The natives are restless

The old line used to be – "Wanna buy a watch, a ring, a painting?" – generally uttered by some street sleaze trying to palm off hot merchandise.

Sometimes, if it really got ridiculous, it was "Wanna buy a bridge?"

Well, it isn't ridiculous any more. It appears California is about to go on the block, and residents aren't quite certain how much is pre-election hype and how much is real. Regardless, there's growing anger about what's going on, and a taxpayer revolt may be brewing.

It's amazing what fiscal panic looks like when the effects of the derelict actions (or inactions) of elected politicians hit the financial fan and spread political fear.

Here's the headline from the May 14 Contra Costa Times: "Psst … wanna buy a prison? No? How 'bout an arena?"

TRENDING: GOP senator joins in the narrative twisting

The same day, The Los Angeles Times: "Wanna buy a landmark?"

You thought I was kidding, but it's no joke. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is suggesting the possibility of selling well-known properties in the hope enough money could be raised to soften the killer state deficits.

Take your pick: the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, San Quentin Prison, the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Cal Expo in Sacramento, the San Francisco Cow Palace or the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The governor says there are thousands of buildings and parcels that if sold, could help balance the budget.

Of course, he has other plans too, like releasing 38,000 prison inmates, widespread layoffs of teachers, firemen and police, massive cuts to social services, schools and more.

Cities have money problems too. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants to privatize city parking meters and parking garages to raise needed money. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom says 1,000 city workers will be laid off, and more cuts are planned because of a $438 million deficit. Virtually every city in the state faces a budget crunch.

The state Supreme Court just ruled that the eight regional park districts in the state can sell park land without voter approval. It's a ruling that overturned two lower court decisions.

This all reflects political panic spreading from Schwarzenegger's office right down to the local level. It's clear the financial crunch will get much, much worse before it gets better.

A glance at some newspaper headlines over the last week just in my area (San Francisco Chronicle and Contra Costa Times) tells the tale: "Governor: We have no money," "Governor puts deficit at $15 billion," "Budget cuts daunting for schools," "Ballot battle: Kids' program vs. state," "Newsom: 1,000 jobs to be axed," "DA may kick misdemeanors to cities," "An array of options, all bleak," "Governor's plans: Cut deeply, borrow freely."

The Los Angeles papers aren't any more comforting to taxpayers. The Daily News: "Desperate times seen in L.A., state," outlines cuts in police hiring, thousands of layoffs, proposed shortened school year. The Los Angeles Times isn't any better: "Governor outlines drastic cuts" – 5,000 layoffs and $3 billion cut from schools.

Then, the man who claims to be a Republican but turned out to swing left and green, is also suggesting that California could do wonders toward balancing its budget by resuming offshore oil drilling! It would be the first drilling in 40 years.

Imagine that, suddenly the urge for "green" – read that "money" – supersedes Gov. Schwarzenegger's urge for "green" – read that "environmentalism."

Amazing. The idea that taking advantage of California's natural resources would prove financially beneficial is suddenly OK.

Of course, when those concerned about our being energy independent of foreign oil proposed resumption of oil drilling, they were scorned and shouted down as environmental despoilers.

The timing of the plans to sell properties and to drill for oil may be more devious than innocent. On May 19, there's a special, statewide election involving six measures touted as helping stave off drastic measures and "saving" taxpayers money. They're on the ballot because the legislature and the governor couldn't balance the budget.

Analysts and perceptive Californians see the measures for what they are – a fiscal shell game which takes money from dedicated funding for mental health, children's care and education and uses it to pay debt. Two of the measures don't even go into effect for two years, which makes "tax savings" moot.

Despite a full court press by politicians and unions, polls show that voters don't like the measures, and it's expected they'll be defeated. The only one that might pass forbids raises for legislators in deficit years. Regardless, it appears taxpayers have had it. They're smart enough to know that between the state problems and the plans to put the tax squeeze on all taxpayers by the Obama administration because of the federal deficit and the new programs in the works, they're going to get hit with massive tax increases on every level. California has already raised the sales tax and vehicle registration fees.

Politicians had best pay attention to the widespread success of the tea parties on April 15 and the plans for a massive repeat July 4. It's a clarion call that Americans are paying attention, and they don't like what they see.

Perhaps the liberals and their spending sprees are going to face a comeuppance in the next congressional elections when changes can be made.

Remember "DRIP" – Don't Return Incumbent Politicians. That's what elections are for. I suspect all eyes are on California.

Proposition 13 started here to protect homes from confiscatory property taxes. I suspect, something similar is starting; it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.