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State on its way to bankruptcy, Foy tells group
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More from Local NewsVentura County Supervisor Peter Foy warned Thursday that California is going to spend itself into bankruptcy unless taxpayers pressure officials to be accountable for how they spend tax dollars.
Foy, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, issued his warning to a lunchtime audience of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association in Thousand Oaks.
Asked to speak on the subject of whether taxes are "your money or the government's money," Foy was unequivocal.
"I believe it's my money and not the government's," he said. "It's critical that we have people in government who believe it's your money and think hard about how they spend it."
Foy cited state government statistics showing that state spending increased by 32 percent from 2003 to 2008, but revenues during that period did not keep up. California faces a projected shortfall of $6.3 billion this year.
Foy said that during the 12-month period that ended Feb. 29, state government spent $108 billion but received only $95 billion in revenue.
"Unless there's a grass-roots effort saying we're done with this spending, we're in trouble," he said.
Foy, a businessman and 24-year resident of Simi Valley, was elected in 2006 to represent a district that includes Simi Valley and Moorpark.
He told his audience that there is a growing culture of entitlement and a broadening of the role of government, which, he said, leads people to expect the government to help them out when things go wrong.
Bailouts are questioned
He cited the subprime mortgage crisis and the emergency rescue of the investment banking and brokerage firm Bear Stearns.
"I struggle with any kind of bailout," he said. "If I take out a loan, I am responsible for paying it. I don't believe it's right to take money from someone else's pocket to pay for my loan."
He said mortgage defaults were predictable. "If you give money to people who can't pay, they're going to default. The taxpayer has to be protected, not the banks and the homeowners."
In his speech, Foy pointed to two examples of where he believes the state government is misusing tax revenues: education and welfare.
"We're giving more money to educate fewer children," he said, pointing to the 2008-09 state budget in which K-12 spending will increase by $7.4 billion from five years ago even though many school districts have a decline in enrollment.
Welfare also a target'
He also criticized California's increasing spending on welfare, arguing that it is the task of philanthropists, churches and charities to help the deserving poor, and not primarily the government's job.
"We don't have to have welfare, and we don't have to put people in a situation where they don't go out and look for work," he said.
"I believe that welfare is the greatest enslavement this country has ever seen."
Foy praised members of taxpayers' groups and urged them to "be willing to get up and speak, to understand the issues, to go to the county Board of Supervisors meetings and challenge them."
"Until you grasp the idea that it's your money and not the government's," he said, "nothing is going to change."
Posted by bombero42 on March 28, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Foy takes the standard Republican conservative position of " I've got mine and the hell with you!"
The days when churches could care for the poor are long gone. If our country's early days, most everyone went to church and the members were your neighbors. There was work available for just about everyone. Churches would step in when a member was ill and could not work, or when a woman was widowed. That kind of caring is not as available in our big impersonal, mobile society.
Foy doesn't really care what happens to the poor as long as it's not his problem and is out of his sight. He appeals to the same kind of stingy uncaring people.
If you want to see what a country with no safety net looks like, look at Mexico and see if you want those same conditions here.
Posted by Poppa on March 28, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I seem to remember that this Foy character had a lot of liens against him for stiffing people out of money in the past, he hardly seems like someone to give a lecture on finance! California is 46th in the nation for funding of schools and Foy wants to cut it more? What a joke he is! I'm glad I did not vote for him and it sounds like this clown should resign!
Posted by daleeks on March 28, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The disappearance of the artificially created "home equity" will result in $15B reduction in revenues to state and counties in California in 2008 and even more in 2009. Since this "equity" (i.e., absurdly and obviously unsustainable house prices) was never real and only created by loose lending and speculation there is no bailout that can save it. The shortfalls will only grow worse and those on the left have to be a little bit more creative to use this crisis to encourage structural reforms that benefit the community. The right is totally predictable. Does the left have to whine about entitlements or can we be a little smarter this time?
Posted by zoezoe on March 28, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Illegals!!!!!
Posted by smithjc on March 28, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the republican conservative (my) position is "i worked for everything i have, to hell with giving it you so you don't have to work for anything."
i've worked most of my life, including in jr high (paper route), part time during high school and full time after that. i've worked at jobs beneath my abilities (like i do now) when i had too. i WORKED for everything, never had it handed to me. i don't think that it's unreasonable to expect others to work to get what they want.
the entitlement (socialist) mindset has created a whole society that is afraid of work, as they fear the unknown.
Posted by horsespinner on March 28, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
True, Mr Foy sounds like a real American. I am an American, stop stealing my rights and my country in the name of socialism. I will compromise, We keep the California Republic, you take the rest and make it fair to all, according to their needs. I do not want to play that game
Posted by sslocal on March 28, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was wondering how long it would take to get replies that made some sense.
Foy spoke the truth. The truth upsets liberals. We could save a huge ammount of money by simply eleminating welfare. Or, better yet, put them to work to earn their check. They could patch potholes, or pick up trash along the road. Whatever, just make them earn their money.
Posted by tim_timer on March 28, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How many bankruptcies has Mr. Foy and his businesses declared?
As reelection time nears, Foy will drop his sharp ideological stance, and pick up the pragmatism of political expediency. Watch and observe!
Posted by sawyerfamily on March 28, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree sslocal. Make welfare recipients work for their taxpayer benefit. I say we should make them work in the fields picking produce (the jobs no other Americans are willing to do).
Not only will this stop the farmers from saying they can't get people to pick their produce, but now they will get "free" labor.
This would have many additional benefits as well, such as: decreased produce prices, illegals would self-deport due to lack of work, then less illegal children in the classroom = less money for education, less emergency room visit benefits paid for illegals, etc..
Sounds like a win-win-win-win for California.
Posted by Poppa on March 28, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course while the welfare workers are in the field no one will be watching their children and they will end up in prison and cost taxpayers much more then they save. These are the same stupid ideas of the ultra right that have bankrupted this country! Instead of throwing 12 billion a month into the black hole of Iraq we should be investing that money here at home!
Posted by sawyerfamily on March 28, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Many of those kids are in school and the state/government already provides low and/or no cost child care for the young ones.
Wouldn't you rather have those kids seeing their parents go off to work and EARN their money rather than having another generation learning you can sit at home and mooch off the government.
Posted by keepin_it_real on March 28, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said smithjc and oxnard resident--couldn't have said it better myself. I am sick and tired of some the big chunk of taxes I pay every other week goes to people who can and won't get off their butts and work. I have a decent job and live within my means. If need be I will get a 2nd job. Our system incents people NOT to work. Because they are better off that way. If they go to work they will loose too many of those "benefits".
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind helping those who are in need. The disabled and elderly. Even those who are in need of temporary help. That is what the welfare system was designed for. But come on, you can't tell me some of these people can't find some kind of job? Come on.
Posted by Face on March 29, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The economy is going into the tank, we have no money, so lets starve out the poor folks first right? After all, there is only the Upper class and Lower class left... so who do you think is going to make who suffer?
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