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CA: As Humanitarians, Reiner, Hastings, Don't Measure Up - A new class of self-appointed
CaliforniaRepublic.org ^ | 3/7/06 | Jon Coupal & HJTA

Posted on 03/07/2006 2:16:11 PM PST by NormsRevenge

They don't make humanitarians like they used to.

Ten years ago, if someone were asked for an example of a humanitarian, chances are Mother Teresa, who devoted her life to helping the poor, would come to mind.

Fifty years ago, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, who brought modern medicine to a remote area of Africa, was a humanitarian icon. When he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 he used the $33,000 to expand his hospital and build a leper colony.

One hundred years ago, Andrew Carnegie was busy giving away a fortune, much of it to public libraries and education. The Scottish immigrant made his money in the steel industry. At the time of his retirement in 1901, he was recognized as the world's richest man. By the time of his death, nearly two decades later, he had dispensed 90 percent of his fortune.

What all these great humanitarians have in common is that they all gave freely of themselves and their fortunes, no matter how great or meager, to aid others.

While, today, there are no doubt millions of people who strive to do good for others, most labor in anonymity.

However, in California, we are now seeing the rise of a new class of self-styled humanitarians, who, instead of giving of themselves for what they perceive to be a worthy cause, have chosen to misuse the initiative process to compel others to give. The two individuals who stand out for the most adroit use of this "humanitaxian" approach are actor-director Rob Reiner and Reed Hastings, whose DVD rental company Netflix provides his foundation of support.

Hiram Johnson, the father of the initiative, referendum and recall in California, said that the intent of these measures was to "...place in the hands of the people the means by which they may protect themselves." The initiative process made the people the legislature of last resort when elected lawmakers proved too corrupt, too incompetent or too indolent to properly conduct the peoples' most important business.

Proposition 13 was a classic example of the proper role of the initiative. Using it, voters were able save their homes when the Legislature refused to take action.

However, in recent years, Reiner, Hastings and other "do-gooders" have seized upon the initiative process as a way to fund their pet causes. In 1998, Reiner succeeded in placing on the ballot the Californian Children and Families Act, Proposition 10, which raised taxes on tobacco products to fund child development programs. Since smokers now enjoy the status that lepers held in the Middle Ages, the measure passed.

In the year 2000, Reed Hasting backed two measures to make it easier to increase property taxes for school bonds. Tapping his billionaire Silicon Valley colleagues, his campaign spent $60 million with the eventual result that Proposition 39 was narrowly passed and ordinary homeowners are now paying billions more in property taxes.

In 2004 Reiner was back, this time with the California Teaches Association, promoting a ballot measure that would have increased property taxes for education. After spending $2.5 million to gather signatures for a measure that would have cost taxpayers $10 billion annually, backers were made aware of fatal drafting errors and the effort was suspended.

This year both Reiner and Hastings are back. For the June ballot, Reiner has qualified Proposition 82 that would increase taxes on high income Californians to provide preschool for all at a cost estimated by the Reason Foundation of $109,000 per year for each additional child that the program would cover. Reiner is now embroiled in a well-justified controversy because the First Five Commission, which he chairs and is supported by revenue from the Proposition 10 tobacco tax, spent $23,000,000 taxpayers dollars in advertising to promote universal preschool while signature gatherers were working to place Proposition 82 on the ballot.

Hastings, meanwhile, has begun the process to qualify for the ballot the Classroom Learning and Accountability Act, which would establish a universal statewide property tax. Under his plan, a Silicon Valley billionaire in his mansion, a retired couple in a bungalow, and newlyweds in a tract home would all pay the same amount.

Both Reiner and Hastings could have chosen another path and received the acclaim of the community. Each could, no doubt, afford to endow scholarships, and each could use their fame and wealth to speak out to require greater accountability for the billions of dollars -- over half the state budget -- that we already spend on education.

Instead, they have become self-appointed experts on what our children need, and they are determined that others will pay to see that their visions are realized.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; dontmeasureup; firstfive; hastings; humanitarians; humanitaxians; meathead; newclass; preschool; prop82; reedhastings; reiner; robreiner; selfappointed; susietompkinsbuell
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Jon Coupal is an attorney and president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association -- California's largest taxpayer organization with offices in Los Angeles and Sacramento.
1 posted on 03/07/2006 2:16:16 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge
Rich liberals... The New Robber Barons.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

2 posted on 03/07/2006 2:18:51 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: NormsRevenge
One solution would be to require a super majority to pass either a referendum or an intuitive involving any transfer of wealth.

