Schwarzenegger won't shy from confrontation
Re: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-06-09-Schwarzenegger-cover_x.htm
As a "Schwarzenegger Republican" I could not resist posting the above article that ran in USA Today. The article relates to this class because it is a prime example of how various types of media create a "frenzy" over polling numbers. The media loves a horse race during an election, and in California a special election will take place in November. Blogs in California are keeping busy with the special election approaching.
Several new media outlets, such as blogs and the internet, have utilized their ability to take readers directly to the Secretary of State's web site to read about the propositions on the ballot. This form of internet education is key because it allows voters to read the ballot measure before it goes to the public. Many people do not see the actual ballot language until they get into the ballot box. With the internet, voters can now log into the Secretary of State's web site and read the language and even read editorials on the propositions. This is a great function of the internet.
Blogs are keeping pace with the multi-million dollar advertising campaign by posting on partisan web sites. The labor unions are especially utilizing blogs to reach out to voters.
General comment below:
What I really wanted to point out is the fact that Schwarzenegger is staying on message about the reason he is serving as Governor and why the people of California elected him in a special election, "To serve the people of California and make necessary reforms to clean up California government." That is exactly what he wants to accomplish with the special election in November and the reforms being placed on the ballot, such as the redistricting reform ( having an independent board of judges choose district boundaries) is exactly what is needed in California. While Schwarzenegger's approval rating has taken a dive, so has the Legislature's approval rating - as a matter of fact, the California Legislature has had a horrible approval rating that has yet to rise above 35%. So, the problem is not Schwarzenegger's reforms, but the Legislature's way of doing business. Did you know that legislators in Sacramento, CA make $100,000 + a year in salary? I am afraid many legislators view their position as a career, not as a public servant - which is how Schwarzenegger views his post as Governor!
5 Comments:
If Schwarzenegger really wants to reform California he needs to end ballot initiatives and term limits and then resign. The ridiculousness of initiatives has essentially frozen the California budget with required limits, and term limits has left completely inexperienced legislators running the seventh largest economy in the world. Schwarzenegger has done nothing but continue the reckless governance of the Grey Davis years, but since he has had a hostile legislature he does the exact same things but through ballot initiatives.
Redistricting reform is nothing but a straw man argument. Sure it will sound nice but it will change absolutely nothing. Three states, Arizona, Iowa and New Jersey have their districts drawn by Independent panels, and out of 27 Congressional districts only 2 were considered remotely competitive this cycle, and those races were decided 10 and 23 points.
And the cheap shots against the Legislative salaries is everyones favorite, but is completely off base. $100,000+ and they need to maintain two residencies, think of how unrealistic that can be if your a legislator from a place with a high cost of living, like say Orange County, and then you need another residence in Sacramento. The fact is the salaries legislators make is low, and it keeps a lot of good people from running for office.
Thank you for your comments - I love a good debate - especially when its about the initiative process and the California Legislature.
Number One: The initiative process works wonders when there is a Legislature that can not even balance a budget and will not negotiate on some of the most vital decisions to be made (that would be the California Legislature). The initiative process has given the people back their voice and power and holds legislators accountable.
Salaries: Did you know that the Legislature can not balance the state budget, therefore they are NOT doing their one main principle job - providing fiscal health to the people of California. Why give an 11% + increase in pay to state legislators when 1) the state is in deficit 2) they can't even perform their most basic job responsibility - in the private sector, people get fired for this type of poor job performance.
Redistricting - I wrote my paper in Prof. Johnson's class on this topic and through my research I found that states with indepedent boards are far more competitive, however, it is still true that many get elected from the far right and left of each party because of the money each national party or state party throws in specific races. If you think gerrymandering does not affect how our nation and state governs policies, then you need to look at what happened in Texas last year - where DeLay did an early redistricting and gained several seats for the Republicans - turning the power of influence in the House on the Hill.
Bottom line - We need to hold our public servants accountable and offer the most democratic system to ensure they perform their jobs for the health of the nation and the states. Schwarzenegger is doing just that in California and is continuing to blow up the boxes even with a Democratic Legislature - something many Republicans in California only dream about.
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I do believe in the initiative process, but I think that it has gotten out of hand in California with mandating the state's ability to raise and spend money. The reason that we decide to have a republic instead of a direct democracy is because the issues are complicated, and we want citizens working full-time to understand these complicated issues and come up with solutions. The average citizen who votes on initiatives hasn't even seen how the resources are allocated and are making ill-informed decisions.
2. Schwarzenegger has no one to blame but his own party for the budget deficit. I recommend the documentary on Enron (www.enronmovie.com). While Enron was purposefully reducing the flow of electricity in order to increase prices and causing blackouts, Bush refused to impose price caps and ended up costing the state millions of dollars. Schwarzenegger took the power crisis as a political opportunity and now he has to deal with the consequences.
The California power crisis was in large put due to the Gray Davis Administration. Davis did little to nothing to increase energy supplies. Please read the following to see how Davis, not Bush or Schwarzenegger (who was not even involved in this crisis) did nothing to provide a stable power industry in California...
http://www.straighttalkpolitics.org/powercrisis.shtml
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