VINDICA

I watched the movie adaptation of Richard Yate's novel "Revolutionary Road". It kicked off a debate with Sandhya about suburban life and what it means to live and to merely exist. For those of you who have not seen the movie, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are a seemingly happy couple living the suburban dream in a nice house. Kate desperately wants to get out. She convinces her husband that they can use their savings to move to Europe. She wants to stop being a housewife and take up a job there. She wants him to stop working and figure out what he wants to do. However, an unexpected pregnancy causes doubts in Leonardo and consequent rage in Kate. It is a nice concept, but I think it is a typical 50s story. I think the more appropriate theme for our times would have been the consummation of the European desire and subsequent disenchantment with it. However, Sandhya felt differently. In any case, it was a considerable surprise for me to come across Richard Yate...

Everyone seems to agree that Prop 13 that limited property taxes in California is to blame for the crisis. There is however, a large majority that believes that the law requiring 2/3 majority for raising taxes was a good idea. Now consider what has happened. Instead of raising taxes on cigarettes, the legislature was forced to cut spending in health care. This is inspite of the the fact that cigarette tax would naturally lower health care costs. Cutting health care would in fact RAISE healthcare costs since more people will drop through the cracks and start visiting ERs. The 33% minority that blocked the cigarette tax must be held accountable for this travesty.