If it (the super majority) is good enough for the state legislature, it ought to be good enough for the good ole boy network that is ripping off taxpayers.

Whether Reiner, Hastings or Schwarzenegger, they should be bound by our constitution protections on taxation.

3 posted on 03/07/2006 2:23:56 PM PST by Amerigomag
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To: NormsRevenge
Reed Hastings, whose DVD rental company Netflix provides his foundation of support.

Well, CRAP! I love Netflix.....

4 posted on 03/07/2006 2:27:18 PM PST by Onelifetogive (* Sarcasm tag ALWAYS required. For some FReepers, sarcasm can NEVER be obvious enough.)
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To: goldstategop

"Rich liberals... The New Robber Barons"

Yep. They won't come off their own cash so they push legislation to take ours. Hanging's too good...


5 posted on 03/07/2006 2:36:47 PM PST by L98Fiero (I'm worth a million in prizes.)
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YES ON 82, PRESCHOOL FOR ALL, 
A COALITION OF EDUCATION ADVOCATES, BUSINESS LEADERS AND SERVICE EMPLOYEE UNIONS (ID# 971785) 
NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR PAYMENT TYPE EMPLOYER AMOUNT
CARL REINER Monetary SELF $500,000.00
ROBERT REINER Monetary CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT $225,000.00
ROBERT REINER Monetary CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT $70,000.00
ROBERT REINER Non-Monetary CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT $6,773.43
ROBERT REINER Non-Monetary CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT $4,088.99
ROBERT REINER Non-Monetary CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT $3,630.47
ROBERT REINER Non-Monetary CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT $3,250.22
ROBERT REINER Non-Monetary CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT $10,573.53
ROBERT REINER Non-Monetary CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT $2,027.04
ROBERT REINER Non-Monetary CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT $839.80
REED HASTINGS Non-Monetary NETFLIX, INC. $250,011.90
CA STATE COUNCIL OF SERVICE EMPLOYEES ISSUES COMMITTEE Monetary $150,000.00
HERBERT M. & MARION O. SANDLER Non-Monetary GOLDEN WEST FINANCIAL CORP $100,980.00
ELI BROAD Monetary THE BROAD FOUNDATIONS $100,000.00
STEPHEN M. SILBERSTEIN Monetary $100,000.00
GEORGE L. SHAPIRO Monetary SHAPIRO/WEST & ASSOCIATES $50,000.00
NANCY DALY RIORDAN Monetary NONE $50,000.00
RICHARD J. RIORDAN Monetary $50,000.00
F. WARREN HELLMAN Monetary HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN LLC $50,000.00
F. WARREN HELLMAN Monetary HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN LLC $49,000.00
SUSIE TOMPKINS BUELL Monetary $50,000.00
JUDITH AVERY Monetary $50,000.00
LAURENE POWELL JOBS Monetary COLLEGE TRAK $35,000.00
BRIAN S. SNYDER Monetary H.B.J. $30,000.00
ELIZABETH H. LOWE Monetary SELF $25,000.00
ROBERT J. LOWE Monetary LOWE ENTERPRISES, INC. $25,000.00
PHILIP HALPERIN Monetary SILVER GIVING FOUNDATION $25,000.00
AKT INVESTMENTS, INC. Monetary $25,000.00
THOMAS D. HORMEL TRUST Monetary SELF $25,000.00
JOHN A. & LISA S. PRITZKER Monetary NONE $25,000.00
SHARI FOOS Monetary SELF $25,000.00
GEORGE SOROS Monetary SOROS FUND MANAGEMENT, LLC $25,000.00
ALAN HORN Monetary WARNER BROS $25,000.00
CHRISTOPHER F. GABRIELI Monetary SELF $25,000.00
CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE WEST Monetary $25,000.00
JENA & MICHAEL KING Monetary KING WORLD PRODUCTIONS $25,000.00
HISPANIC EXPRESS, INC. Monetary $20,000.00
ROBERT A. DALY Monetary RULEMAKER, INC. $10,000.00
DAVID GEFFEN Monetary DREAMWORKS STUDIOS $10,000.00

