Schwarzenegger, Tax Hike and Nightmare in California

AMBROSE EHIRIM

Just as every Cali began to jubilate over Barack Obama's stunning election victory Tuesday night, and just as every Cali had hoped to join the bandwagon of economic recovery, it did not take Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger too much probing to elicit testimony that California economy was going to hell, cutting short that sigh of relief we've had on Obama's victory with the hope Bill Clinton's-type economic prosperity we all enjoyed in that era will soon be bouncing back in Obama's anticipated administration.

Schwarzenegger has proved us wrong and now it's all like going back to square one, I mean back to the status quo, the way things used to be -- hardship, more unemployment and unending frustration that comes along with stress. Last night, the former body-building hulk, Hollywood machine gunner-turned governor released his new plans to make the life of Calis more miserable.

Schwarzenegger's plan includes an increase in sales tax which amounts to new levies on alcoholic drinks. The question here is, when a depressed public who relies heavily on alcohol to relieve the pains of mental distress as a result of a sinking economy and with a one and half cents on the dollar increase on sales tax, what then would happen to the winos who rely on alcohol to forget their sorrows? What would happen when they can no longer afford that little drink that relieves them from the pains of hopelessness? Well, expect more chaos and robbery. And, of course, more domestic violence when life makes everyone blue.

Schwarzenegger plans to raise $10.08 billion by the 2009-10 fiscal year which also extends the sales tax to appliance and furniture repairs, vehicle repairs, golf fees, veterinarian services, amusement parks and sporting events. The idea behind all that is to fund the transit projects. I have no qualms for many reasons: Nothing affects me in the list safe for vehicle repairs. How about riding my bike which seems not to be on the list? We'll see how it unfolds.

Republicans in California Assembly vowed to knock Scharzenegger's plan down. They did it before -- last summer when a smaller proposal did not pass in the house.