CALIFORNIA POLITICAL NEWS & VIEWS 08/23/2016

As Predicted, Obamacare Is Absolutely Killing The Middle Class By Stephen Frank on Aug 22, 2016 09:48 pm Thanks to Barack Obama, middle class Americans can no longer afford health care.  If they could the health care received would be a couple of steps up from Third World Health Care, since good health care, like they had prior to Obama and Clinton, is too expensive for the middle class. “Customers who are now […] Read More and Comment: As Predicted, Obamacare Is Absolutely Killing The Middle Class Are rents in San Fran really dropping? By Stephen Frank on Aug 22, 2016 09:45 pm Some people get excited by renting a place with a full kitchen AND a bathroom—they must live in San Fran.  Oh and the price for this hovel is under $1800 a month.  That is the reality of San Fran—you must be rich to have a bathroom and a kitchen! “The City saw a 7 percent […] Read More and Comment: Are rents in San Fran really dropping? Eatsa in Berkeley automates the dining experience–More $15 Jobs Killed By Stephen Frank on Aug 22, 2016 09:42 pm The people of Berkeley are either hypocrites or economic illiterates.  The students at Cal demonstrate for a $15 minimum wage for University employees—then get tuition increases to pay for it and complain about student debt.  They then go to City Hall and demand a $15 minimum wage for restaurant workers and eat at places that […] Read More and Comment: Eatsa in Berkeley automates the dining experience–More $15 Jobs Killed As LA’s Downtown’s Retail Scene Booms, Some Worry About the Future By Stephen Frank on Aug 22, 2016 09:40 pm Downtown Los Angeles has been a slum for sixty years.  Billions have been spent on projects, arena’s, housing projects and subsidies to provide retail stores and housing to a place where it is impossible to drive a car from one location to another.  You need to drive into the area, to one location—parking could be […] Read More and Comment: As LA’s Downtown’s Retail Scene Booms, Some Worry About the Future AB 2835: Forces Workers to be ABUSED by Unions and Taxpayers Pay $350 Million By Stephen Frank on Aug 22, 2016 09:34 pm Assemblyman Jim Cooper is the type of Democrat Charles Munger had in mind when he passed Prop. 14—a “moderate” Democrat that was rational and willing to talk with Republicans.  How “Moderate” is Cooper?  He has a bill AB 2835, which spends $350 million tax dollars a year so unions can bully workers into approving union […] Read More and Comment: AB 2835: Forces Workers to be ABUSED by Unions and Taxpayers Pay $350 Million Court pension decision weakens ‘California rule’ giving hope to save system By Stephen Frank on Aug 22, 2016 09:30 pm Unions believe that the current pension benefits are the bottom of the chain,  not the top.  In other words—future contracts can only add to the retirement benefit but not decrease them.  If held, the system is guaranteed to collapse, no way to save it.  Now an Appeals Court has ruled that it is possible to […] Read More and Comment: Court pension decision weakens ‘California rule’ giving hope to save system Walmart looks to leap into 21st Century and e-commerce By Stephen Frank on Aug 22, 2016 09:27 pm Macy’s is closing over 100 stores.  Sports Authority is going out of business, all the stores are being closed.  Other brick and mortar shops are in economic trouble.  How bad is e-commerce?  “According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2016 were $97.2 billion, an increase of […] Read More and Comment: Walmart looks to leap into 21st Century and e-commerce Mac McCann: Subsidizing grocery stores won’t make Dallas healthier or Fresno By Stephen Frank on Aug 22, 2016 09:24 pm Costco, Safeway and other grocery stores making BILLIONS in profits, know how to stretch a dollar and let the taxpayers take the risk of opening stores in areas where they know they can not make money.  How do we know they know they can’t make money?  Because if they could they would invest THEIR money […] Read More and Comment: Mac McCann: Subsidizing grocery stores won’t make Dallas healthier or Fresno Marin County Workers Can’t Stop Pension Changes to SAVE System By Stephen Frank on Aug 22, 2016 09:20 pm Until 2013 it was legal in California to raise a retiree’s last paycheck by double or more and use that final check at the basis for a lifetime pensions.  Also, until the law changed, employees were allowed to take payment on the unused vacations—and that money was used to spike the pension, for a lifetime!   […] Read More and Comment: Marin County Workers Can’t Stop Pension Changes to SAVE System Human trafficking raid nets 286 arrests, 153 for prostitution in Los Angeles By Stephen Frank on Aug 22, 2016 09:17 pm Criminals involved in the sex trade and human trafficking were arrested in Los Angeles County.  Wonder if any were illegal aliens?  If those involved in human trafficking can be arrested, why not those involved in violating our immigration laws, stealing from the honest citizens and residents, taking our health care for free, our education for […] Read More and Comment: Human trafficking raid nets 286 arrests, 153 for prostitution in Los Angeles   In Case You Missed It: Richard Eber: Public Education at the crossroads. No California City on List of America’s 20 Best Places to Start a Business: Texas has SIX American Apparel explores sale, may move out of L.A. and State Northwest restaurant chain adds ‘Living Wage’ surcharge Commentary: Los Angeles is losing good teachers because of this policy