Being a fiscal policy person, I always point to California’s punitive state income tax as an example of bad policy and highlight the absence of any income tax in Texas to explain the success of that state.
But sometimes it’s just culture and attitude. Here’s a joke comparing the two states, but it’s based on something that actually happened in Texas.
CALIFORNIA: The Governor of California is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out, bites the Governor and attacks his dog.
1. The Governor starts to intervene, but reflects upon the movie “Bambi” and then realizes he should stop; the coyote is only doing what is natural.
2. He takes out his cell phone and calls animal control. Animal Control captures the coyote and bills the State $1,500 testing it for diseases and $2,500 for relocating it.
3. He calls a veterinarian. The vet collects the dead dog and bills the State $2,000 for testing it for diseases.
4. The Governor goes to hospital and spends $2,500 getting checked for diseases from the coyote and on getting his bite wound bandaged.
5. The running trail gets shut down for 6 months while Fish & Game conducts a $100,000 survey to make sure the area is free of dangerous animals.
6. The Governor spends $500,000 in state funds to implement a “coyote awareness” program for residents of the state.
7. The State Legislature spends $2 million to study how to better treat rabies and how to permanently eradicate the disease throughout the world.
8. The Governor’s security agent is fired for not stopping the attack somehow and for letting the Governor attempt to intervene.
9. Additional cost to State of California: $175,000 to hire and train a new security agent with additional special training re: the nature of coyotes.
10. PETA protests the coyote’s relocation and files $5 Million suit against the State.
TEXAS: The Governor of Texas is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A Coyote jumps out, bites the Governor’s leather boot, and attacks his dog.
1. The Governor shoots the coyote with his State-issued pistol and keeps jogging. The Governor has spent $0.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge.
2. The buzzards eat the dead coyote.
And that, boys and girls, is why California is broke………..And, more importantly, why too much government doesn’t work.
***okay, triple star this one, cause you've GOT to stop! so we used to make part of your trip every year - and my fave part:go to the CADILLACS! one of the best photo ops EVER! It's just otisude of amarillo, texas, and if i remember right, i think you guys will probably drive through. pick up some cans of spray paint and keep 'em in your car for when you get there. there's about ten or twelve cadillacs half-buried in the ground, nose down, in the middle of this huge field. you can go right out to them and walk around and spray paint all over them to your little hearts content. just keep your eyes peeled because i can't remember which side of amarillo they're on, but they're right on the main highway (the old route 66). enjoy!
Posted by: Maria | 06/29/2012 at 11:31 PM
I don't think that's fair. I actually like to help polpee, and what your saying is that everyone who is paid to help someone screw polpee over ..you are mistaken.And as a matter of fact most jobs are service jobs, and require one person to help or assist another. How can you say that all polpee who get paid to help are parasites ..they might just be good polpee.Apparantly you don't think there are such polpee any more; good polpee, and I feel sorry for you. Don't let one person distort your view of all polpee.
Posted by: Vicky | 06/30/2012 at 01:21 AM