We're No. 1 in all the wrong ways

Democrats in Sacramento have always proclaimed California as the leading state. If one looks at the complete picture, it is definitely No. 1!

Californians enjoy the highest taxes on income, sales and gas. The huge numbers of individuals on food stamps and welfare make California the No. 1 "nanny state."

Our leaders can boast that California has ranked as the worst state to do business in over the past seven years. Expensive, burdensome, and impractical regulatory and environmental restrictions lead the nation. The new "temporary" 3 percent state income tax will only speed up the exodus of businesses leaving our state.

Accountability of taxpayer money is disturbingly lacking. Missing taxpayer money in 520 state funding accounts keep showing up. One wonders where all our gas taxes are going with such lousy roads. Mortgage relief money from Washington was diverted into the general fund. The elephant in the room is the amount of taxpayer money siphoned off to pay for unfunded state pension and health benefits, and a $90 billion train to nowhere!

Because of mismanagement by Sacramento Democrats, they have lost their credibility. If you or I diverted money, we would be paying full restitution and doing jail time.

ROBERT VAN GRONINGEN

Manteca