Poll: Californians Want the State Fixed But Don't Want Higher Taxes

The poll results may be correct, but it would have been nice if people had actually voted that way in November (from SF Gate):

Let's start the day, for a change, with a bit of hopeful poll news: Yes, Californians still think their state is really messed up and their public servants are drunk at the public trough. But 86 percent think it is possible for California to be governed well.

Hooooooooooope!

Somewhere, perhaps during his morning jog, Guv Jerry Brown is saying, "Whew."

But 60 percent would prefer keeping taxes low -- even if it means whacking some state programs.

Quick, somebody take Jerry's pulse.

This is the first in a series of temperature-takings by from the let's-fix-California nonpartisans atCaliforna Forward.

The respondents had a lot more faith that their local officials would make good decisions than they trust state officials to do the same. Which is encouraing for Guv Brown's plan to "realign" more government services with locals.

But here's more, uh, challenging news for Jerry: 75 percent of the respondents felt that state government was doing a "poor" or "fair" job at making California a better place to live. And 80 percent felt that the state's problems were affecting them personally.

The voters didn't do themselves any favors by electing Democrats across the board in state offices and making it easier for the legislature to raise taxes. It's a little too late now to tell them you don't want the tax hikes that you know are coming.