Schwarzenegger following a familiar script

The question was simple: "How are you going to end (California's) financial mess?" asked the pleasant- faced woman in an Arnold Schwarzenegger television campaign ad.

"Here's my plan," the governor replied, his blue shirt and tie giving him a businesslike air. "Audit everything, open the books, and then we end the crazy deficit spending. It really comes down to this: If you're happy with the way things are, keep your current leaders. If you want to change this state, then join me."

The author was being disingenuous in comparing the Schwarzenegger proposals to the Davis proposals. Davis always coupled his cuts with tax increases. So far our new governor has avoided this, discounting, for the moment, future taxes needed to support proposed bond payments.

Real fiscal reform will also include a severing of state and local revenue with a clear delineation of the revenue source for local governing bodies.

Another fiscal headache that the politicians won't touch will be handled by the electorate. Reductions in taxpayer supported services to people who enter the country illegally will be enacted through the initiative process. Download petitions at Save 187.com.

Prisons and health care - two large areas of state spending not protected by voter- approved spending mandates - will likely see especially heavy cuts or streamlining of services, Stutzman said.

For the uninitiated candidate, rational solutions look so easy. Once the candidate is elected, they become aware of all the red tape. The federal Congress has purchased jurisdiction in States by offering social and educational programs with strings. Among these, the State and local governments have required fund "matches." If the State refuses to match, the program can go away, along with other programs. Then the "entitled" will clamour in the courts for their benefits.

The California voter is also to blame with myriad initiatives passed that mandate expenditures from the budget for certain programs. Education is the primary one. Did it ever occur to Californians that a constitution is supposed to be an architectural blueprint for the organization of government - not legislation by the voter. Have you looked at our State constitution lately? It has stuff on cougars in it. The federal Constitution guarantees that the States will have a republican form of government - not a direct democracy. Voter initiative has been abused and is partialy at fault for our budgetary problems.

The State Legislature is also to blame for micromanaging. Every tidbit is earmarked for some special purpose or interest group. Local government has lost flexibility in responding to real local priorities. California is an incredibly diverse place. Programs designed to address urban or suburban concerns are not appropriate in rural areas, while real crisis go unaddressed. In our county, only about 17% of our total budget is discretionary and that is the portion the State was trying to undermine with loss of VLF.

I feel for the Guv. Not unlike Gulliver's Travels, he is tied by Lilliputian strings. Until the voters get rid of the initiative process and kick out politicians who earmark funds to benefit special constituents, we are doomed. It is our own fault.

"Schwarzenegger vowed to find waste, clean it out and end California's destructive boom-and-bust budget cycle. But in 38 days on the job, he [Arnold] has proposed a series of financial fixes that some nonpartisan analysts say bear a strong resemblance to policies that Davis tried - and sometimes failed - to enact."

Elect RINOs, they can win!!!

Track record of "fiscally conservative" RINOs:

"Underlying my entire campaign is this pledge to taxpayers: I will not raise taxes. To do so during times of recession is terrible, to do so during times of prospirty is unconciseable...and I will also enforce the death penalty as governor, my adminstration will not be soft on crime"
-- George Ryan, 1998

"It is time to suit up. We've got work to do, and there is only one special interest we should be paying attention to - our customers - the taxpayers. We must strive to be a creative government, because the opportunities we create today will help our children grow tomorrow. We must be a responsive and responsible government because that is what we owe to the citizens of Connecticut."
-- John Rowland, 2002

"We will rebuild, renew, and remain the capital of the free world. Throughout our history, New Yorkers have always made the sacrifices to build a better tomorrow — and there will be a better tomorrow. Last night in Times Square when Rudy swore me in, he said to me, 'Don't fail our people.' Rudy, I will not."
-- Michael Bloomberg, 2001

"You cannot compare 26 years of service in Congress, and the caliber of leadership of Jim Jeffords, with the record of Ed Flanagan. I have been there to fight for us and lead. There is no other Republican in Vermont that can rival what I have meant to our community in the U.S. Senate"
-- Jim Jeffords, speech to GOP group, 2000

"Action, action, action, action -- that's what people have voted me into this office for. They wanted to have a governor that is filled with action, that performs and that represents the people, and that's what I'm here to do"
-- Arnold Schwartzeneggger, 2003

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.