We in California have done this to ourselves. The leftward lurch in this state that has lavished pay and benefits on state and local workers was just reinforced by the recent election. While the rest of the nation wakes up to the folly of big government, CA sends dimwits like Boxer back to the senate while other states boot her type out.
There is little hope for change, since our demographic trends are to repel our middle class taxpayers and attract the tax users from other states and countries. We are doomed.