 |
God Bless Those who Protect our Liberty
Past, Present and Future.
|
|
|
|
Posted on 10/08/2003 10:15:02 AM PDT by knighthawk
NOW we will learn if Arnold Schwarzenegger really is a man of steel, because a politician who is tough – if not necessarily stainless – is exactly what California needs.
Those who fear the judgment of the people may suggest this is a win for populism over political maturity but Schwarzenegger's sweeping ballot box victory demonstrates the American genius for embracing new ideas and new people. Schwarzenegger is an immigrant who made himself a success in films, business and now politics through his own efforts. By becoming governor of California he has demonstrated the truth of the American Dream for the millions of migrants who go to the US hoping that hard work and initiative can make a better life for their families.
But the defeat of machine politician, Democrat Governor Gray Davis, in the American phenomenon of a "recall" election has as much to do with the incumbent's failure as the challenger's will to win. Traditionally America's Pacific frontier of opportunity, and the home of Hollywood and Silicon Valley, California has become over-regulated, over-taxed and over-governed. In the past two years, 220,000 jobs have disappeared, slashing the Government's income and sales tax revenues. Mr Davis turned a budget surplus of $US12 billion in 1998 to a potential $US38 billion shortfall. He responded with spending cuts, borrowings and fudged figures – which would still leave the state an acknowledged $8 billion in the red. And there were other reasons why his popularity plummeted, notably the 2001 power crisis on his watch. Not all of California's problems, such as the downturn in the national economy and the bursting of the technology bubble, were Mr Davis's fault. But he did not manage the state's difficulties well and as a Democrat professional politician he turned to type when the going got tough. He rejected the obvious solution to the long-term power crisis – letting prices rise to attract new power investment. He moved to the Left, buying the support of public sector unions and adopted an aggressive pro-environment agenda. According to one research group, California now ranks 49th worst out of the 50 states on its tax slug on jobs-creating business.
Schwarzenegger's campaign was content free – replete with promises to restore the Californian dream and attacks on "government waste". But this is hardly a criticism, because Schwarzenegger will now have to fight the same political culture that bedevilled Mr Davis. Since the mid-1970s Californians have voted on specific propositions that bind government at each election. And while most fail, the ones that succeed allocate money to specific purposes – education, public transport and so on. The result is that something like 90 per cent of the state budget is locked up every year. Governor Schwarzenegger, just like Governor Davis before him, will have little political room to move as he tries to balance the books and kick-start the Californian economy – which, if it were surrounded by national boundaries, would be the world's fifth-largest. But unlike Mr Davis, it looks like he might be up for the fight. When women emerged during the campaign with accusations of sexual harassment on film sets, Schwarzenegger did not duck his past behaviour, establishing an apparent commitment to candour he must maintain so as to make the most of his undeniable political mandate.
Australians too easily dismiss the achievements of famous political outsiders who achieve high office in the US – and too readily mock self-made individuals who break the stranglehold of the political machines. Too readily, many Australians ridiculed another Hollywood actor who became California governor. Yet Ronald Reagan was on the right side of history in staring down the threat of Soviet communism and winning the Cold War. Whatever he is, Schwarzenegger is much more than a B-grade muscle-man actor. While many too readily scoff at his broken English, he is a well-educated and highly successful business entrepreneur. His political complexion – fiscally conservative but socially liberal – fits California's fundamentally libertarian outlook. At the least, he could be a shock to the political system that this most enterprising of states surely needs.
|
|
God Bless Those who Protect our Liberty
Past, Present and Future.
|
|
|
|
Traditionally America's Pacific frontier of opportunity, and the home of Hollywood and Silicon Valley, California has become over-regulated, over-taxed and over-governed. In the past two years, 220,000 jobs have disappeared, slashing the Government's income and sales tax revenues. Mr Davis turned a budget surplus of $US12 billion in 1998 to a potential $US38 billion shortfall. He responded with spending cuts, borrowings and fudged figures – which would still leave the state an acknowledged $8 billion in the red. And there were other reasons why his popularity plummeted
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.