Two weeks ago, during a lecture at a Southern California college campus, a student asked me a question about if and how the growing state budget deficit had impacted me. I quickly responded that most Californians – expect those involved in the day-to-day rigmarole in Sacramento – have not been directly or even indirectly impacted by the state’s annual budget mess.
In looking more deeply at that statement, here’s the simple reality: Despite massive deficits, little has changed in our daily lives because of Sacramento’s inaction. Our public schools are still open. Roads, bridges, railroads and ports remain operational – albeit the maintenance on them may have slowed or ceased. If you turn on your tap, water still flows out of it. In short, nothing has changed despite the news that the sky will soon fall.
So, when Governor Schwarzenegger stood up last week and spoke of Armageddon, and papers report that the “Big 5” talks cratered again…why should any Californian get nervous because the state faces a budget gap? Claims that the “sky is falling” have occurred before. We’ve faced budget shortfalls previously and have always found a way to bail ourselves out – usually by borrowing to put-off the tough decisions.
But, based on the latest statements from Governor Schwarzenegger, the not-so-Golden State faces a massive $14.8 billion budget deficit during the current year and a projected deficit of $25 billion in 2009-2010. Have the chickens may have come home to roost? Are our credit cards maxed? Have we living beyond our means for too long?
At this point, maybe the best thing that can happen for the Governor and the State Legislature – to break down those ideological skyscrapers – is for all Californians to personally feel the pain of inaction. To do so will likely require dramatic action – one wrought with negative political consequences so grave that voter outrage would impact future elections.
For example: What if on January 2, 2009, all California’s public schools closed and padlocked their doors because of lack of funds? Imagine the television images of young kids barred from attending class. Every California media market would have stark, tragic images at the top of every newscast. Let all Californians express their outrage at the fact that our children – the future – cannot learn because our leaders won’t compromise to solve our budget crisis.
Such a “closure,” would have an even broader impact than on our school-aged children. Many parents would have to skip work to watch their kids, which would send ripples across the whole California economy. To say that the public ire at our politicians would reach unforeseen heights is an understatement.
This shocking example – which I hope never happens – illustrates how great the ideological chasm is and how “in your face” and shocking the impact of continued inaction must be to force compromise in Sacramento.
Shared pain – across-the-board, steep and permanent budget cuts coupled with broad-based, short-term tax hikes (i.e., something that impacts everyone) and fundamental budget reform – must be considered and now!
Taking the governor at his word, California won’t be able to pay its bills in late February or early March.
Desperate times require desperate measures. We need action…or, if not, maybe more inaction will force a consequence so radical, so extreme and so temporarily hurtful to millions that it will force our elected leaders to talk, compromise and, ideally, find a solution.
It shouldn’t have to come to this…but such is the state of politics in California.