The Bee solicited comments online Wednesday from readers concerned about the Legislature's failure to avoid the issuance of IOUs. Here is a sample of the feedback we received. For more, see www.sacbee.com/opinion.
Go ahead and raise my taxes so children can have health care and adequate schooling. The governor is punishing the working class, and once again big business gets to skate. The Senate and Assembly Democrats have done a great job and the governor is stomping his feet and throwing a tantrum.
– Claire Watkins, Lincoln
It is gratifying that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenneger is finally standing behind his campaign promises and demanding that the Legislature finally fix the California budget mess. The budget measures defeated last night were another in a long line of stopgap fixes that only push the fundamental problems off for another day. The reality is that California has spent far more than it takes in. I hope the governor sticks to his guns and forces a real solution.
– Brandon C Fernald, Los Angeles
Everyone needs to take a look in the mirror if they want to find the problem. Changing legislators rarely gets rid of the problem, because no matter who you pick, it is still us. Change is difficult when ideologies run our thinking instead of the person. Ideologies are rigid and inflexible. It takes human experience to temper that by reminding us that there are human consequences to our choices.
– Billy A. Silva, Galt
Shame on every legislator at the Capitol (including the governor). This problem took years to manifest to the point where there is no longer a tolerable solution involving balanced cuts and increased revenues. Thanks to their inaction, people like me, the working disabled poor, will be decimated. Our educational system will take a blow like never seen before, yet the well-to-do and corporate entities in this state will go unscathed. The system has not worked for years, yet the legislators are oblivious to this fact. As long as they receive their pay and perks, the real people of California can go without. It is becoming criminal. Every one of these folks needs a lesson in real life.
– Steve Lambert, Sacramento
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