Breaking Bad:California vs. the Other States

by Richard Rider – Chairman, San Diego Tax Fighters

Version 3.49 Revised: 5 October, 2022

Online version at:www.TinyURL.com/CA-vs-other-states… Read More

In 1993, California’s Republican Governor Pete Wilson joined with the Democrat-controlled State Assembly and State Senate to form the California Constitution Revision Commission (CCRC). The stated goal was to modernize and improve our bulky California Constitution. The REAL goal (at least the PRIMARY goal) was to gut Prop 13, making it easier for our state and local governments to raise taxes.

Our centrist governor and the two state legislatures each picked 1/3 of the commission appointees. As a result, the initial commission was overwhelmingly Democrat, with a handful of mostly moderate Republicans included as window dressing. Uh oh.

Since 1970, Democrats have controlled both CA state legislatures. With one exception. In 1994 with the Republican Party’s push for theirContract with America, the State Assembly enjoyed a brief two-year GOP majority.

The new Republican Assembly Speaker Kurt Pringle — recognizing the “kangaroo court” nature of the Commission — decided to change the… Read More

It’s an educational (and scary) exercise to consider what our property taxes would be if Prop 13 had NOT passed in 1978 — and no subsequent reforms in property taxes occurred (a fair assumption, given Democrat dominance of the state legislature since 1970).

Most people have forgotten the following aspect: “In 1977, the average property tax rate in California was 2.67 percent.Proposition 13 fixed the rate at 1 percent of the purchase price[plus a 2% annual increase, or the COL, if less]. On top of the 1% is whatever additional rate is approved to cover voter-approved indebtedness, such as bonds. Although the additional rate varies around the state, it generally runs at about two-tenths of 1 percent, setting the overall Proposition 13 rate at 1.2 percent.” http://www.caltax.org/WhatProposition13Did.pdf— page 1

Looking at my own property tax bill, my annual “1%” tax on our 1993 purchase is $5,300 in 2022. The other taxes for bonds, special districts, etc, (a total… Read More

Many people believe that the current state of the Democrat Party is a danger to our constitutional structure and the underpinnings of what has made America the great country it has become. If you believe that is true you have not seen anything yet. This column purposely strays from making predictions and rarely has done so in the last fifteen years of publishing weekly. The case that is being laid out is based on everything that is historical, facts you know and historical reality. We do not know for sure, but it is highly likely that the Republicans will take over the House of Representatives. It is hard to tell what will happen with the U.S. Senate. But with the current societal factors, particularly the economic ones, the chances of the Republicans taking control of the Senate increase daily. The overruling of Roe v. Wade changed little. Let’s look at where that will leave the Democrats. They currently have leadership in the House and Senate that is collectively octogenarian. Last time the Dems took a beating, losing 63 seats in 2010, political normalcy would have seen the leadership tossed to the side. That did not happen because the remaining members of the house … Read More

I was busy this week earning a living. To do that, I had to buy gasoline on Tuesday, I paid $7.59.9/gallon. I then drove to Nevada for business.

In Nevada, I had to fill up again to get home, so yesterday, in Carson City, I paid $5.99.9/gallon.

Then in a moment of boredom, I was scrolling through my Twitter feed, and saw a post from California’s version of that tin horn dictator from Panama, Manuel Noriega, who we all know to be Gavin Newsom. The man that I refer to as an Arrogant Lazy Authoritarian in Charge (ALAIC) Newsom posted a complaint about the high gas prices, and said, basically, “it’s not my fault, it is the fault of greedy oil companies.” ALAIC Newsom was once again trying to distract voters by creating a new boogey man. Yes, he said, I have been the dictator of California for the last four years. Yes, nothing happens in California unless I say so, but, he says, “high gas prices are not my fault.”

The same “greedy oil companies” who charge the people of the state of Nevada $1.60/gallon less for gasoline. Do you think, that, if they are that greedy, they would be charging everyone… Read More

Every election cycle, we hear the refrain of “this is the most important election of our lifetime.” For residents of Huntington Beach, November’s City Council election is truly the case. Surf City, USA is at a crossroads. The town, which values it beachy feel and surf culture, has been captured by a vocal minority of progressives that are quickly transforming the city into an Orange County version of Santa Monica. Since first being election as City Attorney, Michael Gates has aggressively protected the city’s ability to govern itself. When Gavin Newsom shut down its beaches during the Covid panic of 2020, Gates was quickly before a judge filing suit. When Sacramento pushes mandate to construct giant apartments and developments, Gates vigorously defended the city’s right to govern itself. When liberal attorney whose cottage industry is to sue cities seeking settlements for bogus lawsuits, Gates demanded a day in court saving taxpayers millions of dollars. But after conservatives divided the vote amongst themselves in 2020, a progressive majority on the city council clipped Gate’s wings. They refused to authorize lawsuits to protect Surf City’s autonomy. They … Read More

There are many reasons for people to relocate within the United States. Traditionally, it has been because of physical environment, job opportunities or family ties. Recently there have been reasons added to that such as the cost of housing or the nature of the government in the state or locale in which one is relocating. A new reason came to my attention which I found quite fascinating. I was watching a well-known news/finance show where a guest, Donald Luskin, was being queried by the host. Mr. Luskin founded a company, Trend Macrolytics, after a long and distinguished career in the investment sector of the economy. Three years ago, Mr. Luskin relocated his business to Dallas from Chicago. This had been his second stint in in Chicago. During the 1980’s he moved to Chicago for the opportunities, especially in the commodities area of investments. The Chicago Board of Trade was vibrant at the time. Someone could start as a runner at the Board, work hard, get noticed as someone to nurture along, and eventually end up as a trader on the floor making a very nice living. There were low entrance barriers to success. You could dress right, smile, show a commitment to work, and … Read More

We all remember that line from Wizard of Oz. Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow finally get to Oz, find the Wizard, seek an audience with him, and find thunder, lightening, and a booming voice. They are scared, shaking and bow in front of the Great and Powerful Oz. Toto then walks up to the stage, pulls back to curtain, and the group sees an old man pushing buttons, and obviously manipulating the picture. Oz bellows “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” The group now knows the truth, and the Wizard is still trying to hide it. The group is no longer afraid, and they go to the old man behind the curtain to really solve their problems. What has this got to do with the political scene today? In the Wizard of Oz, the wizard turns out to be a kindly old man. Not so with the political scene as we head into the last month of the election. Democrats are not kindly old men who have our best interests at heart, and who want to solve our problems. They want to retain power. However, crime is out of control, the economy is collapsing, people are struggling to pay for gas and put food on the table, our inner cities have turned into … Read More