The Decline and Fall of Californiaàand the Rise of Social Liberalism

California is bankrupt. Yet the state spends more money each year despite rising deficits. Trying to compensate, California has raised taxes, raised user fees and issued bonds. But the higher costs of living are driving out the state s middle and upper middle class--- its tax base. The liberal controlled legislature has only one solution: higher taxes on the wealthy redistributed to the poor through programs left to a complicated and confusing bureaucracy to administer. Politicians refuse to evaluate honestly their failures or propose the necessary changes. And those who speak out are demonized as cruel or greedy or even racist.