I, like many of my fellow citizens, am outraged by the latest frivolity to come out of the California Legislature. The men and women “running” this state are set to vote on a bill that would create a “cuss-free” zone for one week:

http://cbs13.com/local/no.cussing.week.2.1519540.html

The state is running out of money, we have record unemployment, people can’t pay their bills because their pay has been cut, our education system is a joke, but these morons are taking time out to vote on bullshit like this? Their behavior is an insult to every taxpayer in California. We have a $20 billion deficit to close, but by all means, take time out of your day to discuss creating a cuss-free week. I’m curious, what am I paying for your per diem and salary while you tackle this urgent issue? Our political system has become so overrun with windbags and self-important asses that nothing seems to ever get done. The parties just bicker over who’s idea is better, but very few of them actually attempt to work together. Yes, I’m sure there are some exceptions. But these exceptions are not loud enough or strong enough to make a difference.

Just to give some perspective, the salaries for members of the State Legislature in 2008 were between $99,000 and $160,000 (see http://www.sacbee.com/statepay/ for your own research). Have they been forced to take a 10 or 15 percent pay cut recently? They are more than willing to accept per diem and all the other perks that come with the job. They walk around talking about how hard it is to make cuts to programs that are already underfunded. But when you ask them about taking a hit on their own pension, they suddenly go quiet. It’s ok for the rest of the state to make sacrifices and not be able to pay our bills, but it’s apparently NOT ok for the people making the decisions for this state to make any sacrifices whatsoever. So, we’re paying you to sit on your ass all day and vote on stupid shit like a cuss-free week? Where do I sign up for that job?

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like the California legislature isn’t really taking any responsibility for the mess that we’re in. The Republicans say the Democrats are to blame; the Democrats blame the Republicans. I blame all of you. You were entrusted by the citizens of California to make it better place to live and work. We count on you to make intelligent decisions. We count on you to make this state financially stable. We count on you to defend our healthcare and education systems. We count on you to uphold the rights of ALL citizens, regardless of color, religion, gender, or sexuality. You make us empty promises every election year because you want to collect a fat salary and even fatter pension. Some of you might actually want to do some good, but you are so outnumbered that you become disillusioned and beaten down, just like the people who voted for you.

You have all failed us miserably, and I for one would like to see every single one of you thrown out of office on your asses. I’d like to see you working a real job with a salary that isn’t enough to pay the bills. I’d like to see you break down because you can’t handle the disappointment and stress that comes with being in a state that doesn’t seem to give a shit if you can survive or not. I’d like to see how you respond when your kids ask you if you can go to the movies and you have to say no because you can’t afford it. I’d like to see you stress over how you’re going to pay for your children to go to college. I’d like to see you worry over not having a pension or retirement. I’d like to see you look around and say, “my God, we’re in a mess and I’m partly to blame because I didn’t do my job as a custodian of this state.” I’d like to see you apologize to every single one of your constituents for not doing a better job.

But most of all, I’d like to go up to every single one of you and say “You’re Fired!”