6 posted on 03/07/2006 2:37:26 PM PST by calcowgirl
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To: All
Rob Reiner is a Hollywood OPM addict.
7 posted on 03/07/2006 2:38:54 PM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (Hillary is the she in shenanigans.)
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(Propositions only -- since 2002)
Hastings Reed  NETFLIX.COM, Chairman/CEO Citizens' Right To Petition, YES ON PROP. 45, ID#1233779 Prop 45  $ 102,891.20
Hastings Reed  NETFLIX, CEO Yes on 55--Californians For Accountability And Better Schools, ID#1245448 Prop 55  $ 296,475.20
Hastings Reed  JP MORGAN, Managing Director Democrats For 57/58 , ID#1263036 Prop 57/58  $   50,000.00
Hastings Reed  NETFLIX, CEO Californians For An Open Primary PAC, ID#1260238 Prop 62  $ 100,000.00
Hastings Reed  NETFLIX, INC., CEO YES ON 71: Coalition For Stem Cell Research And Cures , ID#1260661 Prop 71  $ 200,008.00
Hastings Reed  NETFLIX, CEO Californians For Fair Elections, Reapportionment , ID#1275071 Prop 77  $ 200,000.00
Hastings Reed  NETFLIX, CEO Californians For Fair Elections, Reapportionment , ID#1275071 Prop 77  $ 203,560.00
Hastings Reed  NETFLIX, INC., President Redistrict California - YES ON 77 , ID#1279790 Prop 77  $ 267,300.00
Hastings Reed  NETFLIX, CEO PRESCHOOL FOR ALL, ID#971785 Prop 82  $ 250,011.90

8 posted on 03/07/2006 2:47:10 PM PST by calcowgirl
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To: calcowgirl

Very revealing, thanks!


9 posted on 03/07/2006 2:48:49 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
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To: NormsRevenge

They likely want to abuse it so that the legislatures can build a case to take away the initiative options....


10 posted on 03/07/2006 2:50:39 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
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To: NormsRevenge

Now self-proclaimed 'humanitarians' try to give away everyone else's money.


11 posted on 03/07/2006 2:53:32 PM PST by kenth (Phil! Phil Connors! I thought that was you!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Here are Hastings other favorites
 
Angelides, Friends Of Phil , ID#970634 25,000.00 11/4/2002
Angelides, Friends Of Phil , ID#970634 5,000.00 10/23/2001
Burton Senate Fund , ID#962647 10,000.00 11/5/2002
Burton Senate Fund , ID#962647 7,500.00 7/24/2003
Davis Committee, The Governor Gray , ID#962636 100,000.00 6/11/2002
Davis Committee, The Governor Gray , ID#962636 100,000.00 6/26/2002
Davis Committee, The Governor Gray , ID#962636 100,000.00 7/31/2003
Davis Committee, The Governor Gray , ID#962636 50,000.00 2/21/2002
Davis Committee, The Governor Gray , ID#962636 50,000.00 3/25/2002
Davis Committee, The Governor Gray , ID#962636 25,000.00 11/4/2002
Davis Committee, The Governor Gray , ID#962636 10,000.00 10/22/2002
Davis Committee, The Governor Gray , ID#962636 10,000.00 6/5/2003
Garamendi Committee , ID#1234626 2,000.00 2/28/2002
Machado For Senate , ID#983468 10,000.00 5/12/2003
Nation For Assembly, Joe , ID#990119 5,000.00 3/1/2000
O'Connell 2002 , ID#1222149 200,000.00 2/19/2002
O'Connell 2002 , ID#1222149 10,000.00 11/1/2002
O'Connell 2006 , ID#1260268 11,200.00 6/30/2005
Poizner For Insurance Commissioner, Steve , ID#1276770 5,600.00 6/29/2005
Poizner For Insurance Commissioner, Steve , ID#1276770 5,600.00 6/29/2005
Poizner, Reformers For Steve , ID#1256884 3,200.00 11/24/2003
Poizner, Reformers For Steve , ID#1256884 3,200.00 11/24/2003
Simitian For State Senate , ID#1250536 3,200.00 11/2/2004
Villaraigosa For Mayor - General 2001 , ID#1234344 1,000.00 5/24/2001
West For State Assembly, Tony , ID#992325 3,000.00 3/2/2000
Westly, Friends Of Steve , ID#1230847 10,000.00 9/30/2002
Californians Against The Costly  Recall Of The Governor, ID#1256416 100,000.00 9/30/2003
Californians For Accountability And Better Schools, ID#1245448 110,000.00 11/2/2002
Californians For Accountability And Better Schools, ID#1245448 50,000.00 7/21/2003
Citizens To Save California, ID#1273022 25,000.00 3/25/2005
Northern Californians For A Strong Economy , ID#1260606 49,000.00 2/18/2004

12 posted on 03/07/2006 2:56:53 PM PST by calcowgirl
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To: NormsRevenge
This year both Reiner and Hastings are back. For the June ballot, Reiner has qualified Proposition 82 that would increase taxes on high income Californians to provide preschool for all at a cost estimated by the Reason Foundation of $109,000 per year for each additional child that the program would cover.

