Dysfunction, thy name is California-TAKE ACTION

California is on the verge of signing a budget that will give millions away to corporations in tax write-offs but will do little to solve our growing deficit. Despite the crappy legislation, it is probably the only way to avoid heading over the cliff at this moment. Instead of caring about that 40 foot drop, we have sociopathic republicans who have no incentive to act in the best interests of the state, but rather will adhere to a strict ideological approach while stomping their little feet. Taking the rest of us over the cliff with them, on principle dontcha know! On top of this incredible drama being played out in Sacramento, we have an utterly impotent political media in CA that leaves the voters in our state completely uninformed. From DDay on Hullabaloo:

It occurs to me that what Steinberg is doing is what progressives have asked Harry Reid to do in the US Senate for years now. When GOP obstructionists threaten to filibuster key legislation, we always say "Make them filibuster! Make them stand up in the well of the Senate and talk endlessly about how we can't afford to provide health care for children, or how we have to offer more tax cuts to the wealthiest 1%. Let the whole country see it!" Well, we're basically doing that. The 15 members of the Yacht Party caucus in the Senate will be locked down and forced to reiterate their arguments indefinitely.

Problem is, the whole country won't be seeing it, the whole state won't be seeing it, in fact almost nobody will be seeing it. This is the true failure of a lack of political awareness in California, and a lack of political media. The pressure points are nearly impossible to hit. A lot of lawmakers will get tired and need to "bring your toothbrush," as Steinberg said, but there's precious little drama outside of Sacramento. And yet the decisions made in that chamber will undoubtedly impact the entire national economy, not just us.

But that is also good, in a sense, because it means that a sliver of opinion makers descending on the phone lines of the legislature can seen like an army. I'm going to reprint the email alert that Calitics sent out last night, which you may have received, because I think he captured the situation perfectly. The leadership is making them filibuster. Now it's up to us to put on the pressure.

What follows is contact information. ACTION ALERT:

The media has now taken notice that the Republicans are trying to bring the state down with them. But the media has little power if we aren't watching and if our leaders don't know we are watching them. So, here is what we need to do:

Call Senator Abel Maldanado (R-Monterey County, 916-651-4015) and tell him to give up his list of demands and end this hostage situation.

Call Senator Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks, 916-651-4001) and tell him that the state deserves better than a Senator who goes back on a deal when threatened by his own party's extremists.

Tell as many people to do the same thing. Use every tool at your disposal, Twitter, facebook, or just word of mouth. The more people that know about this Republican extremism threatening our state, the better.

The Senate is set to once again resume session, and we might be in for another all-nighter. However, keep at it, because this is simply too important to let Republicans play their dangerous games with the lives of Californians.

Please consider letting as many people as possible know about the sociopaths who are gambling with our state's solvency! This affects the lives of real people.