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California: Joel Kotkin

July 7, 2009 - 07:31 pm
NEWS FEED: America's Finest Blog

Coming soon to California: 15% unemployment?

By chris reed

Joel Kotkin, the always-interesting and provocative futurist and scholar who now writes for Forbes.com, thinks it's quite possible. Here is the third of the five reasons he says such a catastrophically high jobless rate might be on the horizon in...

Read More at America's Finest Blog >
There have been 41 comments posted in response to this story.

April 21, 2009 - 02:49 pm
NEWS FEED: America's Finest Blog

Central Valley agriculture death watch: Don't blame the drought, blame the coastal greens

By chris reed

Joel Kotkin does a great job in this Forbes piece of illustrating a huge, scary development that the mainstream media have largely missed. The current drought isn't all that bad by historical standards, so why is Central Valley farming so...

Read More at America's Finest Blog >
There have been 82 comments posted in response to this story.

March 1, 2009 - 11:59 am
NEWS FEED: Calitics

LA Times Reinforces Right-Wing Tax Frames

By Robert in Monterey

Today's LA Times contains a "news analysis" by Evan Halper that seeks to explain why taxpayers seem to be getting less for their tax dollars. But the most obvious point goes almost totally ignored - that tax cuts have reduced the ability of government to provide for basic services. Since that isn't part of this article, the effect is to mislead readers into thinking government is misusing tax dollars, and thus winds up reinforcing right-wing frames.
Reporting from Sacramento -- Middle-class Californians have long griped about paying more taxes than they might pay elsewhere, but for decades this state could boast that it gave them quite a bit in return.

Read More at Calitics >
There have been 41 comments posted in response to this story.

March 1, 2009 - 03:00 am
NEWS FEED: Los Angeles Times

State's middle class getting less for its tax dollars

By Evan Halper

Reporting from Sacramento -- Middle-class Californians have long griped about paying more taxes than they might pay elsewhere, but for decades this state could boast that it gave them quite a bit in return. Now that contract is in doubt.

A modern freeway system, easy access to superior universities and progressive health programs used to be part of the compact. Even local schools plagued with financial problems continued to offer small classes, innovative after-school programs and advanced arts and music curricula.

But at a time when taxes are about to rise substantially, the services that have long set this state apart are deteriorating.

Read More at Los Angeles Times >
There have been 38 comments posted in response to this story.