Comments on: What does California need? Reform, reform, reform

By: Arne Simonsen

Arne Simonsen — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:02:39 +0000

Sadly it all depends on whose definition of “reform” we’re using.

As Nenebird mentioned, California would be much worse off if it were not for the 2/3rds requirement for a budget and tax increases!

By: nenebird

nenebird — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:07:54 +0000

Hearing Sunne or Willie talk about what is wrong with CA is laughable. First culprit – partisan politics. Politics of extremes makes a budget impossible. Each party only looks out for its campaign contributors, not the citizens.

Willie is responsible for the term limits all by hisself. He abused his power so much, we did an initiative to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

2/3 rule: gee it has helped us stay solvent but I suspect the problem would be much worse if we didn’t have it. Look at many of the other states who have financial trouble, they manage to curb their spending and pass a budget.

I support the open primary idea, its a winner. Its not the taxes that were cut; its the spending that is out of control. I suspect even with the VLF at its old levels, we’d still be in trouble. If one ever watches the legislature in action, they have no clue what any of the bills they pass will cost.

We have the most inept politicians in the Us. Our bonds are rated at the same level as Louisiana. Yes, the Hurricane Katrina, ‘can’t find their way of a paper bag’ Lousiana..

By: John W

John W — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:43:12 +0000

Canciamilla has some good ideas. Along with open primaries and part-timing the legislature, I would go unicameral. As for the commission, I had been thinking of something analogous to the federal base closure commission to dig into every nook and cranny of state goverment, zero-basing and sunsetting everything. No ballot initiative should be allowed to lock in anything for more than 10 years, obligating future generations who had no say in the matter.