The Dysfunctional State of California
One Tuesday in May (5/19/2009) we voted against several propositions in a statewide special election. When I say we I mean the majority of the small minority of people who bothered to vote. I personally voted in favor of most of the issues. These propositions were put to vote because a vote was required to make the changes which were a compromise between extreme democrats and extreme republicans. These changes were meant to plug a 6 billion dollar gap in our state budget which has now mushroomed to 21 billion.
There are many problems with California politics. The popular democracy created by the ballot initiative process is at the root of many problems. If you a very rich individual, business, union or lobby with money to spend you can gather enough signatures to put an issue before the public so they can vote on its merits. I believe the process was originally meant to allow regular citizens to have a say but a regular citizen cannot afford to get the hundreds of thousands of signatures required to get their issue on a ballot.
This process is fundamentally flawed because almost every measure incurs costs, often in a very inflexible manner, but does not force voters to choose what program to cut or tax to raise in order to pay for the measure. Every voter wants more teachers and firemen. We all want better roads, libraries and parks. For that matter we want fewer taxes. We vote to protect funding for a particular service, such as education, from being cut. So the state government is handcuffed, they must spend more but can't cut programs or raise taxes. This is an intractable dilemma.
In 1990 California passed a strict term limit initiative which took effect in 1996. This forces experienced politicians to find a new line of work once they learn the ropes of their position. This is another example of initiatives handcuffing the government.
California is obliged to balance the budget since Proposition 58 was passed in the 2004 primary elections. It is important we don't spend more than we have. Debt incurs interest; both debt and interest burden future generations. Income and sales tax revenue is reduced during recessions. Balancing the budget during a recession exacerbates the downturn by reducing state spending. Ideally California would save money during periods of growth so we can maintain or even increase spending during recessions. The ideal is unlikely to ever happen because politicians, especially ones that can only serve 1 term, will spend any and all money available.
Political districts are so gerrymandered in California is it laughable. It must have taken a mighty powerful computer program to figure out down to the single block level exactly how to partition the state into Democrat and Republican districts. There is virtually no chance a district will change parties. This perverts the democratic process. Since the Republican candidate will win in a Republican district the primary determines who will serve. Since only Republicans can vote in the Republican primary they fight to out Republican each other. Of course the same exact things goes for Democratic districts. This shifts power away from the center, away from compromise and towards the extremes on both sides.
In California it takes a super majority (2/3rds) to pass a tax increase. On the other hand it takes a simple majority to increase spending. It is easier to spend than raise money. If this isn't a recipe for financial disaster I don't know what is.
What can be done to fix up this mess?
- Gov. Schwarzenegger finally pushed through an initiative enabling an independent commission to redistrict the state. Hopefully this will introduce some competition of ideas into our elections.
- We need to have open primaries. This would allow people to vote for any candidate no matter what party they are a registered member of. With this change successful candidates will represent the majority of people rather than the majority of their party.
- The initiative process must be fixed. Either they must be totally eliminated or each measure must include a specific measurement of cost along with a specific tax or spending cut to pay for it. There is no free lunch.
- The super majority requirement for tax proposals must be eliminated or else balanced with a super majority requirement to pass spending proposals. It is too easy to spend and too hard to increase revenue.
- The budget process needs to be fixed. Ideally politicians from all parties will work together to produce a timely budget that sets aside money when things are going well so we can maintain, or even stimulate, the economy during down cycles.
- The population must realize they are responsible. You can't get something for nothing. When you spend you need to raise money.
- Compromise must be possible. The government must be unshackled.
- Term limits should be relaxed.
I'm sure there are many other ideas. I will add to this list when I am made aware of them. The depths of our problems may require a complete rethink and drastic change such as a re-write of our constitution.
5/21/2009 (c) Copyright Carl Wohlforth
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