Radio tonight - "California in Decline"

I'll be on the John Batchelor Show tonight, beginning at 8:15 p.m. (Pacific) discussing the dire situation that many of California's municipalities -- and the state, itself -- face in the near future. (Check local or satellite listings for details, or listen online here.)

The focus of tonight's chat will be the great inland port city of Stockton.

As our friend at Via Media points out, "Stockton, California, is well on its way to repeating the mistakes of its sister bankrupt Golden State city, Vallejo: The city manager of Stockton has proposed a deal in bankruptcy court that involves zero pension cuts. Opting instead for slashing workers and health benefits, extending payments and selling buildings, the deal, if approved, would leave Stockton’s ruinous pension system untouched."

Stockton - and Vallejo - are merely California (and the rest of the country) writ sooner and smaller.

Brace yourselves.