The notion that Easter Island died due to the cutting of the trees is only partially correct. According to Jared Diamond, the problem was more subtle than that. Somewhere along the way, the islanders brought rats onto the island and the rats liked to eat the nuts from the main tree species on the island. As a result, the rats eventually grew into a population such that no new trees could grow back, once cut down. Even if the islanders had not cut a single tree, once the rats arrived, the trees were going to disappear as they lived out their life cycles and no young were able grow and replace them. Cutting the trees only sped up the process.

As for Prop 13, I'm one of the casualties as I had applied for a job with the State, meeting all the requirements, and after Prop 13 the hiring freeze killed the job. So much for a shot at a career and a "normal" life. I've experienced mostly unemployment since then...

E. Swanson