Posted on 10/02/2005 2:32:17 PM PDT by FairOpinion
In January, the governor issued a challenge to the Legislature's Democrats: change how you do business, or I will change it for you. The Democrats yawned. They were sure that Schwarzenegger would cave. The Democrats had been in charge before he got there, and they would be in charge long after he was gone.
But a funny thing happened: Schwarzenegger didn't cave. How could that be, they asked, since he knows we are in charge. Schwarzenegger said: Tough: change is necessary. He said he would qualify initiatives, call a special election, and get the people to bring about change. The Democrats didn’t believe he would dare do such a thing.
To insure his failure, the Democrats got their union boss buddies to start picketing Schwarzenegger, who laughed at their endeavors. I actually attended a meeting where he said "You think a couple of union goons with picket signs is going to change me, you have got to be kidding. We are going to change this town." He ran out his initiatives and got them qualified.
The Democrats were shocked. He was supposed to give up. He wasn't supposed to qualify those initiatives. He wasn't supposed to call the special elections. They were outraged at his defiance toward their self-ordained authority.
So they went to their union boss buddies again, and had those unions run commercials on television. They were certain this would cause him to back off, give up, and cancel the special election.
He didn't. He called their bluff. They called him to negotiate. They indicated if he would allow them to change term limits, they would consider giving him a small portion of what he wanted. They said he could declare victory, but things would stay the same. He said no. He wanted real change.
They continued the attacks. Despite plummeting polls, the governor didn't flinch. Now, he is fighting back. This week he began his response.
His reform agenda is simple: control the public employee unions that control Sacramento, make sure spending matches revenue, make sure that teachers teach, and make sure that the legislature actually responds to the people that elect them, and not to the special interests in Sacramento.
Proposition 74 reforms the tenure system, the system that gives bad teachers a lifetime job, before we can figure out that they are bad teachers. Proposition 74 says: let's give teachers tenure after five years (instead of the current two), so school districts can figure out if they are bad before they give them a lifetime job.
Proposition 75 says union bosses cannot force state and local workers to pay them money for political causes the bosses like, but the workers don't. Today, every state and local government employee is forced to pay the union boss money, just like the communist party members in the old Soviet Union, as a condition of having a government job. As an example, the California Teachers Union has already assessed its membership additional dues sufficient to raise $50 million to fight these initiatives, whether the member agrees or disagrees is irrelevant. Proposition 75 says that the union boss has to get the employee's written agreement before he or she can spend their dues on some liberal cause. That only makes sense. It is the employee's money, and forcing them to pay for something they don't like is just plain wrong.
Proposition 76 says the state cannot spend more than it takes in. Well, duh, as my daughter would say. It also says that the governor can cut any program if the money doesn't come in. That is smart.
Finally, Proposition 77 says judges not politicians, will draw legislative districts. Politicians like to draw districts that guarantee themselves jobs and power. The idea is that judges will be a little bit more fair--since their job won't be at stake. It may not be perfect, but it is better than the current system.
One thing we know, the current system doesn't work. Reform is needed now. The governor's ideas make sense. They are at least worth a try.
About the Writer: Ray Haynes is the assemblyman for California's 66th Assembly District.
Ditto that!
When the votes are counted they count the YES and NO votes. PERIOD.
You are voting NO, against the ONLY chance to reform California. Your reason doesn't matter, your vote will be added with all the other "NO"-s. It will make the Democrats very happy.
No matter how much you try to wiggle, you can't get away from these facts.
My, F.O. You're sounding so melodramatic! lol.
This is far from the "only chance" and I would argue that the ballot measures do little to "reform California." But you and Sara Berhardt can carry on!
Recommendation of CA Democratic Party:
VOTE NO on Proposition 76
Recommendation of calcowgirl:
VOTE NO on Proposition 76
To: FairOpinion
Now stop that! Those subtle slurs just make you come off as silly! Really !!!
Anybody that marries up with ANY politician is soon going to have their heart broken badly. Most of us here try to align with principles that are good for Californians, especially Conservative Californians!
It grieves us whenever anyone, especially anyone claiming to be a Republican violates good principles and practices and especially uses whatever position they have to appoint liberal Democrats to high office.
Even more grievious is to find FReepers such as you clinging to the slightest conceivable conservative action by a Governor that deliberately swings from left to right and back again before even turning the page of his script... Whew!!!
12 posted on 10/02/2005 11:03:33 PM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
Not at all! What's odd is your take/spin/rationalization!!!
Can't you be honest and see that Arnold has blown it so badly that these other two conservatives are whistling in the dark in fear that the entire CAGOP is going down in flames with the "Terminator!!!"
It's far too late to salvage any Schwartzenegger moves... Stick a fork in 'em! They're DONE!!! Hasta La Vista... Baby!!! Turn out the lights... The Party's over!!!
Thanks, Terminator. Now go to MN and apologize to Jesse Ventura that you really couldn't do any better as Governor than he did!!! That's the whole deal that's been going on here at OUR EXPENSE!!! Shame on you F.O.
So far, we've established that you are not a conservative, cannot think for yourself, and endlessly repeat the same phrases much like a parrot.
What we haven't established yet is exactly why you are so driven to defend Arnold and Prop. 76.
I'll just take a wild guess that: (1) you are employed as a teacher or staff in the school system; or, (2) you are employed by the CTA; or, (3) you work for Duf Sundheim and the CRP, or are otherwise associated with it; or, (4) you are a state employee or consultant.
Which is it?
The ilk? They're in complete cohoots with the demonratz, liberalz and unionz. They won't be happy until the demon's again own the executive and FR is further neutralized.
In this case it might well have been a simple media buy the California party made in 2002 as they sought to expand their big tent. The party may assign different people to this account from time to time or might even split the work into three shifts as an election nears.
Who knows!
You know... I hadn't even thought about that!!! Shazzam!!!
Do ya spose that's why the responses are so robotical and knee jerky? Oh! And Predictable???
I think you're on to something!!!
Wouldn't we all be embarrassed if it turned out to be language pattern recognition software.
Which is it?
Answer from FairOpinion: * crickets *
Wull... Gitten her covers pulled prolly hurts her feelers!!!
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