According to Fox News, California had the greatest net outflow of residents for the year ending July 1, 2008. New York was number two. I suppose the fact that both of these states have massive amounts of government–and massive amounts of government debt–is merely a coincidence.

The apparently unlimited appetite of those who believe government is “the solution” has turned both of these states into sinkholes. Yet somehow that reality eludes the do-gooders, the unions, the lobbyists and all the other special interests whose well-being depends on sucking the life out of taxpayers. But as we see, even taxing them at two of the highest rates in the nation hasn’t been enough. Both state governments are besieged with multi-billion dollar deficits–with no relief in sight.

It’s no accident people are leaving both states in droves.

And therein lies the conundrum. Bloated bureaucracy requires ever more funding, not from residents who depend on government for their well-being, but from those who prosper in spite of it. It is the productive people who must fund both the realities–and the fantasies–of the political class. Yet it is the productive people who also have the means to do exactly what many of them are doing: leaving for saner pastures. Thus, as the “need” for government grows ever greater, the pie from which it can extract the means for doing so grows ever smaller.

That such inexorable logic is lost on the aforementioned tax-eaters is a testament to the idea that “ideology” trumps everything, including fiscal responsibility and common sense. The “ideology” is question? The do-gooders: “virtually nothing is beyond the government’s ability to fix, no matter how much it costs.” The unions: “we don’t care that the private sector is laying people off in droves, our jobs, our health plans and our pensions are non-negotiable.” The lobbyists: “we put you in office, it’s payback time.” The special interests: “everyone else can sacrifice, but our program/project/idea is absolutely crucial, and we can’t do with a dime less than we’ve always received.”

The essential ingredient driving such irresponsibility? “Other People’s Money.” Nothing motivates the “big thinkers” more than the fact that their “brilliance” is subsidized by taxpayers. One could be forgiven for wondering how magnanimous our politicians would be if, for example, every dollar of overspending they approved would lead to a commensurate reduction–in their salaries.

California’s current deficit is $42 billion. In a better world, the hacks running that state would be working for minimum wage by now.

An obvious question: if such massive amounts of spending are ruining two of the largest states in the nation, what happens when the Obama administration engages in the same practice at the federal level?

Does the word “ex-pat”come to mind?

atahlert@comcast

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