The corruption at the heart of California's budget is a grim reminder of George Orwell's classic, Animal Farm.  Orwell's allegory is a story of corrupting political power and the exploitation of egalitarianism.  The book is worth a (re)read, as a caution against our California and national governments.

Animal Farm tells the tale of farm animals who overthrow the oppressive human rulers who exploit them.  The animals put in place a new rule - a utopian system, guided by noble unalterable commandments, including the egalitarian principle that "All animals are equal."  The revolutionary leaders (pigs) soon replace the human exploiters, and the animals are toiling longer and harder than ever.  The unalterable commandments are revised to, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."  Nevertheless, the draft horse Boxer (ignorant and trusting, but hardworking), dutifully follows the principle, "I will work harder" (until he outlives his usefulness and is sold to the glue factory).

Orwell's classic foreshadowed the state of California government, which itself foreshadows the coming results of Obama's egalitarian rhetoric.  Just as Sacramento leaders demand that California workers toil longer and harder, our rulers and the public sector unions enjoy job security, higher wages, and pensions - the fruits of our labor.  Even as we enjoy higher taxes, our rulers' Hollywood supporters enjoy tax breaks.  And while Californians struggle to make ends meet, Sen. Barbara Boxer asks that we dutifully follow the principle, "I will work harder".

It is time for Californians and Americans to wake up to the reality of the political system.  We are not the sheep of Animal Farm, to be lulled by media propaganda and led to the slaughter or sold to the glue factory.  The state of California is a leading indicator of what is to come from surrender to egalitarian "revolution" - betrayal and disaster.  If we are to avert this as a nation, we must first turn the tide, here.