Here's my plan to fix state government. I start with abolishing the Assembly and Senate and replacing them with a single legislative house. Under this unicameral system, lawmakers would be part-time and nonpartisan. We don't need Democrats and Republicans messing up state government with their political posturing.
You can read my plan in today's column by clicking here.
Jim you didn't answer the burning question. How is this type of legislative house going to form itself??
You think the people are going to unite to abolish the status quo?
Jim Boren! I read your editorial commentary, and it does not lack in substance. By why blame a system for the failings of Californians. Who elected Mr. muscleman, the "Terminator? And all the other legislators who sit there taking up space in the rotunda or whatever it is in the Sacramento Statehouse. I have never been inside of it. I certainly shall do your commentary justice and I shall find out if Nebraska, indeed, is America's Utopia. Americans are such restless people. They show little patience for making things better, they always want to blow something up. This trait had been noticed some time ago by at least two very famous America watchers....Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America) and Rudyard Kipling (American Notes.) And a more recent author Aldous Huxley. "We are on the horns of an ethical dilemma, and to find the middle way will require all our intelligence and all our good will..." (Brave New World Revisited; a work of non-fiction.) If I had my way, I would dump the proverbial bathwater (the legislators) but keep the baby (California's basically highly developed system of Checks and Balances.) Maybe I shall be reborn to a next life of omnipotence. I think I have earned it on this blog...hahahaha!
A " unicameral" LEGISLATIVE group LIKE THE STATE OF NEBRASKA? WELL, it sounds like a good suggestion to me; 49 people soley focused on solving a problem WITHIN A SPECIFIED REASONABLE TIME FRAME...THERE SHOULD BE A 'UNIPURPOSE" THAT THIS UNICAMEL GROUP WILL WORK TOGETHER AND WILL VOW NOT TO DESTROY ALL THE POSITIVE WORK AND PROGRAMS WHICH WERE INSTITUTED PREVIOUSLY; THERE ARE MANY DEDICATED FOCUSED PROBLEM SOLVING PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THE NEWS AND WHO ARE CRINGING EVERY DAY; PERSONALLY, MY HEART IS SINKING AT THE APPARENT FAILURE OF OUR LEGISLATORS TO DO THERE JOB AND WHO HAVE ACTED CHAOTICALLY. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM ANYWAY? I JUST DONT GET WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND I AGREE CALIFORNIA NEEDS A NEW SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT OF 49 ETHICAL PEOPLE WHO ARE BRAINSTORMERS AND WHO ARE TEAM ORIENTED!
Ready for good devilish fun? From Omaha Nebraska: Howard Stanton Levey, alias Szandor La Vey, founder of the Church of Satan in San Francisco, California, and author of a satanic bible. I got onto that wholesome Nebraskan when I was accused by some blogger of being very unchristian, not having any use for Michael Jackson, the crotch grabber, dead or alive. I was actually being Satanic. The Bible Of Satan told him so.
Without sarcasm, but to keep it brief. Explain magic number 49. This is not Nebraska.
I appreciate Jim's attempt at generating a blog topic, but I don't think he provided a sufficient case for a unicameral legislature and the fact that Nebraska has it is neither an endorsement or a criticism of that legislative construct.
I think a primary problem (not the only problem) is the voters' decision to implement term limits. Term limits immediately strengthened the power of every special interest (including state bureaucrats) in Sacramento, including the ones that each of us support, and makes the legislature more political- not less. Jim's suggestion for a part-time legislature would only make it worse. As the world's 7th largest economy I do not think that a part-time legislature is advisable and the current term limit provisions force legislators to rely on lobbyists and bureaucrats, the only people who have the institutional memory. I have no opposition to lobbyists or bureaucrats, but I do not think I want them functioning as the "experts" for legislators who will not be in office long enough to become really knowledgable on how to move California up to the 4th or 5th largest economy on the world.
Jim, you nailed it. I agree with everything you say. Having been involved in our political system, I can assure you the system in Sacramento is so broken, it cannot be fixed.
Good job.
And Mr. Duncan while you were an elected official, we have not seen you trying to stop anything that was going on in Sacramento. Since politicians like you were not part of a solution, you must have been part of the problem; here and/or in Sacramento. And all the while, the Lawsons paid taxes to make a good living for maintaining government officials here and/or in Sacramento. But don't lay it at the feet of the system. It's the politicians that have the clay feet.
Joe Feldon, I regret my decision to support term limits. If we ever have the opportunity to reestablish government in this state I hope that your idea is has been preserved either in you or a fireproof box. I see alot of people who contribute thoughtfully here, I don't always comment but I do read every entry...yours are enjoyed, thanks.
Sacramento is broken and no longer accountable to the people.
Redistricting allows politicians to pick their voters.
The Democrats and our Governor (who changes his politics as often as his underwear) are responsible for the failure of our state.
In my personal opinion, the two root problems of our system are the two parties and the disproportionate influence of special interests.
First off, because there are only two viable parties they polarize. They become adversaries. They forget that they are there to care for the interests of the public and they engage in obstructionism and one upmanship rather than cooperate to the benefit of Californians and California.
Secondly, because political campaigns are so expensive and the way these things are funded, special interests have an overbearing influence in politics because they have deep pockets. It's not just democrats and unions, either. Every politician is in some group's pocket. Right or left, it's just different groups is all.
It's a ragged way to run a government. And it's so obviously broken.
Correct: Sacramento is broken and no longer accountable to the people.
Erroneous: The Democrats and our Governor are responsible for the failure of our state.
In the final analysis, WE THE PEOPLE are responsible because We the People have left it to George to maintain a "government for and by the people." Well, as expected, George,may he be democrat; republican, or whatever failed to be accountable. It is the way all democracies (of the past) ended. The framers of the United Sates handed us an almost fail-proof system. But one can take the cow to the water, but one cannot make her drink. If a citizenry is too disinterested to be involved in maintaining a free form of government, they should opt for Totalitarianism. Which, in the long run, they might wind up with anyhow. Lucky for America, California is only one of 50.
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 2 VOTING, INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM, AND RECALL
SECTION 1. All political power is inherent in the people.
Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit,
and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require.
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Californians have Initiative as well as Referendum at their disposal to get involved in the law making. And the Constitution of California makes it clear that the power is with the people (see above Section 1.) I really can't see how with that much power , the people can't get a handle on the legislature. I personally can't see why we would want to "blow up" all that power vested in the people of California.
As a practical matter, Nebraska's unicameral legislature has reps 'known' to be
Republican and others 'known' to be Democrat.
In other words, business as usual. Perhaps the best idea is that they
rarely meet (one 90-day session every two years
and one 30-day every in-between year - something like that) and are very
poorly paid which weeds out the would-be
'professional' politicians.
I am as passionate and persistent about NOT getting rid of California's present system of government, as Jim Boren is about wanting to dismantle it . With Californians having INITIATIVE as well as REFERENDUM as a tool to influence legislation, why should we give up that power the California Constitution gives to the people. This direct democracy works fine in Oregon. And they do vote on practically every phase of Oregon social and economic life. And if I deem it necessary to post on the issue again....I shall! Viva California! And boo to the current administration in Sacramento.....and the budget!