The gubernatorial leadership of Edmund G. Brown Sr. made California the envy of the world. From 1959 to 1967 Governor Brown was responsible for creating a public education system that was second to none, infrastructure improvements such as highway construction and waterways contributed to California having a gross national product that today rivals Great Britain. But these days the Golden State is not so golden.
The dot-com slide, the energy crisis, and highly skilled workers who cannot find work, have contributed to a $38 billion deficit. When the long overdue state budget is finally passed it will undoubtedly translate into painful cuts in social service programs, highway construction and public education. The once famed University of California and California State University systems renowned for their quality and affordability have already proposed a 25 percent increase for the fall.
The California crisis means that on Tuesday October 7, Californians will vote on the recall of Gov. Gray Davis and also decide (on the same ballot), if not Davis, who will govern the state through its financial quagmire. I find it problematic that after reelecting Davis in November, 12 percent of the voters who cast ballots in the last election could change the outcome by simply signing a petition in a Wal-Mart parking lot. However, supporters of the recall effort have valid points and a change may be in order. I have never been a fan of Governor Davis, to call him an empty suit would be an insult to the men and women representing the garment industry. I find him to be a politician whose vision is trumped by his ambition, and therefore unable to tell the people of California where he wants to lead them because he has already reached his ultimate destination, and he cannot accommodate them comfortably in the governor’s office. But should Davis’ inability to remind people of Roosevelt or Churchill legitimize the chaotic atmosphere created by the recall election?
Though part of the California political process, the recall election is a serious critique on our civic participation. In the November election, California had a voter turnout rate of roughly 36 percent, but the voting age population turnout was only 28percent. That means the 12 percent required for the recall vote translates to slightly more than 3 percent of the voting age population. A larger voter turnout would have made the task of obtaining the required signatures for a recall more difficult. The failure to vote gave 3 percent of the population a proxy by which they could use to recall the governor. But not even the lack of civic participation could discourage me from ultimately concluding that a recall may be in order.
There are three primary reasons supporting the recall effort: first, California went from a surplus to a record $38 billion deficit. Second, Davis hid the actual size of the deficit from the voters in the last election. Third, the possibility that Davis would raise taxes.
In his State of the State address in January, Davis announced plans for $8.3 billion in tax increases, cuts to education, health and welfare programs and increases in fees for programs throughout the state to help take care of the $38 billion deficit. But in California it requires two-thirds of the legislature to approve any tax increases.
Thus, Davis’ approach to addressing the deficit, increase taxes and cut spending was met with opposition. Democrats did not like the cuts in spending; Republicans did not care for the tax increases. Because of the two-thirds requirement it is not likely revenues will be raised much if at all. But what about the two remaining reasons? If the argument is that Davis oversees a $38 billion deficit and failed to come clean with the people of California about its actual size is grounds for a recall, what should we do with President Bush?
Given he entered office with a larger surplus than Davis and now sits over an even larger deficit should we not consider recalling him as well? Moreover, there is enough declassified information to conclude the president held back facts from the American people in preparation for the war with Iraq. But unlike California Republicans, it is not necessary to gather signatures; the presidential recall election is already set for Tuesday November 2, 2004. This assumes enough people will bother to vote.