This blog is written by a State worker who tries very hard to be objective about all the politics in Sacramento. I believe the ruling should order back wages to workers, because the governor over stepped his authority and did not work with the legislature or the unions. The governor went his own way declaring a fiscal emergency and ordering furloughs.  If a fiscal emergency can trigger furloughs and minimum wages isn’t it fair to say we should know what constitutes a fiscal emergency? Is it anytime the State encounters a deficit? That is almost every year. Is a fiscal emergency imminent when we reach a billion dollar, five billion, ten billion dollar deficit? If contracts are going to be broken based on a fiscal emergency we should know exactly what that means. Otherwise, why even have contracts? Aside from all these questions, if the court decision is based solely on law the furloughs will end and back wages will be ordered to be paid immediately.

Sadly, politics will have a major role in the decision. The furloughs will end, but the state will get off the hook on back pay based on the economic crisis we are in. This is totally wrong. Have you ever heard of a case when a citizen is found guilty of doing harm to another and the final award settlement was based on ability to pay?  I never have heard of such a case. Wages would be garnished and no sympathy awarded to the private citizen who broke the law and harmed another.

We live in times when the law is followed by government only when convenient to government finances. In the end look for the furloughs to end, but workers will get screwed over pay not received for nearly 20 months. Politics not the law or economics continues to rule the day in Californian and the State Capitol of Sacramento.

I sure do hope that I am Wrong!!!

Pub City Sports Cafe (not positive I got the name exactly correct) in San Francisco is located just off Market Street across the street from the Union Shopping Center and one block from Powell street cable cars. This may be a new place. I could not find on Urban Spoon.

The food was good and the staff friendly. Big screen TV for watching sports. I dropped in because it was very close to where I was staying and I was really hungry. The Veggie burger was decent and the beer, Arrogant Bastard was excellent. There are plenty of restaurants and pubs in the city of San Francisco. I recommend this place if you are really hungry and tired from doing whatever in the Union Square area.

Rivercats Fans Arrive Early for Big Game

The Rivercats took the lead early and never looked back. Fresno and Sacramento now share first place in the Pacific Coast League Southern Division. Who remains in first will be determined today in Sacramento with a 1:05 p.m. start time.

(Saturday nights at Raley field includes great baseball and fireworks after the game!)

The latest from California: Governor Schwarzenegger is now asking for a 2 billion dollar loan from CalPERS to close the state budget deficit. CalPERS is a state agency that administers the pension and health benefits of public employees. This is the same agency that Schwarzenegger claims is unsustainable because of current retirement and health benefits. And now he thinks a loan from this unsustainable agency is a smart way to get to a balanced budget?  Job creation fueled by spending California citizens will help resolve the state budget deficit. This spending along with a legislature that is not penny wise and pound foolish. Schwarzenegger is really asking for a Pay Day loan and CalPERS giving him a high interest credit card will NOT solve the budget crisis.

The latest Nationally: Where did all these austerity politicians come from? These hypocrites were not around when our former president decided tax cuts for the wealthy and unlimited government spending on two war fronts was affordable. Now in the middle of a recession we are suppose to have sleepless nights worried about the deficit? Unlike these austerity politicians, I worry more about U.S. citizens not being able to pay their mortgages or being able to put food on the table. This takes us back to  intro to economics. Two thirds of our economy is based on spending. Our economy will not grow until more Americans are working again, buying cars, homes, appliances, and feeling confident about the future. The deficit being reduced has more to do with the psychology and how Americans feel about their possibilities than nutty politicians who suddenly have found a new religion and think deficits are evil.

Political ideology says austerity is needed NOW! Economic policy says we need job creation NOW! and when tax revenues increase we will cut government spending and the deficit will come down.

Oh my gosh!!!

You can view some pictures of the garden on the Sacramento Bee by clicking HERE.

You can also view a second video of the garden taken in the spring by clicking on the —> on the video.

Pretty Tasty Stuff!

Fox and Goose is a great English Pub in Sacramento on R and 9th Street. The people who work there are friendly and so are the customers. My latest meal was Banger and Mash and it was very good.

You can check out their web site which includes a menu by clicking HERE.

See what Yelp reviews say about Fox and Goose by Clicking HERE.

From out of town and don’t know where they are located? No worries just go to Google maps by clicking HERE.

I Love Capitol Park!!!

The Purple Heart is given to those wounded in battle or to family members of those who gave their lives. This Memorial is dedicated to them. The Purple Heart is also the oldest military decoration dating back to 1782. There is an article about this memorial in the OUR REGION section of the Sacramento Bee. Sunday, August 8, 2010.

1.  Sweeping statements are the “watch out” sign in many stories. Pension reform has been in the news a lot lately. I am sure you have read sweeping statements like: Pensions are the greatest threat to California! Oh, please! Stop, pause, pause a little longer, and think for a moment before you come to any conclusion when you read these crazy blanket statements. If you would like facts instead of re-runs of a bad B movie regarding pensions in California go to CalPERSResponds.com. The Governor makes his views known in a video posted on YouTube which was published in the Sacramento Bee newspaper online version. You can view the video below where he describes the crisis and the Stanford University study that backs up his conclusions. Thinking while viewing is optional. (Big Hint-Guess who paid for the Stanford University study?)

2.  Sweeping statement number two. This statement happens in both private and public sectors. There is a big IT project going on that will make the organization much more efficient because customers will be able to do most transactions online. Here is what is said at staff meetings: The number of jobs in our organization will not be reduced. You will all have jobs when this project is completed. Oh, Please! Personnel costs is one of the biggest expenses in both sectors. If an organization becomes more efficient through technology, some jobs will be changed and some will be eliminated. In the private sector this comment is very common during an acquisition or merger and right before downsizing. A more truthful statement would be: There will be fewer jobs in the organization due to efficiencies created by this project. Your job may change or be totally eliminated. We prefer you stay in your current position until we no longer need you. If you choose to go elsewhere we understand. The truth is really, really difficult sometimes! When leaders do tell the truth it adds to their credibility and displays what real leadership is all about. Leadership is more than telling people what is convenient and what they want to hear.

Why are leaders less than truthful with employees? Jack Nicholson hit it right on the head in the movie A Few Good Men. This clip is from YouTube.