[theaeolist]

As someone who lived in Canada and is currently leaving in the UK I was always surprised by the exceptionally poor state of maintenance of everything that is in the public domain in CA. Nothing was more sad perhaps than the state of the Aquatic Park pier in SF. The stunning beauty of the natural setting contrasted against the decrepit and crumbling (literally) pier railing was shocking. How do people living in one of the richest cities on the planet put up with such crap?

[prostoalex]

In California we have a government of the employees, by the employees, and for the employees of the aforementioned government.

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2011/11/michael-lewis-201111

"I did a calculation of cost per public employee,” he says as we settle in. “We’re not as bad as Greece, I don’t think.”