TOUGH LOVE FOR DAVIS-BUSTAMANTE

“Tough love,” as prescribed by people in the field of addiction and recovery, is having wisdom enough to withhold help from an addicted friend or family member—not because you fail to love them, but because you do love them.

The Davis-Bustamante Administration turned a $12 billion surplus into a $38 billion deficit, raised taxes on hard-working families, mishandled the energy crisis, and drove more than 300,000 jobs out of California.

The recall of Davis-Bustamante marks the end of denial and the beginning of recovery for California. It is our opportunity to take responsibility for our own lives and to release ourselves from the illusion that we had control over these dysfunctional office-holders.

TOUGH LOVE FOR DAVIS-BUSTAMANTE By Michael Giorgino

Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante unveiled a ``Tough Love for California'' budget proposal that would raise the income tax of successful Californians, raise commercial property taxes, and increase the tax on beer and cigarettes.

As Lieutenant Governor, Bustamante is just as responsible as Gray Davis for the tax increases, spending increases, and anti-jobs measures that have virtually destroyed California’s economy.

During the debate, Arnold Schwarzenegger said what everyone knows about Davis-Bustamante: “They keep spending and spending and spending. Then when they realize they made a mistake, they've spent money they don't even have, then they tax, tax, tax. . . You guys have an addiction problem. You should go to an addiction place, because you cannot stop spending.''

Davis and Bustamante need tough love, not the hard-working people of California.

Tough love means we let go of the enabling behavior that makes it easier for Davis-Bustamante to avoid the consequences of their actions.

Tough love means we no longer:

- Cover up for them: “In California we have a `three strikes' system,” Schwarzenegger declared. “You guys pulled the wool over people's eyes twice. The third time, you are out.''

- Lie on their behalf: Davis misled the people about the size and cause of the deficit. Bustamante grudgingly admitted, “As a government, we spent more than was coming in. There's no rocket science to this.” Yet, he wants to raise taxes another $8 billion so he can spend some more.

- Make excuses for them: Californians pay enough taxes! Since 1998, inflation and population increased only 21 percent, while revenue grew 25 percent. The problem is that Davis-Bustamante increased spending 40 percent!

- Or, keep silent about how their behavior affects us: While Gray Davis raised taxes, increased spending, and ignored a mounting energy crisis, Cruz Bustamante sat silently in his office across the hall. If Bustamante had a clue how to fix California’s problems, why did he wait five years to speak up? Instead of rising to the challenge, Bustamante has ducked responsibility for the state’s problems and failed to show any degree of independence or leadership.

Addiction has been called a family disease. Many family members take the attitude, "If I just ignore, it may go away." However, the spending addiction of Davis-Bustamante has been like a tornado, ripping across the lives of ordinary Californians. Ignoring the problem will simply encourage more of the same self-destructive behavior.

The Recall may be seen as a form of confrontation or intervention. It is not personal. The confrontation is not about attacking these men; but rather, it is about confronting their self-defeating behavior, which has ruined the quality of our lives. This difficult decision is truly an act of love and concern—both for the people of California and the failed politicians spinning further and further out of control.

On October 7, we have a golden opportunity to recall Gray Davis and elect Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California. Let October 7, 2003 be remembered as California's Independence Day—the day we began to regain our identity as the Golden State—a land of dreams, optimism, opportunity, and most of all—freedom!

Mike Giorgino is a retired Navy Commander and a Gulf War veteran. He was the Republican candidate for the State Senate, 40th District in 2002. He graduated from the University of San Diego in 2000 and practices law in San Diego. He may be contacted via e-mail at mgiorgino@aol.com.

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