It's Always About Money

I really, really love living in southern California. It's beautiful, has perfect weather and it has mountains, beaches, dessert and big cities. Like I've said before, the only problem with it (in my view) is that it's too expensive to live here. In terms of buying property, any decent 2 bedroom condo in our town is at least $650K and you cannot buy an actual house (i.e. with land) for less than $1 million. Not exactly young-family friendly.
While this is certainly a problem, it doesn't render it prohibitively expensive to live here because we rent an apartment and are just saving really slowly to buy a place. But soon there will be lots of new problems. The State is currently trying to pass a budget to deal with its own deficit ... $42 BILLION. And guess how they plan to fix it? By taxing everyone more. OF COURSE! BRILLIANT!

I like what this article has to say about it all:

It's sad to watch. The Golden State -- which a decade ago was the booming technology capital of the world -- has been done in by two decades of chronic overspending, overregulating and a hyperprogressive tax code that exaggerates the impact on state revenues of economic boom and bust. Total state expenditures have grown to $145 billion in 2008 from $104 billion in 2003 and California now has the worst credit rating in the nation -- worse even than Louisiana's. It also has the nation's fourth highest unemployment rate of 9.3% (after Michigan, Rhode Island and South Carolina) and the second highest home foreclosure rate (after Nevada)

The media is painting the Republicans in the state senate as evil and menacing, gleefully foiling the Democrats in their honorable battle to pass a budget compromise. But the sound bytes say it all... One dissenter said something along the lines of "I am strongly against raising taxes to generate revenue, especially in a recession. The way to bridge the gap in the budget is to cut spending." Hmmm, that sounds ... logical! Arnold Schwarzenegger is in office because Gray Davis was recalled for damaging California's financial situation so badly, but look at what he has done.

So, I'm starting to get a little concerned about my future here. Rumor is that the tax rate on personal income tax will jump up to 10.56% (at the top marginal rate). Our sales tax is already 8.25% (plus an LA County surcharge). If we are ever able to buy property, there will be property tax and mello roos on top of all that. Adding in federal taxes, we're probably only going to come home with about 40% of our income. That will all go toward fun stuff... you know, like paying rent, student loans, childcare and food.

Being an adult sucks. I just want to live my life and settle down where I want, without sleazy politicians selling my soul for their special interests and bad ideas.

One Last Post on this Election

*This is a little late to really be relevant, but I wanted to get my thoughts out on this election today so I have it to look back on*

I didn't anticipate how excited I would be on this election day... it's not that I'm an "apathetic voter." I have loved politics since I can remember, but over the past few years I have become more and more disillusioned by our political system and the people in it. I consider myself a Libertarian, although I'm registered independent. I know Libertarians are viewed as crazy, and maybe that's because the party happens to capture a bunch of the right-wing wackos in South Dakota who evoke images of the uni bomber... but I think what the party stands for is not crazy at all. In fact, I think history and the Constitution support the idea of limited federal government, stronger local / state government and emphasis on individual rights. Basically, I'm one of those socially liberal, fiscally conservative people.

Socially liberal because I don't want the government or other people to impose their beliefs on my lifestyle or anyone elses... How can we live in a democracy and not agree to disagree? Fiscally conservative because I think the huge, bureaucratic monstrosity that is our federal government has proven completely incapable of managing money. I think it's unfair at some level to tax certain people much more than others, but more importantly, I think waste, inefficient programs, and poor government decisions on how to spend the money make it all the more disheartening.

Then there is the issue of the two-party system: I feel kind of cheated by it because I'm almost guaranteed to never have a viable candidate who represents my beliefs...the choice is always between a Republican and Democrat, and it seems like the gap between the parties narrows more and more every year. With all of the important issues at stake in national elections, how can two parties adequately represent what the people think is important? Republicans nominally stand for "small government" but there is absolutely nothing small about the Republican party today. Democrats usually stand for civil rights, but that also generally corresponds to fiscally liberal positions. Foreign policy issues could be the sole motivating factor for a particular vote, but neither party has a clear stance on those today. Independent and other third-party candidates are often labeled as radical and out of touch with the American electorate, but if anyone thought they had a chance of winning a national election I think more people would pay attention to what those candidates really stood for.

This is why I couldn't bring myself to vote for a Presidential candidate. I don't like McCain's foreign policy, but I also don't love Obama's. I hate McCain's stances on social issues and get an icky-Bush-feeling when I see him and hear him speak. Let's not even speak about Sarah Palin. But I am absolutely terrified of Obama's economic ideas and plans for an even bigger federal government. I think his tax plans are going to drive more business out of the country, and generate less revenue overall, yet the government's payroll is going to increase exponentially.

So ya, I didn't think I was going to be that excited. I was so wrong! Today was my first time voting at a polling place... I've only voted absentee before. I got in line at 7am and waited almost 2 hours to vote. CA-OF COURSE-screwed up my registration and re-registration forms, so I had to fill out a provisional ballot. I got that coveted sticker. I felt really proud and patriotic and all that. I wish it had been because I was excited about a presidential candidate, but that's ok. The only reason I voted at all today was because of the propositions. I have to admit I didn't care too much about most of them, but Proposition 8 was enough to get me to the polls. I voted no (which means I don't think we should amend our Constitution to allow the State to discriminate and restrict marriage to just heterosexual partners) and I don't know if I've ever felt this emotionally invested in an issue. I think it's something about how much misinformation is out there and how some people can deny others basic rights and dignity with such impunity. The other day, I drove through Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. Mobs of "No on Prop. 8" supporters lined the streets for miles, waving signs, prompting honking horns and showing unbelievable enthusiasm. I absolutely loved it. Living in a liberal, major metropolis makes it easy to forget that there are so many people who disagree with what I think. Going to a super conservative school makes it hard to keep hope.
This was one of the street corners I passed on Santa Monica Blvd...


This election turned into something more than getting my views represented in my government; it became more about renewing my faith in our country. I still have huge issues with our system, but seeing how excited the American population is gives me hope. Los Angeles County set a record for voter turnout today. I know that voter turnout in some states was incredibly high. That is something to celebrate, regardless of who won. Watching the election coverage, I have to admit I even got excited watching the Obama party in Chicago. He had an enormous public gathering open to everyone, filled with people truly inspired and dedicated to what he stands for. McCain's invitation-only, somber gathering seemed to reflect the reason he lost in such a landslide ... he couldn't reach out past the people who will vote Republican no matter who runs on the ticket. While I don't support Obama's positions, I have to respect the fact that he has generated such enthusiasm and dedication among new voters and voters who traditionally wouldn't have voted for a Democrat. Obviously there are things I do not look forward to when his Presidency begins, but I am excited that the electorate has reacted so strongly to President Bush and has said in a loud voice that they want change.

So now it's over... election day is almost gone, the results are in. I'm ready to give the new president a chance and stand behind him, hoping that our country will move in a positive direction. I will still hold my own beliefs and values above what any party tells me to think, but there is an intangible benefit to having the country more united and motivated to participate in our democracy.