Vision Inversion

Yeah, you got it!

I was reading your essay -- good one, btw -- and kept thinking "That may be great in NC, but suuuuuure isn't the case here in Commiefornia!", then I hit that paragraph.

I can only WISH our state-level political hacks were the "silent" types you describe! Starting with Schitzenheader.

we have our power players, just like anywhere else, but the expectation around here is that serving in the GA is a part time job...not a career choice. And since our legislative sessions are usually very short there is really no time to waste on vanity legislation. Most of the stuff that gets worked on is important and has statewide effects, because even when the GA is in session for 6 months, they aren't meeting every day. It ain't perfect, but the national system makes it look that way!

spend the bulk of their time at home, making a living...not living off of us."

That brought up the ol' lightbulb above the head.
Every time those slugs in Washington D.C. vote themselves more money in one of the various and sundry ways they have devised to vote themselves more money, they are in essence taking it out of OUR pockets.
Wow! I'd love to have a job for 6 years and never have to work again in my life....

Another good post,Flag.Too bad the Founding Fathers could not have had the foresight to see just HOW lucrative a career as a "public servant"could become. They damn sure would have put in term limits,IMHO.Here in Michiruit,our lawmakers are too busy driving away business,voting themselves raises,what with the onerous taxes,W.C.costs,unemployment taxes,etc etc,coming up with bulls#!t like "Cool Cities",whatever the hell THAT is supposed to mean,letting the infrastucture crumble,while giving away MILLIONS they DON'T have to Hollyweird,and the damnable infighting between the parties,no wonder this state looks like a third-world country.Got a full time legislature for WHAT?? There aren't enough stupid laws already? All that,for a part-time state.Sheesh.

Buck: You're right, these guys rob US blind everytime the get their automatic COLAs...and they have the nerve to complain about Wall Street and the automakers getting paid for incompetence. Unbelievable!!!

Clyde: Calm down, or DHS might come knocking at your door. They could see that and see you as a potential terrorist, what with you complaining about the government and all!

I PROUDLY wear the badge of "EXTREMIST". As denoted by Janet from another Planet. And,judging
by the content of your post,I'm in good company!bwahahahahahahaha

I was reading your post and laughing and thinking of CA and then of course I read what you wrote. And I won't mention even beyond the state all of those wonderful stars (duds) that we have sent to Washington! Just feeling all warm and fuzzy inside!

We don't show our state people because last time Arnold locked them in a room and they showed thm sleeping all over the place. Plus the fact, I tried to watch a few things on C-Span once and they were putting me to sleep. ZZZZZ

But we do have some that go on the radio and babble a bunch of junk and then call it a day until next time. But the one leading the pack for every freaking TV moment is mayor Tony of LA. We can't get rid of that guy.

In the Golden State, do you have a part time legislature or do they pattern themselves after DC...stick around, collect the check, and pretend you're doing something? I don't see the point of having a full time state legislature and when you find one, you usually find an f'd up state. The more these clowns do, the worse it is for me and you!

We have a full time legislature in Commiefornia.

My fondest hope is that as Kennedy-Schwartzenegger is addressing a joint session of the state legislature, a meteor lands squarely on the building.

I often lull myself to sleep at night dreaming about it.

I drift off with a smile on my face....

I used to try to explain that to people who got pisssed at Dole because she had a top job at the Red Cross. They never believed that the people in NC Gov't made so little because the only example they see is what Washington and the media feed them.

If you think...then you might be a RWE!!! :)

Brian: Thanks for the clarification on that. I always assumed that most states operated the same way we do with part-timers in the state capital. I know that Cali is a big state, but it is beyond me what any state needs with a full time legislature. I guess they need extra time to figure out how to drive the state over the cliff, huh?

Nee: I don't know why anyone would think that NC politicians were getting rich from serving in the GA around here. heck, they can make waaaay more money doing something else for a living. The case of Lidy Dole is a fine example: she made here money elsewhere, not working in NC. Besides, she never held a state office here, only the Senate seat.

We have a part-time legislative branch as well. They have offices in Austin, but the legislature only meets for X number of days per year. The rest of the time, they're at home.

I think you were quoting me, since I've called 'em Congresscritters for decades.

Hope you were able to get to a Tea Party. I've got a report up of the 2 that I attended.

I wasn't able to get to a Party that day...I had classes from 9:30-3:15 By the time I was finished at school, I just wanted to get home!

Yes, they pretend to do stuff. Please! They act like they are out there in our best interest. Too bad they have no clue.

We have a gov who is half asleep most of the time. The state people, well, they get some neat laptps and think they are working. And they do get the perks. Super! Not sure what for because they really don't do that much!

It might not be so bad if they just pretended to do things, but when they actually do...watch out! That's when it gets really bad for all of us.

Yes, apparently the only thing they can do is raise taxes.

And now we have that nut job Mayor Newsome is going to run for governor. The only bright spot is that he said he would drop out if Dianne Feinstein decided to run. He is all over the state since his announcement. Watch out - he is coming to a CA town!

My dad told my mom that if he wins, they are walking about from their house, packing the cars and driving east.

As for our locals, they are really nothing much. The Republicans said they would not raise taxes and they did. The one tax that did not pass was adding the gas tax at $0.12 per gallon. But we are getting hit all over the place. Plus these people can't even do a budget!

I am not too fond of Gavin Newsome, but what would the difference really be between him Ahnuld? At least Newsome comes with his leftism right out there in the open, instead of pretending that he's some sort of conservative...right before he starts spending more than Gray Davis!

And it seems like your local GOP is just following the lead of the national party of the recent years. Tax or spend as much as the Democrats, oppose one tax and act like you have some 'low tax' credibility!

Very good blog. And it is very true as well.

My local representative is a democrat, but I did vote for him. He gets stuff done. He isn't a liberal, he is a pretty good centrist and he actually LISTENS when you come to him and responds very quickly. (I've emailed him twice and received hand written letters within 3-4 days giving me actual REAL answers and pointing me in the right direction to get the ball rolling on soliving a problem).

You don't find that at the federal level. Hell...I emailed Arlen Specter off the hook about his supporting the generational theft act and didnt receive a response until over a month after the bill passed and his response was an absolute abomination.

I guess it all depends on your local House member, when it comes to the federal level. My federal House member is Virginia Foxx, and she is very good about responding to questions and requests (when possible) and makes it a point to get back to the district as much as she can. But the senators are a different story. The only time you hear from them is when they wanna hit you up for some cash for their campaigns! Then they won't leave you alone!

Yeah. television had a lot to do with it. Now every time someone in DC breaks wind the politicians have to have an "investigation" complete with tv cameras.

Turn the tv camera on and two politicians will fight over tv exposure like the two ugly sisters fought over the glass slipper.

And ask them a simple 'yes' or 'no' question and they will talk for 5 minutes and say nothing, like you said.

Television is the cultprit...

Our trouble here in Commiefornia, as Brian calls it, is that those full time state slugs ARE doing things all the time. Things they have no business doing, just to bother us.

Our governator, Aunud Schriber, is a close relative, DNA wise, to Obama. They say something, and less than ten minutes later, thirty tops, they say the opposite, or deny it, but NEVER own up to anything, and never apologize.

Let Oath Keepers get a few thousand more pledges and our future will be clearly defined.

Before Dec. 31.

Glenn

Can you clue me in on what Oath Keepers is? Coming from NC, I have NO idea what you're talking about.

As for having to deal with full timers, I am glad we don't have to deal with that here. The worst thing you can have is a bunch of political hacks writing legislation all the time.