I supported the cuts and the need for a balanced budget. Unfortunately, I believe many are completely underestimating the thin line most Californians have been walking the last 7 to 10 years regarding household expenses – and particularly their medical expenses.

The housing crash has created great copy, as there are now thousands of household bankruptcies as a result of the state housing bubble and foreclosures. But once the state cuts on medical services kick in(e.g. CalWorks, Cal. Mental Health Services, Children’s EarlyCare health services, MediCal, Regional Centers, etc.) this will eventually push hundreds of thousands more California families over the brink into bankruptcy. Medical expenses are bringing down families faster than anything else in the U.S. right now, regardless of which rung of the economic ladder they may reside.

Increasing income taxes would make things a million times worse for the state and postponed the problems for a few months. We’re about to find out how screwed we really are. Elected leaders in Sacremento might know that we’re screwed. But they most don’t realize to what exponential power of “screwed”.

Too Optimistic, Chuck. ‘Frugality and self-sufficiency’ will almost certainly never be an accurate description of American or Californian govt.