Tom in Tennessee

Upon Further Review, California Voters Sending Mixed Messages

Though you have some logic to your premise you are proceeding from a flawed assumption, that is that the voters cast their votes in a way to condone the original intent of the las and by extension to continue spending on mental health. A broader political science view would suggest a better interpretation, which is that the massive defeat of the referendums must be taken into account to reveal the true sentiment and intention of the people....from which I would conclude that the people have had a belly full of 1. political tax ploys; 2. legislative abrogation of their responsibility and putting their excessive spending spree on the backs of the people; 3. shifting the real prople by disecting the massive deficit into several pieces to confuse and deflect the real problem....state debt spending. The voters are fed up, my friend and speculation of anything to the contrary would be an exercise in futility.

Upon Further Review, California Voters Sending Mixed Messages

For heavens's sake, how could you possibly think that voting against this measure (or mess is more like it) could possibly signal vote intent to spend more? That is a rather large - and I believe incorrect - leap of faith. California has become the unwilling, led by the unknowing into the unthinkable. The voters signal, to me, was unmistakable. They are fed up with the legislature screwing around with massive spending, special interests - lobbys - with more influence than the citizens, and ever increasing taxes with no hope of getting the state out of debt.

As Gas Prices Fall, Fuel Economy Loses Importance to Auto Shoppers

Let me see if I understand this: "Will higher gas prices be painful? Of course. Are higher gas prices in our long-term interest? Yes."
Typical contemporary wisdom from those who have completely lost contact with reality. Higher gas prices are NOT in our long term interest unless you believe that Americans are so naieve that they would not change to better environmental habits unless squeezed at the pump. That has the same stupid logic in it that says we have to endure an epidemic of smallpox before people will volunteer to be innoculated. The only ones who want to increase gas taxes are those who enjoy managing people through their pocketbooks instead of leading people through their minds....I will let you decide which is a better and more permanent way for a people and government to work together.