonderful cause but have I mentioned the cuts in education and healthcare?!?  Hello!  Is this thing on?  I mean, shouldn't certain services be stopped completely before we cut essential services like police, fire-fighting, medicine and education?  What special interest group is up in Sacramento lobbying for the tree cutting company or for the storm drain screen installer company?  Maybe the cost of these services is small relative to the cuts required in the budget but still!  Cut the crap and stop asking us to pay more in taxes, you idiots.