This is outrageous. California is laying people off left and right, and is in a mountain of debt, yet they are paying $2 million for the Jackson funeral. Promoters are going to make bundles of money on this, yet they are not paying for the funeral themselves. Someone needs to run up to good old Arnold and punch him the face. Repeatedly.
Just popped in to say this, because I am ashamed of my country.

Got a source for this information? It sounds about right given the kind of fiscal sense my state has, I'd just like to see the actual story so that I can add whoever supported it to my list of folks to never vote for.

California is not a country.

Personally, I don't understand why this guy rates this much attention. I understand he was a popular musical artist, but why is he getting the "royal treatment" over his death? They are shutting down a large portion of LA and, assuming what TheCheese says is true, the most broke state in the Union is actually paying for a state funeral for the guy. We don't give this much respect to Presidents when they die, and most of them have never been accused of child molestation... multiple times... and paid off the accusers...

Is there any chance that it's a financial investment, and that they'll make the money back given all the tourists coming to the memorial? I've no idea - just chucking the idea out there.

Considering that only invitees can attend the funeral (they held a lottery to give some tickets out to the public) that seems unlikely to me.

Hmm, I guess. Doesn't mean people won't make the pilgrimage to Cali anyway and they'll all need places to stay, eat etc.

Heres a source for TheCheese33's post I guess (July 3rd). It sounds like they're not paying for the funeral at all, but the cost of security/clean up for such a massive event. In fact I don't think the state wants to pay, as they've asked the Jackson Family to fund even this now (July 5th).
Hey, at least you don't have to be ashamed of your country any more.

Thanks for those story links. Glad to see the whole thing is a bit more reasonable than initial appearances.

MSNBC was all the rage this morning over California paying for it, so that was my source. I guess MSNBC pulled a Fox?

Perhaps you should continue to be ashamed of your country, if its not valid over this then I'm sure something will pop up to validate it

Welcome to socialism, glad we could bring you aboard on this one. Don't count out that 75% of the world has gone this way with governments paying for everything and all that. Remember everyone wanted this and our children get to pay for it. So just drink up your frostamachachino and enjoy the ride. Oh yes, keep your hands and legs in the car at all times.

LOL america socialist? 75% of the world socialist? lol

i need to invent a new level of LOL.... LOLGLEBEH!!

For this kind of situation I use ROFLMAOLOLZOMG