Miss Giraffe
I've just come across some news. Apparently, Governor Terminator has decided to cut ALL state-funding to the domestic violence shelters in California. Some shelters expected a maybe 20% cut of funding, but 100%? The effects will be devastating, and safety for these women and children compromised.
If you want to learn more about this situation, click here.
Now, enough with the PSA!
I was talking to my friend, C, who knows a ton more about politics and bureaucracy than I would ever care to know (the topic generally bores me, as infuriating as that is), and this was his response:
"I know it seems like this program is super important and it is -- don't get me wrong -- but in tough times things need to be cut. If the governor can save the state a few million by cutting programs that he feels are unnecessary or underused then...more power to him. Making the tough decisions is...well...tough."
Okay, I know what most of you datingish readers will say: He's a cad! What a jerk! I can't believe him! Some friend you have! Etc, etc, etc. However, he also informed that California has a state deficit in the tens of billions. They can't pay for police or firefighters or state legislatures. There's a hiring freeze currently. State offices that were open 5 days a week are now only open for 3.
What do you think about this issue? Do you think it was necessary for Schwarzenegger to make this cut?
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Comments (25)
I don't know much about these things, and being British I don't really know much about California's financial troubles... but why cut 100%? Why not make small cuts to many different organisations?
The state is bankrupt. This is what happens when there is not a check on spending nor on this 50 million dollar raises. Either way, expect more drastic actions being undertaken.
California needs to legalize weed.
@xourlastendeavorx@xanga - I agree.
I honestly don't know what the point of these shelters are. No one has ever explained it to me.
it's a sad shame, but if it has to be done to make a change for the citizens of california, then so be it.
California is broke. They're also cutting funding to prisons and public universities and all kinds of things. Truth is, all they can do is cut spending and/or raise taxes, and even though people complain about the former, they're unwilling to go along with the latter.
@ViciousGrin63@xanga - Domestic violence shelters are where women suffering from abuse go to take refuge from their abuser.
Living in California, I can say with assurance that we are extremely broke and suffering the consequences.
One of the things that are suffering the most from this is the
education system. All California State Universities are not accepting
any more applicants
for the upcoming Fall quarter, summer school has been cancelled for all
schools (excluding universities), several part time/assistant
professors are being laid off, many classes are getting cut from
schools, meaning that classes will be overcrowded, etc. etc.
So, it's not surprising that they cut funds for domestic violence shelters. If that's what they need to do, then so be it.
I agree with your friend.
Well I know here in Ontario the shelters are pretty full. Well at least in my city. Probably because my city is full of losers.
Anyways, it probably isn't just the shelters being cut, there are probably a lot of other things being cut too. That was just the most interesting thing being cut and people like to make a big deal of things. I think having police is more important.
Maybe the jobs that are being paid millions of dollars a year should be cut a little too... but then how would those people afford their yachts? *rolls eyes*
I am also outraged by the funding being cut. i used to live in a domestic violence shelter when i was younger and it was probably the best thing to ever happen to me and my mother. without that shelter at that time, im sure i would be dead and so would my mom.
you gotta do what you gotta do.
wel i mean yeah it's ashame, but more dramatic cuts will happen. so what can you do?
absolutely not. social justice issues should not fall to the wayside in the midst of financial crisis'.-especially those that protect/save lives!
I don't care if they're losing money for firefighters. At least firefighters have money! Don't take away protection for women in dire need of help, whose lives you could be choosing to fix or end, so that we can keep the firefighters. There are still going to BE firefighters, just don't hire more and give ridiculous bonuses!
@sarahflorida1085@xanga - realize that police departments and fire departments also save lives. that's kind of a given :P
i agree with mr. schwarzi's decision. in all honesty, there are many more felonies in other areas besides domestic brutality. domestic violence is one of the lowest reported crimes here in the US. yes, i KNOW some women might be too afraid to fess up or a number of different other things that keep them from leaving but if they don't leave, we can't make them leave with funding to women's shelters. we can, however, stop more fires, more car accidents, more murders, more break-ins and a number of other things with more funding to hire more people to do the jobs.
@QCEM@xanga - so you're fine with houses with children in them burning down because the nearest fire department is currently wrapped up in another area because there isn't enough people/trucks/equipment to help as long as the women's shelter down the road is well-furnished? they both save people, but firefighters save lives without any significant help from the victim. women's shelters can only aid a victim willing to be helped and no more.
@xsPoNgEs_go_SQUISHx13@xanga - I did not say the women's shelter should be well-fernished. I said it should exist. To cut off 100% funding is to condemn it. Cut down funding a little, give that funding to other areas that need it...those houses won't burn. And don't say the children in the houses will die, more often than not they/their parents will get the family out of the house that is on fire.
@xourlastendeavorx@xanga - true true true.
xo
They should of just took some funds not 100%. Yeah there arent many reported domestic violence crimes. Thats because most go unreported due to fear or other reasons. I know many women with abusive husbands currently or in the past and not one of them have reported it. And with domestic violence there often is child abuse. I think these shelters help women and children that would of just been homcide victims.
California could do like some cities and have volunteer firefighters. That would cut some cost. There are other things that could have been done instead of cutting 100% of domestic violence shelter funds.
And if Arnold S. thinks that these shelters aren't important or are under-used then shame on him.
You all feel a sertain way because of how horrible it sounds for a battered woman to have no where safe to go... but like her friend said, im sure this wasnt a SNAP desicion and police/firefighters/rescue workers, in MY mind take presidence.
if they legalized/decriminalized weed and taxed the fuck out of it cali would be the richest state in the union... versus Maryland... and im not even sure how they got there. THO... i dint think they should tax weed... i think they should just make it legal and tax head shops/weed cafes and dispensories just like the government taxes bars and pubs and clubs now.
But I digress... thats a super hard desicion and im glad it wasn't one i had to make.
@lovelyicons161@xanga - But that would then hurt the families of the firefighters who need that money to live, money it would cost to TRAIN said volunteers, and the damage that would result in neglagence within a state that ALREADY has insane issues with fires/arson. Everything has a trickle down/domino effect. No matter what he did he was going to piss off a large group of people... including those not even directly effected. Im sure Fox and MSNBC and CNN would rip him a new one with whatever choice he made.
okay honestly, people are in uproar about budget cuts/eliminations of domestic violence shelters because it, in particular, is a subject that appeals to emotions. they act as though Schwarzenegger is just choosing to bully them or something.
that is not the case. EVERYTHING is being cut because it must be. there is no other way. there is no money! yes, when you can, it's great to help others. but insisting that funding be allocated to secondary needs is like insisting that those in poverty donate to charity. you cant fund anything when you dont have money.
and for the record, firefighters and policemen arent the only one going without pay. by law, hospitals and doctors can't turn away a person in need, regardless of how poor they are, whether or not they have insurance, or regardless of their lack of US citizenship! my dad is a cancer doctor, and everyone assumes doctors are rich, but at his private practice, his profits are in the negatives. in other words, when patients get the super expensive cancer treatment drugs that are worth thousands and dont pay (which happens very often) my parents are forced to pay out of pocket. Paying someone to treat their cancer? blasphemous.
especially these days, there is no such thing as a free lunch. yes, it sux, sure go and bitch and moan if it makes you feel better, but it's the cold, hard, truth and people are just going to have to deal with reality.
Of course it's necessary! Almost as necessary as it was to cut out tons of money in education! Yay for not having enough classes! Yay for not being able to go to college this semester!
(I hope my sarcasm was noted)
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