Don't you just love Californians?

@Ynotisay: Yup. Only state in the Union that could go it alone.

@Ynotisay: Good point.

@luckranger71: There was some talk after that initial threat, that was picking up some steam, that Californians could forego paying federal income tax and, instead, pay a commiserate amount directly to the State so services wouldn't be interrupted. Since auditing 40 million people is impossible it actually made some sense.

@luckranger71: lol @ go it alone, they'd last a year maximum without their precious federal funding, they have already failed as a state

@strongbow: Try again. It's the conservative, former Confederate states that are the biggest takers from the Federal Government.

@strongbow: Huge budget surplus, biggest food producer, biggest entertainment producer, biggest tech producer, biggest tourist destination, most diverse geography, most paid in federal tax, sixth largest economy in the world, #4 least dependent on Federal funding and pays more in federal tax than it receives in return.

Who knows? Maybe you'll get a chance to visit someday.

@Ynotisay: Great post. Just amazing the level of ignorance among those who try to demonize certain areas of this country. I've read similar crap here about Chicago. You know what: every large urban area and state in this country has some degree of budgetary issues due to the "starve the beast" mentality on the right. But highly educated urban areas and states like California, Chicago, Atlanta, Mass, the research triangle are going to continue to be the economic engine of this country.

@luckranger71: And yet are disproportionately under-represented in government. Wyoming has the same say in the Senate as does Illinois or California.
I think that's why things like lowering fuel standards and environmental restrictions (along with a host of other things) are met with such derision here in CA. We've voted for legislation that reflects how we want to live. And we pay for it. Having that threatened is a non-starter.

@luckranger71: Has nothing to do with starve the beast right. Look it up, all large cities are totally run by dimwit dumbocrats. They never could manage money.