I heard Joe Rogan on the news the other day, asking all of us to just get along, and I realized – I’ve got Election Fatigue!
It’s no fun watching the political pundits on tv anymore. For months now I’ve had my coffee and a good laugh watching the morning news. This election was kind of fun and exciting. Now that it’s over, there’s the task of actually fixing the country. That’s so boring.
If I was Don Trump, this would be an “oh, shit…” kind of moment. “What did I get myself into… “, I’d be asking right now. Don says he has a plan. He’s busier than Santa Claus.
Something I never heard discussed during this election – even during discussions of the National Debt – was the federal pension deficit. How much of the national debt is simply pension liability? A Google search provides the following information.
“As of June 2024, the US has $1.34 trillion in unfunded pension liabilities, which is the amount that is not covered by pension plans. This number has been over $1 trillion since 2008.
“Interest continues to accrue on unfunded liabilities, which is the fastest growing contributor to pension debt.
Yes, pension liability is a giant part of the national debt. “Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projections – The CBO projects that the federal budget deficit will grow to $2.8 trillion by 2034.“
As for California, “Different states have varying levels of pension funding issues, with some like California having particularly large unfunded liabilities.”
And what does this mean to the taxpayers? “Unfunded pension liabilities can have a number of impacts, including: Increased class sizes, Cuts to health services and extracurricular activities, Potential tuition increases, and Increased burden on taxpayers.”
Speaking of increased burden, according to the Legislative Analysts Office, “Since its post-pandemic peak in September 2022, California’s private sector has lost a net 154,000 jobs (1.2 percent) while the public sector has gained 361,000 jobs (7 percent).
We’ve talked about this in Chico, new management positions created with salaries in excess of $100,000/year. Management pay the lowest contribution toward their own benefits. I’m guessing this is the trend all over the US, city, county, state and federal.
President Trump and several of his appointees have talked about downsizing the government. Oh sure, talk is cheap, let’s see The Plan.
Or we might have to hire the A Team.
Chico Taxpayers Association 
Happy Thanksgiving
Well, it looks like the ice rink is back in city Plaza for another year. Yes I know it’s a horrible use of scarce resources, and it will be another money loser, and that the funds could be spent much more efficiently in other places.
But, I like to skate. I wonder if anyone on the City Council skates? If so I wonder if they use those horrible orange plastic rental skates? Dull blades, rotted laces, no ankle support. The whole thing isn’t very well thought out.
My working theory on the dysfunction in Chico politics is this: it’s just not bad enough yet. When it gets bad enough the voters will take a stand just like they did in the national election. Or, like they did in California with the retail theft bill. But outside of a few concerned citizens like yourself, the general populace of Chico just doesn’t give a darn. It’s not bad enough yet.
The streets are bad, but the potholes aren’t big enough yet. Downtown is a dirty dispensary for cheap alcohol, but it’s not so bad that you can’t avoid it by shopping online or going elsewhere. The average performance in Chico public schools is abysmal, but you don’t see a massive concerned parent group rising up. 10 years from now, these underperforming students will have no chance of earning a living that will allow them to start families or save or invest. But by that time, they will be fully prepared for the soul crushing low-rent lifestyle that plagues middle and lower income California. The cost of living and the cost of taxes are through the roof compared better run municipalities. but Chico is still half the price of living in the Bay Area or Los Angeles. Death by a thousand cuts: a slow slide into the abyss.
It’s going to take a significant public uprising to overcome the following trifecta:
Its just not bad enough yet. Except for the hundreds of thousands of middle income taxpayers who have left the State.
I agree, the rink is a half assed gimmick – “A gimmick is a novel device or idea designed primarily to attract attention or increase appeal, often with little intrinsic value.” It was intended to bring more business to a dying retail sector. I was at a meeting years ago when the Music Man actually stood up and told a committee that his company had advised a Tahoe town to put in an ice rink for the holidays, and they passed a sales tax measure a year later. And there it goes…
You’re right about the unions – sheesh, want to write the blog for me? Significant public uprising? I think we already have one – the criminals! And mutiny on the Bounty as far as law enforcement is concerned.
For my part, I’m not bailing out, I’m just shopping elsewhere. Oregon voters just overturned their government’s attempt at instituting a sales tax. My husband and I find the savings are enough to pay for a significant amount of the travel costs.