EDITOR: Let me get this straight. California has a financial
shortfall of more than $38 billion. The state is locked in its
annual budget morass, with lawmakers seemingly barricaded in their
partisan bunkers. Schools, local governments, transportation and
social service programs face funding cutbacks.
EDITOR:
Let me get this straight. California has a financial shortfall of more than $38 billion. The state is locked in its annual budget morass, with lawmakers seemingly barricaded in their partisan bunkers. Schools, local governments, transportation and social service programs face funding cutbacks.
Taxes and fees for state services are already escalating. But, let’s not pay any attention to those issues; we’ve got a great distraction for you: a new election on Oct. 7 to recall the governor, and if that happens, a chance to vote on a replacement.
This gives the folks in Sacramento justification to continue leaning back in their chairs and do nothing. And, while some may think that is a good thing, it really isn’t. The lack of a budget – one that fairly and fully addresses California’s problems – hurts all of us. Local and county governments are hamstrung in their ability to move ahead on projects or to carry out mandated programs. Projects already under way face shutdown because of the state’s inability to pay its bills.
So, who is excited by the coming recall election? Look to the political consultants, the fringe partisans and the news media.
The political consultants make huge amounts of money running campaigns. A new, unexpected contest in a state like California is for them, like the tech stock market bubble all over again.
The partisans love it because they see it as a way to avenge last fall’s campaign.
The media, especially the state’s television and radio stations, see dollar signs as the flow of campaign advertising dollars spikes their revenues in what had been an off-year for elections. And the national media, gearing up for next year’s presidential race, gets a free pass to once again look upon this state as a haven for fruits and nuts.
Don’t mistake these writings as support for the incumbent. But we have problems, urgent problems that need to be solved by serious men and women doing serious work. The recall is a distraction from that work, and a distraction that we, the people of California, do not need.
David Cohen, Morgan Hill
