Will there be a federal bailout of California? As a Californian, I’m firmly on record as opposing it, so don’t get mad at me when they pick your pocket to prop up our public-employee unions. If I were Whitman, I’d be running on a platform of abolishing them.
12 thoughts on “Too Big To Fail?”
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When California actually considers stuff like this; it needs to fail.
That would make a good Federal platform too.
From the link Leland provided:
The device would mimic a standard license plate when the vehicle is in motion but would switch to digital ads or other messages when it is stopped for more than four seconds, whether in traffic or at a red light. The license plate number would remain visible at all times in some section of the screen.
Acouple questions come to mind. First, if some advertiser wants to put up a sign on my property, he has to pay me. Would I receive any payment for allowing the use of my car for advertising or just the state. It sounds like this politician believes my property actually belongs to the state.
Second, what’s to keep some hacker from messing with the electronics in the plate to do things like alter the license number when speeding to blow through red light and speed cameras?
As to bailing out California, it seems inevitable given the size of their congressional delegation and their sense of entitlement. After all, why shouldn’t citizens from other states have to pay for their inability to govern and make sound financial decisions? /sarc
Once again, this is why I got out. It’s a state full of spoiled brats who need mommy to clean up their messes.
But doing so won’t make them any less spoiled. It will exacerbate the situation.
I wonder if California would let me place license plate ads with messages like “Your tax dollars paid for this ad”, “Don’t you wish you lived in a real state?”, “Honk if you hate license plate ads”.
And how big are these license plates going to be? Are they going to be a yard across or something? If not, then you’re not going to see much in the way of detail.
I’m with Larry J.
Submit a bill for lost advertising revenue. FOIA should actually turn up how much they’re making total. So, pro rate for just one plate, submit bill.
Incidentally, I wonder if this is going to be a final test of federalism. Here, we have a state acting as irresponsibly as it possibly can. I can’t believe that the feds would bail them out without strings. Maybe the first time California needs a bailout, but later on, there will be strings attached. That challenges the basis of federalism. Could, for example, the feds require a new constitution or other huge change to California’s government counter to the (even though foolish) wishes of its electorate?
As I understand it, states cannot go bankrupt. So maybe the solution is to allow states to declare bankruptcy under federal bankruptcy law, with few repercussions. Creditors (including those with state pensions) would lose, but it would also prevent states from continuing to borrow as lenders would not advance them additional credit.
When I read the license plate thing, I thought it had to be a gag at first. I can’t imagine any DMV thinking this was a good idea for any reason. Then to read that a legislator not only was for it, but wanted it to raise funds. That’s just sick. That’s an addiction. The legislator isn’t thinking about the wellbeing of the people.
Progressives complain about the greediness of big business. This isn’t big business trying to impose this.
“So maybe the solution is to allow states to declare bankruptcy under federal bankruptcy law, with few repercussions. “
I’d add the same repercussion I’d add for megacorps that fail:
Split it up. Fire the “Executive” level after cutting the every single golden parachute cord you can find. Then -loan- the needed funds.
Love the license plate thing. Can you imagine the fun hackers could have with it?
Can you imagine the fun hackers could have with it?
No need to imagine. But, I don’t think you need hackers for this to turn ugly. I’ll try to avoid spam for Rand, but you can look around the internet, email, and evening tv to see what type of drugs might be hawked on the license plates.