Why are we still there?

[Mr__Bill]

Every day there are news reports about more deaths. Every night on the TV are photos of death and destruction.... Why are we still there?

We occupied this land, which we had to take by force, but it causes us nothing but trouble.... Why are we still there?

Their government is unstable, and they have no leadership.... Why are we still there?

Many of their people are uncivilized.... Why are we still there?

There are more than 1000 religious sects, many of which we don't understand.... Why are we still there?

We can't even secure the borders.... Why are we still there?

They are billions of dollars in debt and it will cost billions more to rebuild, which we can't afford.... Why are we still there?

It is becoming clear: The U.S. must abandon California

Bill,

[radhak]

one word : Hollywood.

The industry, not the geography.

[RAFlorida]

Bill, I thought you were

talking about Florida! Oh, for the life of me...

[sweensdv]

Actually, you pretty much described the entire USofA.

[Rand]

Considering that California has the eighth largest economy of the world I doubt they would miss the federal government much.

[germdoc]

Then would we need a passport to go to SeaWorld in San Diego?

[JR]

Then would we need a passport to go to SeaWorld in San Diego?

"You must be this tall to enter California."

alternatively,

"You must be this high to enter California."

JR

[Hoover]

Many people are hoping that it will fall into the ocean, sooner rather than later!!

[Mr__Bill]

Then would we need a passport to go to SeaWorld in San Diego?

I asked the guy at the agricultural inspection station, on the way into Calf., last time I went to Home Depot when they were going to put up the sign, "PAY TOLL HERE"? He thought it was a good idea the state needing money and all. He did say that a lot of people from out of country do have their passports ready when they stop and are amazed that they are only asked about fruit and veggies.

Bill,
Over here where the only good Californian is one that doesn't move to Oregon.

[Rand]

There used to be a sign on I-5 North in Southern Oregon that said "We shoot every 4th Californian and the 3rd one just went by."

[Tom Slick]

International trade and tourism is the #1 "industry" in Calif. Agriculture is #2 with fruit, vegetables, dairy, and wine being the major players.
California generates 13% of the US GDP.
If it were its own country it has a higher GDP or economy than Italy, Canada, Australia, Spain, Korea, India...

Maybe the better question is why is California hanging on to the US?

[cwithboat]

Might as well let it go. All the wafer fabs are in China now.
(for the uninitiated a wafer fab is a semiconductor production facility)

[Woodwerker]

International trade and tourism is the #1 "industry" in Calif. Agriculture is #2 with fruit, vegetables, dairy, and wine being the major players.
California generates 13% of the US GDP.
If it were its own country it has a higher GDP or economy than Italy, Canada, Australia, Spain, Korea, India...

Maybe the better question is why is California hanging on to the US?

All that great stuff and they still can't break even. Sad really sad

[Rich P]

Actually I have heard that if you look at the (tax) money California sends back to DC versus what it gets back it is a good question why it does not...(succeed)

Fortunately there are still a (very) few sane heads in Sacramento...or as Herb Caen called it "Sacatamato".

In the 70's I worked in the Pacific HQ for an old line mid west company. One division ran canneries in the SF bay area and probably hired more folks with duplicate social security numbers than most can imagine..all within one week when the fruit got ripe. Each paycheck had a deduction for the Teamsters pension fund...go figure...none of these workers could spell or pronounce the word. A few years later the grape thing started.

Water over the dam or under the bridge...

Meantime for 20+ years we've been sending salmon and steelhead water down south to keep the golf courses and lawns green and wondering why the catch is dying off. Duh!

Sorry for the rant.

The reason we all tolerate this is the climate.

[TB Roye]

I live in Sacramento and beleive me there are no sane heads in that big white building down town. They are getting ready to elect and retreaded Governor as the next Governor and he was bad the first time around. We have to install water meters because some idiot State Senator from San Diego didn't like having to pay her water bill and though it only fair that we pay higher rates and we live on 2 rivers. California is going to require a very large Federal Bail out, that will make GM, Chysler and AGI lbail out look like chump change. Think I will end the rant now. When I was a kid we used to play "hide go seek" in the capitol when they were not in session, which was most of the time. I think that was a better use for the building. We are thinking of moving to Boise Idaho to be closer to the grandkids amongst other reasons. The state of Idaho's budget is smaller than the City of Sacramento's is and they have a good football team that could probably beat the Raiders any day of the week. The word is BSU may play Cal in the Emerald Nut bowl in Frisco, that one I may go to and pull for BSU maybe the could play the University of Spoiled Childern instead.

Tom