The State of California, rapidly becoming an economic basket case, has imposed furloughs on state employees that have necessitated the closure of state offices throughout California on a rolling basis. From the New York Times:

Californians looking to renew driver’s licenses, take tests for state jobs, file claims or seek many other services found themselves out of luck Friday. By early morning, about a dozen people stood on the sidewalk outside a Los Angeles high-rise where the Department of Industrial Relations is located. Five had planned to take an exam in an effort to register as garment workers.

“Why this office?” said Lisa Bacaro, 32, who had taken the morning off to take the exam. “In hard times, why can’t they close a different office? This is where people come for help with jobs. I am trying to take this test to start work, better work. I can’t believe this.”

California is staring down a $40 billion dollar deficit, with infighting between the Democratic Legislature and Governor Schwarzenegger leading to nothing but kicking the can down the road. Problem for California is that the road has ended. For all of our problems here the level of gross incompetence and mismanagement in California makes the Northeast states look like pikers. An absolute ideological rigidity and refusal to act in the best interests of the overall state have brought them to the brink of disaster. And for those who just continue to poo-poo the possibility of economic disaster just look at this state, and see what low quality public service will bring you.