August 18, 2003
Whom should we blame for a political atmosphere in California that would have
made P.T. Barnum envious? The convenient response is Governor Gray Davis. While
Davis is not blameless, he is also not alone. We, the electorate, are full partners
in creating what is bordering on political anarchy.
The California political process has turned on its head to the degree that Republicans are looking to a pro gun control, pro gay rights, pro government spending, pro choice, pro environment, pro violent action movie candidate to reclaim the governor’s mansion.
The recall architects should thank the 72 percent of the voting public who stayed home during the last election. Without their apathy, the recall election would not be possible.
What does it mean when only 28 percent of the voting age population took the time to vote in the last statewide election? This however may only increase the popularity of Republican actor/candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger who did not cast votes in six of the last 11 statewide elections making him just like “one of us.”
I am no fan of Gray Davis, but my question to those who want to replace him is why? Does Gary Coleman have a plan to solve the budget deficit? What is Bill Simon’s plan for recouping the money from Enron lost during the energy crisis? Is Arnold going to collect the lost revenue, created by the Bush tax cuts, from the federal government that added to California’s deficit?
Assuming that someone does replace Davis, I would be fascinated as to how they plan to solve California’s economic problems. Tax cuts for the wealthiest Californians perhaps? I love how Republican zealots sell tax cuts simultaneously as an economic stimulate and as a matter of social justice. In this economy, it is neither.
Welfare reform in a bleak economy that does not cut the safety net from under single mothers is a matter of social justice not whether someone making $1,000,000 is forced to live on $600,000 because of taxes.
The most prudent option has already been taken off of the table: cut spending and raise revenues. Davis tried this in January but was defeated because it requires two-thirds of the state legislature to raise revenues and there were just enough Republicans to defeat Davis’ tax increases. That little two-thirds provision was added when voters passed Proposition 13 in 1978.
The budget that Davis ultimately signed this year relied heavily on borrowing and deep cuts in spending. It is doubtful that Democrats who control both houses of the legislature will support additional cuts in spending.
Regardless who is governor, what is the economic plan if tax cuts, raising taxes, and cutting spending are not options? I have no doubt that Mr. Schwarzenegger along with the other legitimate candidates have given thought to being governor, but have they thought about governing? There are no magic bullets. Just ask Alabama Governor Bob Riley.
Governor Riley, one of the most conservative members of the House of Representatives, and consistently opposed new taxes while in Congress, proposed a $1.2 billion tax increase. The reason? Alabama is facing its biggest deficit since the Depression. Over the years, California voters have made it difficult to raise revenues, enacted the strictest term-limits of any state, which effectively made holdover legislative staffs and lobbyist more powerful than elected officials serving in the state legislature; and demonstrated a systematic voter decline whereby 3 percent of the voters could render last year’s statewide election null and void.
Suppose Mr. Schwarzenegger does indeed become governor and wants to raise revenues to close next year’s projected $8 billion deficit and the Republicans who opposed Davis this year acquiesced? What would be the point of the recall? How’s this for a conundrum?
According to the most recent Field Poll, 65 percent said they believe that electing a new governor will move California in the right direction. But only 40 percent believe that recalling Davis will solve the state’s budget problems. Huh?
Removing Davis for any reason other than someone is offering a better plan to address California’s financial ills only damages our democracy. Should we further erode representative democracy in lieu of the fool’s gold offered by the recall fiasco? Hopefully, the recall election will serve as a referendum on us, to recall our civic participation. California’s current political state is the byproduct when only 28 percent of the people participate.
Has Gray Davis contributed to his own political demise? Absolutely! But to paraphrase Pogo, “I have seen the problem and it us!”