I really appreciate you deeply thoughtful, insightful and penetrating analysis, Mr. Gone!
He has dispaired over CA's "Ungovernable Situation" many a time in print as he doesn't dislike the initiative, referendumb and recall processes on their own populist merits as much as he despises the way they've been hi-jacked by pollsters, consultants and lobbyists for severe and obscene special interests.
A perfect example is the Prop 98 passage by the teacher's yoonyuns with Celebrity Jack Lemon lying his virtual ass off to the people on multi-millions spent by said yoonyuns on totally deceptive TV commercials!!! It's what's at the core of the up-coming budget WAR with Senor Schwarzenegger that they're calling the "renegger" in the press, right NOW!!!
We used to sorta respect elected leaders in CA to some degree... now they're all a joke and cannot be "statesmen" as they live in fear of being "second guessed" by the people at the ballot box. So now we simply have "government by whim" an that makes the state ungovernable. There are certainly no leaders... only followers acting like leaders if the media plays along to make them look good.
The media loves it, just like they thought they'd love campaign finance reform laws, cause it gives them more power than anyone else!!! That sucks canal water!!! Think about it, will ya???
I meant to ping the two of you to my last reply on this thread, as well...
And, of course, your media is dominated by the SF Chronicle and the LA Slimes. The Sacramento Bee is a distant third in influence.
Fundamental reform is needed in California, but the political establishment, the liberals and their supporters in the media, aren't going to give that up easily. If anything, they're trying to make it even more secure.
When did the government get the idea that it's function was other than to protect individual rights?