By now, we've all heard about the massive financial quagmire California is in. As of right now, they're $23.4 billion behind in the money they need to run the state. 

As the elected officials out there grapple with the realities of such a shortfall, Gov. Schwarzenagger has come up with a most ridiculous idea - closing 200 of the state's parks. 

Some lawmakers are saying, 'well we can't keep the parks open when we're cutting other services', and they may be some legitimacy to that, until you bore down the numbers a little bit. 

This will save the state $70 million between now and June 2010, and another $143.4 the next year. The $70M represents .3% of the state's deficit. Even when you add in the other $143M, it comes up to a whopping .88%. 

Compare that with the $9.6B spent on corrections in California. Add in that studies show for every dollar spent by CA on parks, the state takes in $2.35 in tourist income - it's a money maker. 

I certainly hope the Governator turns this around, but it looks pretty bleak right now.