And what's the downside?

Many of our ancestors left Europe precisely to get away from meddling bureaucracy. This was the ubiquitous form of tyranny there that drove many across the ocean. But this tyranny now appears to be here in full. I have friends who recently moved out there [California] and I am shocked at some of the things they tell me . One is example is that they administer this seemingly useless written driver renewal test to everyone in the state,even younger people w/ perfect driving records. The test has many obscure questions that seem to have little correlation to driving ability. Many people fail the test and have to go back and talke it again. How many people does govt. employ to administer this unneeded test.

I've had a drivers license in this state for more than 20 years, and I don't know what your friends are talking about.

I do know about the written test for a CA driver's license, and I've taken it- some of the questions are a little obscure, but you're allowed to study for the test in advance. Most of the questions make good sense to me. I can't remember the last time I had to take a written test for my driver's license- maybe not since I went for my Class C, in the late 80s. I didn't need a test to renew my license in 2008.

What you're referring to may have to do with driver's licenses for teenagers- which, as in many states, are subject to some different rules than for older people. Or it may have to do with the fact that new residents are subject to a written test when obtaining their first California driver's license, irrespective of their record in other states. California isn't alone in doing that- in fact I think it's normal for most states to require that of their new residents who are obtaining a drivers license for the first time. But I can't really say any more than that on the subject.

Another: there was a problem w/ people selling stolen scrap metal so the state set up this elaborate system whereby people who want to sell scrap metal have to be fingerprinted and fill out forms etc. Once again, what does this cost?

Short answer: to the taxpayers- not very much, if anything. The cost is paid by the people getting the permit, just as with my cab permit and renewal fees.

And no, none of this qualifies as "tyranny" to me. The Endless Failed War On Some Drugs, on the other hand, exemplifies tyranny to the letter. But that's a problem for the entire nation, not just California: although for various reasons ranging from national borders, geography and climate to the cultural mythos of the USA, we Californians do bear a disproportionate burden of its costs.

One of the reasons we out here in Real America are sitting here amused at the collapse of California is in your post. Look at your post. Think about it. I know it's painful to think, but try.

One paragraph with HUNDREDS of words in it. No organization of thoughts. Just a rush of stream of consciousness. Because your feelings (which is what I assume you were writing about, I gave up about half way through) are far more important than having anything rational to say, or organization, or even coherence. It is quintessential California.

Once you guys learn how to think, then you may be able to learn how to write coherently. Then maybe you can start figuring out what went wrong in your state, and then maybe you will find out how to dig out from under the rubble.

I'm not sure why people hate us so much.

I am here, in my too expensive apartment (rents driven up my real-estate madness, don't you know) near Dodger Stadium, reading letters from people who seem to think that an entire state full of people deserve to hang because of what? hollywood crap? arnold? undocumented immigrants? some strange resentment the world has? I dunno. it's weird.

I work as one of those parasitic leeches I keep hearing about, providing mental health services to abused and at-risk kids at a community mental health center (and whoo-boy, I gotta tell you, the money to be made in social services is just so grand- EVERYONE should rush out and become a parasite too! long hours and low pay-can't be beat) Medi-cal funds these kids' services. That will be slashed soon. My agency (and other non-profits here) will be receiving IOU's starting this week it looks like. It'll be a little while before I start getting them I guess, providing I have a job still. The kids who no longer receive medi-cal will also not receive medical or dental care. And we'll lose the matching funds from the feds. And, we'll pay on the back end with increased crime rates, homelessness, incarceration costs, emergency care for illnesses, etc. This is sort of a disaster, and it's truly bizarre to hear so many people gloat about it.

I have been hearing that letting California sink could hinder the rest of the country recovering, and I wonder at the nihilism of people who don't seem to care. I grew up here. when I was a kid, it was just like what one of the other letters wrote- good to excellent schools, safe streets, art and music programs in the schools, libraries and parks open at night. Prop 13 really did change all that. It took time, but that, the 3 strikes law, the pandering to the prison guards union, term limits- all that- changed this state. It has been amateur hour here for some time. And unfortunately, many, many states copied these ideas. Guess we'll start finding out how that works out too, eh?

The people here are really not apathetic- partly the problem, as Mr. Kamiya pointed out. We have this initiative process that has gotten totally out of hand, but which is the only way Californians get a real say in what happens. The 2/3 requirement to pass a budget just guarantees that nothing gets done-fine by far-right republicans and libertarians, but not so fine with the majority of us who are neither. And prop 8 only passed because it only takes a simple majority to amend our constitution.

This state is gorgeous, the weather is amazing, and it should be the dream state it used to be. Really, it is a lovely place. And most of the people here are actually really nice (except on the freeways, granted). But we are held hostage by a minority of voters and by politicians who care more about ideology and securing a lobbying gig when their term runs out than they do about actually governing. I'm not sure what y'all want us to do about it- armed revolt? We vote, and vote, and vote here (we probably vote more than any other place on earth), we march, we picket, blah, blah, blah. I could go on forever.

I think we are a mirror for what this country has become, and that this is why everyone seems so happy at our downfall. We're scapegoats. Only scapegoating us won't stop this from coming to you. It's coming, you all voted for it just as much as we did, and it won't be any more fun when it is your kids not being taught or going without medical care. And I won't gloat at all because I think the whole thing is just awful.

Every day I see my clients and wonder if we're going to be able to keep helping them and their families.And these people are already stretched so thin it's heartbreaking. People are going to go under and it will be such a waste, such a shame.

Jesus, I'm rambling. But honestly, can't people come up with a better response than this 'glad I got out in time' shadenfreude shit?

If you are from one of those states where things really are still run well and you avoided these pitfalls, my hat's off to you and none of this applies. good job, keep it up, and don't do what was done here. Have a nice day, because that is what we Californians say to people...

-- badcat1966

Note to tomreedtoon: I don't think that the occasional failure to hit the 'return' key amounts to an indictment of someone's thinking processes.