Why does The Union allow editorial prominence to Thomas Elias?
Because of the reasoned opinions? That would be a big “no.” Elias
cherry picks bits of information while leaving out volumes to promote
“progressive” thought. That would be leftist views for those
non-political types.
Elias
recently gushed over Gov. Brown’s masterful balancing of the state’s
budget with — what a shock — tax increases. To do this, Elias had to
gloss over the usual fuzzy budgetary math and ignore the more than
$100 billion of unfunded state employee retirement benefits. Oops. And
the fact that when Brown was governor in the 1970s he successfully
pushed for unionization of state employees, which created this
budgetary mess in the first place.
Here’s
how it works. Three entities are involved when state union bosses
“negotiate” with politicians for what we now know are unsustainable
raises and benefits: the public union bosses, the politicians and
California taxpayer’s money (not California taxpayers, just our
money). The politicians involved, mostly union-loving Democrat
“progressives,” promise huge taxpayer-funded pay raises and lush
benefit packages to state unions. Union bosses, the quintessential
“progressives,” promise huge donations back to politicians from dues
derived from, you guessed it, taxpayer dollars. It’s the classic, “If
you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” Taxpayers are left with the
disgusting mental image of that all-too-familiar ritual, oh yeah, and
we get to pay the bill.
Another recent Elias beauty was his one-sided attack on those no good,
evil states like Texas stealing away poor progressive California’s
businesses and high earners. Not once does The Union’s opinion piece
darling mention the obvious fact that these states could not entice
one business or high-earning individual away if California maintained
the minutest resemblance of a reasonable business climate. Moving
yourself or your business out of state requires a huge undertaking
preceded by much number crunching and trepidation. My tax guy recently
lost his two largest accounts to Nevada.
So why
do it? Why move? Because this state treats its higher income earners
like a parasite treats a host. If you try to work harder, the parasite
sucks more. California stifles initiative, innovation and incentives
to grow with more taxes, fees, permits, mitigations, litigation,
redundant agency oversight, multiple agency jurisdictions, multiple
but different agency rules, codes and regulations, exploding workers’
compensation costs, lax phony disability protection and endless
environmental review (too much of which is emotional, not science
based). So what’s a person to do? For many, you cleave off the
parasite and go to a business-friendly state that entices you with
initiative, innovation and incentives. Is that evil or just common
sense and Business 101?
Come on, The Union, don’t be so lazy. You can do better than this guy.
The same old progressive sycophant’s endless slanting of reality in
one direction gets old. Spark some debate. How about get some new and
different ideas and opinions on your Ideas and Opinions page? If not,
at least change Thomas Elias’ column from “California Focus” to
“California Bogus.”