One official remarked years ago that his county essentially was a pension provider that offered a few public services on the side. It was a snarky reminder that public-employee compensation—especially those exorbitant pensions paid at relatively young ages—consumed the bulk of municipal budgets. It's the tail wagging the dog.
The same dynamic is at work at the state level. State Sen. Steve Glazer (D–Orinda) last month made waves for a column he penned in The Los Angeles Times. Commenting on the recently passed $310-billion budget that ramps up funding for all the usual progressive priorities, he dared to say what everyone in Sacramento knows—even if saying so breaks social taboos.
