As I was getting onto my bike for my morning ride, my good neighbor, Jim Fudge, was on his way to clean his grill with some high powered stuff that I won't try to describe here, and he agreed to be my picture for the day. Having just read in the newspaper the details of a plan by Citizens for California Reform to solve our problems in Sacramento, I concluded that Jim, in apron and wearing gloves, would be a good candidate for the State Assembly or the State Senate or perhaps the governorship, another state office that will be open soon. On second thought, there is no way he will be willing to give up retirement and cleaning his grill for a job in government, and I like him far too much to want him to get into such a thankless occupation.
























Some California Statistics

Population in 2008: 36,756,666 (comparison... Canada 2009: 33,212 )

Area: 159,955 square miles (comparison... Canada 3,855,103 square miles)

Economy: California estimated to be between the 7th and 10th largest economy in the world when compared with nations and individual states.

I COULD GO ON WITH DEMOGRAPHICS, ECONOMIC STATISTICS, AND FACTS AND COMPARISONS OF EDUCATION SYSTEMS WITH OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES, but that would probably do little to convince the Tea Party people and other benighted citizens that their ignorance coupled with magical thinking could destroy the state and nation that they believe they are trying to save. The latest absurd proposal getting considerable air time on conservative talk radio and placard space at Tea Party protest rallies is a plan to reduce the California Legislature to part-time. According to the newspapers, Gabriella Holt, President of Citizens for California Reform, explained why she and her group think the State of California needs to move to a part-time legislature: “Citizen legislators versus professional politicians is what it boils down to.” Boils down to! What kind of conclusion is that from what sort of understanding of politics and government? Do these people think running California is comparable to running a school system? ...elect a few people: maybe a couple of doctors who are willing to take time out from their practice; a few housewives and househusbands who are fortunate enough to be in single income households so they can take time out from cleaning floors, washing and ironing clothes, trimming the lawn, taking kids to and from school; perhaps a school teacher who would be given time off every now and then to study legislative matters; how about a fireman or two, and yeah, a policeman (He or she could do double duty as sergeant-at-arms and senator.); throw in a butcher, a baker and a candle-stick maker and you’ve got a legislature. What the hell are these people thinking! With their obvious lack of understanding of what a “job” in the real world requires, I can only imagine how effectively members of the Citizens for California Reform perform as employees.

California is in terrible shape financially. The states infrastructure problems have not been addressed for decades and are likely to deteriorate further. Schools have drastically cut academic and arts programs. In the fifties and sixties the high school in Yuba City where I was a fledgeling teacher offered Latin, German, French and Spanish. Complete automobile, woodshop (including cabinetmaking and house building), art, drama, and music programs were offered to all students. The music program in the school of eighteen hundred students in that farming community included orchestra, band, at least three choral groups, and individual instruction. We will be decades getting those programs back into schools even if we could start today.

Presenting themselves as people of integrity insisting on fiscal responsibility, Citizens for California Reform are willing to further cripple public service programs. We have been the most affluent nation in the world. Government is providing less and less service because citizens are too easily convinced that all government is bad. The Citizen Legislature Act which the CCR organization is planning would require the Legislature to convene in January for no more than 30 days and then in May for no more than 60 days. The legislature could reconvene for five days in the fall to consider vetoes by the governor. The initiative would cut legislators’ pay in half. The obvious result would to cripple California’s already lame legislature and empower special interest groups. Legislative staff who “run” government would be easy prey for lobbyists.

Believing the state with the seventh largest economy in the world can be managed by people working part-time, the Citizens for California Reform are collecting money and signatures to get their proposal on the ballot. My greatest fear is that if the initiative does get on the ballot, it might pass into law because of basic ignorance of voters and the high level of frustration with the legislators now in Sacramento. Be aware.

























The high tide and wild surf tossed the little boat up onto Mission Beach yesterday. It reminds me of what voters have done to California with their initiative blunders.