double whammy - i don't know whether to laugh or to cry. first, there's the news that the california state government is facing a $34.8 billion--that's billion--budget deficit for the 2003-2004 fiscal year. rather than cut those great state services (can you name any?), democratic governor gray davis is proposing a combination of one-third spending cuts and two-thirds tax increases to balance the budget. in news closer to home, the oakland board of education recently 'discovered' an $80 million budget deficit that threatens to push the oakland unified school district into bankruptcy, and ultimately place oakland schools under state control. the democratic-controlled schools appraratus is dumbfounded by the shortfall, but believes that it might be related to the 24 percent pay raise that teachers received three years ago.

we californians have no one to blame but ourselves. we had every reason to know that gray doofus was a steaming pile of deceit, yet we reelected him anyway (i voted for simon). and anyone who voted for the losers on the oakland school board also deserves what they get for the next two years (i voted for myself). the problem is, they're taking the rest of us down along with them.