Even though Chuck Asay is one of my favorite cartoonists (see here, here, here, here, and here), I was not a big fan of one of his recent two-frame cartoons.
But he has more than made up for that slight transgression with this new gem.
I’m biased, of course, since I’ve already written about California being the Greece of America, but there’s plenty of evidence to justify Asay’s cartoon.
- California already has some of the highest tax rates in America, resulting in Laffer Curve responses that reduce tax revenue.
- California has violated Mitchell’s Golden Rule, letting government spending grow faster than the productive sector of the economy.
- California over-compensates government employees, distorting labor markets and imposing ever-growing burdens on taxpayers.
- California is throwing good money after bad with subsidies for so-called high-speed rail.
- California is suffocating from a knee-jerk impulse for more red tape, regulation, and intervention in almost every area of life, from higher education to babysitting.
It’s hard to see how a state survives, in the long run, with such a burdensome government. While the cartoon is designed to be funny, it also make a valid point since the Golden State is copying the mistakes that are causing Greece to collapse.
That being said, California can be saved. I already mentioned this morning that voters in San Diego and San Jose voted overwhelmingly to trim the excessive benefits promised to government bureaucrats. But I also should have mentioned that California voters rejected a statewide referendum to boost tobacco taxes.
But the real test will be this November, when voters will be asked whether to vote for a huge income tax increase so that Governor Jerry Brown and the crowd in Sacramento can keep the gravy train rolling along for a few more years.
If voters resist the Washington-Monument-Syndrome demagoguery of the political elite and reject the class-warfare tax hike, then it’s possible that lawmakers will finally do the right thing and reduce the size and scope of California’s government.
I don’t think there’s any chance that California will become another Texas. But there’s a greater-than-zero chance that the state can pull itself back from the Grecian Abyss.
22nd century? This could next week.
New Mexico next to California? Simple mistake or is he trying to say something else?
The real test won’t be in November. The real test will be when the california courts decide proposition B is unconstitutional. Liberals still have their back stop with the courts over ruling the people’s choices.
It is nice to fantasize that California’s decline can be contained. Alas, Californians together with a few other states, will first vote the rest of the nation’s wallets away before going down. That is what is currently happening in Europe.
So prepare for calls to interstate solidarity and rhetoric about how Americans must all unite to be “strong” and survive the challenge of three billion emerging and liberating world souls.
The dream of prosperity through flatter effort-reward curves lives on — the decline accelerates.
[...] Archaeologists from the 22nd Century Ponder the Death of California « International Liberty. Share this:TwitterRedditFacebookEmailPrintDiggStumbleUponLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. ← Ann Coulter: The recall heard round the world [...]
[...] can enjoy other Asay cartoons here, here, here, here, here, and here. Rate this:Share [...]
[...] Here’s a great Chuck Asay cartoon about California. Rate this:Share [...]
[...] one of my favorites. You can see more of his work here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, [...]
[...] can see my favorite Asay cartoons here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Rate this:Share [...]
[...] can see my favorite Asay cartoons here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, [...]
[...] a coyote, a Humpty Dumpty cartoon, a photo that shows the California bureaucracy in action, and a cartoon featuring archaeologists from the future. Rate this:Share this:PrintEmailFacebookTwitterMoredeliciousDiggFarkLinkedInRedditStumbleUponLike [...]
[...] This great Chuck Asay cartoon imagines how future archaeologists will view the Golden [...]
[...] And I’m happy that California is farther down the path to chaos and meltdown than my state of Virginia (as illustrated by this amusing cartoon). [...]
[...] can see my favorite Asay cartoons here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, [...]
[...] difference between Texans, liberals and conservatives. And if you want California-specific humor, this Chuck Asay cartoon hits the nail on the [...]
[...] P.P.P.S. Here’s a photo that shows the California bureaucracy in action, and a cartoon featuring archaeologists from the future. [...]
As a Native Californian in voluntary exile in Oregon, I find it disturbing that the idiots in Sactown are still driving hard and fast into a brick wall! California presents an interesting dichotomy: on one hand, the state is very conservative with regards to taxes. On the other hand, the majorities in San Fransicko and LALA land constantly send libtards to Sactown!
California was once one of the most conservative states in the country, but that started to change in the ’60s. But, in the 58 counties, the majority of them remain conservative. You’d never know this with libtards always screaming the CA is blue! CA needs to finally reject the socialist nightmare, and return to the values that once made it the 6th largest economy in the world, or else fall like Greece!
[...] P.P.P.S. Here’s a photo that shows the California bureaucracy in action, and a cartoon featuring archaeologists from the future. [...]
[...] This great Chuck Asay cartoon imagines how future archaeologists will view the Golden [...]
[...] an amusing comparison of Texas and California. If you want some California-specific humor, this Chuck Asay cartoon is great. And to maintain balance, here’s a Texas-specific joke on how to respond to an [...]
[...] an amusing comparison of Texas and California. If you want some California-specific humor, this Chuck Asay cartoon is great. And to maintain balance, here’s a Texas-specific joke on how to respond to an [...]