Let’s see a show of hands from everyone that didn’t see this coming. Just as I thought, no one put their hand up.

The State of California has announced that they will need additional funding from the gubmint (government) in order to balance their already bloated budget.

Here’s the quote:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked for $6.9 billion in federal funds in his state-budget proposal Friday and warned that state health and welfare programs would be threatened without the emergency help.

Is anyone surprised at this? I didn’t think so.

Let’s see, which state has the most ambitious welfare and give away programs? We know the answer, California. One of the most, if not the most liberal state in this country. Who allows more illegal, oops that’s undocumented workers into their system…who gives illegal aliens drivers licenses which can then be used to qualify for state benefits and welfare programs.

Guess what state has put a huge number of people out of work in order to save the snail (delta) smelt?

“The state's water emergency is unfolding thanks to the latest mishandling of the Endangered Species Act. Last December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued what is known as a "biological opinion" imposing water reductions on the San Joaquin Valley and environs to safeguard the federally protected hypomesus transpacificus, a.k.a., the delta smelt. As a result, tens of billions of gallons of water from mountains east and north of Sacramento have been channeled away from farmers and into the ocean, leaving hundreds of thousands of acres of arable land fallow or scorched.”

This action has caused thousands of acres of former fertile farmland to go idle and workers to be displaced and unemployed, most likely to be put on the unemployment and growing welfare rolls. Let’s save some obscure fish species at the peril of workers and commerce. What would have happened if the Dodo bird and Passenger pigeon were still alive in that state? It would probably be a wasteland. Insanity at it’s finest.

Now the governator himself is petitioning Congress for a bailout to cover all of those hot checks the state is sending to all of their designated recipients. Yes, those of us living in the other forty nine states are expected to shell out more taxpayer money to prop up those who have spent themselves into oblivion. Just like the deal given to the state of Nebraska for their vote in the healthcare debacle the rest of us are expected to work harder and longer to pay for the special perks given out by the administration. The classic ant and grasshopper story all over again.

Do I think Congress and this president will cough up the bucks necessary to keep California afloat? You can take my ‘yes’ to the bank. Oh course they will. They need the votes of that state and the approval of all of those on the dole. Just keep those presses at the mints going 24/7 …it’s just money. I hate to think those in power and running this country are so ignorant that they actually believe we can spend and borrow our way out of a recession. Unfortunately I do believe they think this is the way we should go.

I’m 67 years old and do not have an economic degree but I think I have common sense, can anyone out there show me any, just one governmental program that actually makes a profit? Like Diogenes, I just need one. Does any function of the gubmint actually make more revenue than they spend? I don’t think so. So, the money has to come from somewhere and that somewhere is us.

The taxpayers. The people in business, the people who actually hire other people. Capitalists, there I’ve said it…that nasty word the liberals want to erase from our vocabulary.

The more money being printed for worthless programs and to prop up states (such as California) who aren’t fiscally responsible just adds to the national debt and must be repaid by someone else at sometime in the future. The enactment of huge federal programs such as national healthcare as well as more welfare and do nothing hand out programs without proper oversight is a crime. Bigger gubmint, higher taxes and a reusal to look at the impending financial disaster caused by runaway spending is wrong and will not, cannot result in a prosperous economy.

Failing to look beyond the next election cycle is not only wrong, it’s fundamentally immoral.

Comments go to pperry@austin.rr.com