California Spending

This is such a dumb idea I can't even begin to tell you why, but I'll try. So there's a bill going through California's legislature that would give each child born in that state, even if they are illegal immigrants, $500 to start as a mini "nest egg". They would require that child to repay that $500 when the child reaches the age of 18. Sounds all nice on paper, but here's where the problems start.

First off, they say that the child will have to repay the $500 when they turn 18. Sounds good, but $500 isn't going to have the same purchasing power in 18 years that it did when you gave the money to the child. So you're, in essence, losing money.

Secondly, the projected cost of this program is $285 million. That's a lot of money and it's money that can be put towards getting the state out of debt. How about taking that $285 million and cleaning up the air around Los Angeles? You can't tell me that breathing in all that dirty air doesn't cost less then $285 million in health related costs. There's literally thousands of different, better areas that that $285 million could be spent on. That's also not just a one time $285 million. That's $285 million PER YEAR and can go up if the birth rate goes up.

Thirdly, The bill also doesn't state that the parents are required to stick around in that state for the entire 18 years of the child's life. Who's to say that isn't ripe for abuse? Who wouldn't have their baby in California on "vacation" and then return home with a free nest egg for their child.

This is just a hand out for Californian citizens that doesn't do anything but take money out of the hands of taxpayers and gives it away in a worthless way. If you want a nest egg for your child when they turn 18, invest your own money.

Travis
travis@rightwinglunatic.com