As I sit here in the cool of my family room I find myself pondering the mess the great state of California is in. I know many people are not pleased with Governor Schwarzenegger but I wonder what is not being shared with us. The great citizens of this state for a long time have been kept in the dark on how the money was being allocated to fund state programs. We blindly believed and trusted the men and women we elected would look out for our best interest.
Interests, this is the operative word here. I don’t know about you but it’s apparent to me that is exactly what the state legislature is all about. What interest group fills their pocket? I don’t understand why a group cannot write a budget in a year? I don’t understand why this is a problem. I want to know how they can keep their job? If I as a teacher failed to turn in my lesson plans at every due date you can be sure I would not be asked back in the fall. If a chief failed to have the dinner ready for a wedding reception you can bet this would be his/her last. Yet, year after year this legislature fails to meet the dead line. What is the problem? Please, do not blame this on the governor.
Do we need to vote out every person in the state legislature? Is voting the answer? I am beginning to believe that we could never afford many of these programs. I am beginning to get the impression that certain interest groups came looking for money and because of back door politics these interest groups received money the state never had. I imagine it’s something to this affect. My friend was down and out so she decided to teach children how to swim, being a licensed swimming instructor with her own team. Only problem she didn't have a pool. So I gave her money for the pool subsequently she was a huge benefit to the community. So I gave her money to expand. But I didn't have money to give her in the first place so I borrowed from my uncles insurance which I managed taking only the interest. Then my cousin needed to start up her hair salon so I gave her some money to start up a chain of shops. As a result money came pouring into the community. This was good for the community and private industry. Except I didn't have money for that either so I took it from the association I manage, investing it into a different fund. I keep giving these people money to work and the economy is moving except no one is paying me back. Then, one day these people need their money. Except I have nothing to give them because I never had anything to begin with. I just juggled the money to keep it flowing and as long as the bill wasn’t due everything worked well.
Now, you see if I had really done this I would be in jail for a very long time, except we are talking about special interest groups. The problem is we funded special interest groups with money that was never there and/or very little was coming in. The state legislature is taking from everything and everyone to pay their bills. What is blatantly clear is these men and women are still trying to fund their special interest groups. I think it’s time to vote everyone out. I think it’s time to make the legislature answer to us. We voted these men and women in to look out for our best interests not to render us poor. Furthermore I think as of this moment all perks should be taken from the legislature. If we have to take a day off with pay, they do not get a car, a lunch tab, or anything else. They are making good money. Let them budget out of their own pocket. Let’s see them tighten their belts as much as we find ourselves tightening ours. They spent money carelessly because it wasn’t theirs to spend.
Please feel free to comment on my rambling.
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California has always, in some shape or form, been in the hands of the special interests. In the 1890s, the railroads basically ran the state. Governor Hiram Johnson fought hard to kick the railroads out of the state government. However, his progressive policies led to the rise of popular interests, like public employee unions, which hold massive sway in our government today. In addition, Progressive politics led to a California Constitution that is easily changed by the people. This is both good and bad. It's good because it's a pure form of democracy. It's bad because just because a measure is popular, doesn't make it right, wise, or appropriate. In 1978, the people passed Prop. 13, which limited local property taxes, making local agencies more dependent of the state for funding. In addition, a 2/3 majority is needed in the legislature to pass a budget every year. These measures were enacted by a wave of conservative outrage (not completely unfounded) over how money was being spent in the state. As a result, a vital source of income for government programs was cut (remember when education through college was practically free in California in the 1950s and 1960s?) and new taxes are almost impossible to pass with a 2/3 vote. As California's population grows and demand for services increases, the California's prosperity becomes more susceptible to the whims of the national economy in general and the public special interests who are all competing for California's limited funds.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the solution? Who knows? Some advocate repealing Proposition 13. Fat chance. Even liberal property owners don't want to see their property taxes go up. Take the right to change the constitution away from the people? Nope. Such a move would, in many ways, be a rejection of democracy. What about amending the constitution to allow a simple majority for passing a budget? The problem with that is it may make the legislature even more susceptible to special interests. How about we toss out the entire California constitution and call for a new one, one in which special interests, private or public, are severely weakened? Perhaps the answer lies in this drastic option.
Perhaps...
Eric L.