I know that title seems like a rather inflammatory and extreme position to take, but I can't figure out how else to explain what is currently going on here in the "Golden State". I've made my case that the Goober wants our economy destroyed by CoViD-19 repeatedly (actually one could quite reasonably say I've made this point to excess). But that is hardly the only anti-business action taken recently.
Many of you will have heard about the Union backed anti-business new law, generally referred to as AB5. That bill originally made it impossible for anyone but doctors and lawyers to generally be an independent contractor, unless you are also registered as a "business". This of course would require that the business also hold a CA Business License (and of course pay the state annually for that right). The point of it wasn't to make people become independent business, but rather to make it impossible for businesses like Uber and Lyft to "exploit" their drivers (or so they claimed). This was based on the (faulty) assumption that the drivers want to be full time employees, when in fact most of the drivers just want to have a small side-hustle to make a few extra bucks. In truth it was clearly intended to make it possible to Unionize the drivers (and then, of course, get those kick-backs campaign contributions). So far the app-based companies have gotten an injunction to stop enforcement of this, but it ends on Oct 1. They've also put a proposition (#22) on the ballot to make the law not apply to these companies. In the meantime, the legislature has passed all sorts of extra 'exceptions' to the law (like musicians, party planners, etc., etc., etc.), but not the app-based companies in what is clear admission that they have no intention to ever give them a break, but want to reduce the support for the Proposition. So here's my prediction: Uber and Lyft will cease operations in CA as of Oct 1. This will be done to bring home to many Californians the realities of the issue. Nonetheless the sheepeople (Democrat voters) will kill the Proposition, Uber and Lyft will never come back to CA (and lots of other app-based services will stay away), and CA will be left in the past. If by some miracle, the Proposition passes, then the Democrat Attorney Generalissimo will sue, and our liberal judges will rule the Proposition is Unconstitutional (which in CA is code for "the left doesn't like it, but even though the people do, we'll throw it out. So much for our lip-service to democracy".
The other big thing our wonderful Democrat controlled legislature has passed is a huge tax on businesses. Well it is huge if you think doubling the tax to add another 11G$ is huge when the current state budget is 222G$ (i.e., a 5% increase in their confiscation of earned income redistribution of ill-gotten money). But this isn't a general increase, and it hasn't gone into effect, yet. See it is an attempt to whittle away at Prop 13, by only raising the property tax on businesses (which includes apartments, so take heed you non-home owners). It might also apply to residential property if used for business purposes (all those folks who are working from home, take heed as well). For it to take effect it has to be passed as a Proposition (#15 on the Nov ballot). They expect (and so do I) that a majority of the people will stupidly vote for it, since they will think 'it doesn't apply to me, only to businesses'. Of course what they won't have thought of is either of the already mentioned risks, nor will they consider the fact that if you raise the property tax on businesses one of two things will happen. Either 1) the businesses will pass on the increased costs to the people (and the voters will be paying it), or 2) the businesses will go out of business (and that carries a cost to the consumer/voter as well). I really hope I'm wrong on this one and the Proposition fails, but I won't be holding my breath.
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