ca: Reform debate sounds like same old political yada yada

Fresno Bee ^ | October 30, 2005 | JIm Boren

[calcowgirl]

The multimillion-dollar special election campaign that is grinding to an end has demonstrated a couple of things about the current condition of California's political system.

The most obvious is there can't be a serious discussion of important policy issues in an election campaign because political consultants would rather appeal to voters' emotions than to their intellect.

That may be a good strategy if the only goal is to win an election, but it does little to improve the quality of state government.

(snip)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been calling this the "year of reform," but you wouldn't know much about the reforms being proposed in the Nov. 8 election if you relied on the political debate.

Whether it's the governor arguing for support of his ballot initiatives or the alliance of public employee unions opposing the measures, the campaign has been disappointing for voters looking for enlightenment.

Both sides say their opponents are engaging in deception and deceit in their campaigns. Both sides are right.

The governor's argument can be boiled down to this: Reform is needed because public employees are greedy. The unions' argument is just as simple: The governor wants to punish public employees because their unions have been successful.

(snip)

The other political wart exposed by the special election is the inadequacy of the state's initiative process.

When the initiative system ...was put into the California Constitution by reformers 94 years ago, it was intended to give citizens a voice against the power of special interests. Today, special interests control the initiative process, and just about everything else in Sacramento.

But the bigger problem with initiatives is that even the best ones have flaws that often make them unworkable, open to court challenges or result in unintended consequences that make things worse.

[calcowgirl]

There have been many suggestions over the years on how to fix the initiative process.... But none of this would matter if the people Californians elect would do their jobs. No special election can make up for the state's bad leadership.

[Logical me]

Anything is better than what we have now. The Demorats have destroyed CA and no end in site.

[David Isaac]

"But the politicians would rather talk about teacher tenure than find ways to put the best teachers in low-performing schools,"


Not to difficult to figure out on which end of the socialist-capitalist dichotomy this author belongs. Onward, in the drive toward overall mediocrity and total equality of outcomes.

The is not too far off on his skewering of political leaders, of all political stripes.

[calcowgirl]

The is not too far off on his skewering of political leaders, of all political stripes.

He pointed fingers pretty directly.

So if you want to blame someone for the current mess, start with the governor, Assembly Speaker Fabían Núñez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata. They have the power to deal with real issues. But they've decided to make this a power struggle instead of a struggle for solutions.

If they had done their jobs, there would be no need for the special election.

[Amerigomag]

Written by Jim Boren, a liberal, and published by McClatchy, a typical liberal California rag.

Unbiased and accurate:

1) political consultants would rather appeal to voters' emotions than to their intellect... a good strategy if the only goal is to win an election, but it does little to improve the quality of state government.
2) At a time of monumental problems, California's leaders are bogged down in political bickering that says more about their quest for power than serving the needs of residents (other than their own constituents)
3), the campaign has been disappointing for voters looking for enlightenment. Both sides say their opponents are engaging in deception and deceit in their campaigns. Both sides are right. The ballot issues are much more complicated than how they are being portrayed in the advertising campaigns and in news conferences.
4) California's new breed of lawmakers would rather demagogue issues that will get them votes, while not doing anything to upset supporters.
5) blame the governor, Assembly Speaker Fabían Núñez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata for the current mess. They have the power to deal with real issues. If they had done their jobs, there would be no need for the special election.
6) the problem with initiatives is that many have flaws that often make them unworkable, open to court challenges or result in unintended consequences that make things worse.
7) none of this would matter if the people Californians elect would do their jobs. No special election can make up for the state's bad leadership.

Liberal promotions or inaccuracies to promote liberal promotions:

1) the budget pain falls on the poor and others without political power.
2) There have been many suggestions over the years on how to fix the initiative process. One is to have all initiatives that qualify for the ballot undergo a legislative review to determine if they are drafted properly and will actually do what the sponsors intend.