Am I reading this wrong? 109K per child for a preschool. This seems outrageous. There is a very good preschool here in Pennsylvania that I was looking into that charges 575 a month for 5 half days per week. That works out to at most 4000 to 5000 per year. Full time boarding schools for grade school kids don't cost 109K. I question this number.

13 posted on 03/07/2006 3:12:41 PM PST by sportutegrl (People who say, "All I know is . . ." really mean, "All I want you to focus on is . . .")
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To: WilliamofCarmichael
Rob Reiner is a Hollywood OPM addict.

Or as the article calls him, a humanitaxian.

14 posted on 03/07/2006 4:17:51 PM PST by DumpsterDiver
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To: DumpsterDiver

Bono is the worst of this breed of celebrity.


15 posted on 03/07/2006 4:42:58 PM PST by boop (The Gimp's asleep!)
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To: sportutegrl
Full time boarding schools for grade school kids don't cost 109K. I question this number.

Privately-run boarding schools don't cost 109K but, remember, this is a government-run program. That cost figure doesn't surprise me in the least.

16 posted on 03/07/2006 4:51:28 PM PST by Bob
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To: sportutegrl; Bob
For the June ballot, Reiner has qualified Proposition 82 that would increase taxes on high income Californians to provide preschool for all at a cost estimated by the Reason Foundation of $109,000 per year for each additional child that the program would cover.

The key is in the wording.

Since most children already attend preschool (at the expense of their parents), the Reason Foundation estimated how many additional children might attend, then divided the total of the First 5 funds by those additional children. Here is an excert from their website:

California Universal Preschool Plan Would Cost $109,000 Per New Preschooler

Los Angeles (February 22, 2006) – If California's $2.4 billion Preschool for All initiative meets its goal of 70 percent enrollment, just 22,000 new four-year-olds would enroll, meaning it would cost taxpayers a whopping $109,000 per new preschooler, according to a new Reason Foundation policy brief that analyzes the preschool initiative that will be on California's statewide ballot in June and existing universal preschool programs across the country.

The Legislative Analyst's Office says 66 percent of California's four-year-olds are already attending preschool, so why should taxpayers spend $2.4 billion a year on a new universal preschool plan that only hopes to get 70 percent, just an additional 4 percent of four-year-olds, into preschool? They shouldn't.

(snip)


17 posted on 03/07/2006 5:08:32 PM PST by calcowgirl
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To: Gabz; SheLion
However, in recent years, Reiner, Hastings and other "do-gooders" have seized upon the initiative process as a way to fund their pet causes. In 1998, Reiner succeeded in placing on the ballot the Californian Children and Families Act, Proposition 10, which raised taxes on tobacco products to fund child development programs. Since smokers now enjoy the status that lepers held in the Middle Ages, the measure passed.

Ping

18 posted on 03/07/2006 5:12:53 PM PST by fanfan ( "We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality" - Ayn Rand)
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To: fanfan
However, in recent years, Reiner, Hastings and other "do-gooders" have seized upon the initiative process as a way to fund their pet causes. In 1998, Reiner succeeded in placing on the ballot the Californian Children and Families Act, Proposition 10, which raised taxes on tobacco products to fund child development programs. Since smokers now enjoy the status that lepers held in the Middle Ages, the measure passed.

ROBBER REINER'S LIES
AND HOLLYWOOD MONEY
WON AGAIN!

     

(Talk about Big Fat!)
Situational ethics?When Reiner put River Phoenix in his movie, Stand By Me, and had him
smoke throughout, Phoenix was only 14 years old. Guess it's okay to
have kids smoke when it's for Reiner's benefit.

19 posted on 03/07/2006 5:22:56 PM PST by SheLion (Trying to make a life in the BLUE state of Maine!)
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To: SheLion
Guess it's okay to have kids smoke when it's for Reiner's benefit.

Sure!

That's what they call 'Artistic Expression'.

20 posted on 03/07/2006 5:31:52 PM PST by fanfan ( "We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality" - Ayn Rand)
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