It hasn't even started yet, and gas prices are going up! For the first time, at my local gas station this week, the price is over $3 per gallon! And that's for regular gas and paying cash.
Now, all I have to look forward to is the latest "gift" from Gov. Jerry Brown and the Democrat-controlled legislature. What's that? A $5.2 billion tax hike – bringing higher gas prices and, to add insult to injury, higher registration fees.
It should come as no surprise that reaction was anger and criticism of both Gov. Jerry Brown, who supported the increase, and the legislators who approved the bill.
What was a surprise, but shouldn't have been, was the reaction of the governor about the people complaining about the increases.
Speaking to a group in Orange County in Southern California, he spoke bluntly about the complainers:
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"The freeloaders – I've had enough of them. They have a president that doesn't tell the truth and they're following suit."
What he's really saying is that citizens who work and pay taxes are "freeloading" on the system and have no right to complain about the tax burden government puts on them.
It's amazing how Democrat politicians get so secure in their elected offices that they think they can insult anyone and get away with it.
All while they continue their political road to increasing the tax and regulation burdens on average citizens.
To hear their campaign speeches, it sounds as though they're looking to level the playing field so everyone benefits from their programs and plans for us.
The reality hits when they get elected and the average voter finds out that they've really been shafted – usually in the pocketbook and also in the day-to-day reality of life in a Democrat "wonderland."
Jerry Brown's insult is the latest blatant example of that – following the insulting epithet Hillary Clinton laid on voters who disagreed with her political policies – calling them "deplorables."
It's clear that Democrats have no respect for anyone who disagrees with their point of view.
The California multi-billion transportation tax hike means gas taxes would surge by 12 cents a gallon, that's a 43 percent increase. Diesel users face increases from 16 to 36 percent and an increase in the sales tax.
In addition, the annual registration fees for vehicles would increase from $25 to $185 – depending on the age of the vehicle. These fees would increase annually with inflation.
All this is supposed to deal with road and infrastructure repairs – things that should have been done gradually over the years but that, in their "wisdom," politicians put off and delay until it's an emergency.
Consider the fiasco with the Oroville Dam this year, when a major disaster was barely avoided but that was the result of years of stalling on dealing with required maintenance – and that continues.
It's no surprise to anyone that the reaction to the gas price hike was fury. It's almost impossible to survive in California if you don't drive. Our vehicles are a lifeline to survival for jobs, school and just daily life. Any changes in the price of fuel presents a major hit to every budget.
Jerry Brown comes from a family used to such political machinations. He's the son of a politician who changed the political face of the state – Pat Brown, who served as district attorney of San Francisco, then state attorney general for two terms and in 1958 was elected governor – serving two terms. He was ambitious and changed the face of the state on many levels.
His son, Jerry, was no less ambitious, and he's followed his father in varied levels of government. He started by serving on the Community College District, then was elected secretary of state, followed by election as governor. He then ran for U.S. president and then for the Senate but wasn't successful.
He was then chairman of the state Democratic Party, but resigned for another attempt at president and Senate. After a short pause, he was elected mayor of Oakland, California, then elected state attorney general and then governor again!
The guy is nothing if not politically determined.
As for the freeloading Californians he so disdains, Jerry has lots more in store for them. He still promotes his plan for high-speed rail from southern California to the north. Voters approved a bond measure for $9.95 billion; cost estimates now surpass $64-billion.
Then there's his plan for twin water tunnels to move water from north to south – original estimate $17 billion – but the construction overruns and costs to water districts, users and property owners is open ended.
Then, add state pension obligations, bond obligations, health-care costs and the proposal to pay all criminal defense costs for illegals living in the state who face deportation – and the fact that the state budget for next year already shows a $1.6 billion deficit – and you have a lot of freeloaders who will have every right to consider the appeal of getting out while the getting is good.
In fact, more people are leaving the state than moving in, which means Jerry Brown faces fiscal disaster, unless of course, he splits and runs for the Senate or president again.
And he probably will; we know he doesn't like President Trump.
Consider yourself warned.
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