California is in fiscal crisis and Governor Schwarzenegger has a radical plan to balance the budget by slashing government spending.

Fault Lines speaks to Christian Lopez, a student in his last year at Santee High. Lopez, 18, has organised protests against the teacher layoffs mandated by cuts to Californias education budget.

"Why cant the government ... invest in us? Its not throwing away money. Throwing away money is going to war," he says.