The ungovernable state

As California ceases to function like a sensible state, a new constitution looks both necessary and likely

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Readers' comments



You forgot a crucial element: massive civil-service unions that have created pension nightmares. People keep tax collection strait-jacketed because they know that the union-powered politicians would treat the population as a personal ATM machine to maintain power and move up in political influence.

Frankly, this article is not even-handed in that it buys the leftie complaint that CA's problems are because it's too hard to raise taxes.

cali love

the heck it isn't a red state blue state issue. CA only gets $0.78 back for every dollar it pays in federal taxes.

Given that the CA economy is the 8th largest in the world by itself - that adds up to a serious amount of money.

red states on average receive $1.33 in subsidies and pork barreling for every $1 they sent to washington.

look it up

How could you possibly think that doesn't matter? Giveitsomethought you're worried about welfare recipients? The biggest welfare recipients are the conservative red-states with their bridges to nowhere, not your fellow Californians.

And this doesn't even account for the outright theft of Californias wealth - over $20 billion - in the fake 2001 energy crisis orchestrated by texas based energy companies such as enron with the complicity of Cheney and other criminals in the bush administration.

Are you saying over $20 billion stolen doesn't make a difference? No its all the fault of Sacramento politicians right?


LAchic, considering the astronomically high taxes in california all the republican intransigence hasn't produced any real results. Though it might be interesting to see how high california's taxes would be w/o any opposition to the massive tax increases proposed every 3rd week in california. The voter's on prop 13 and the republicans are just the poor citizens fighting a losing battle against massive government greed. Its amazing they're able to piss so many of you socialists off, I imagine you'd be happy with your overall success, I mean it is taxifornia after all, they aren't winning. They're just the last vestiges of those insane nutters that believe people should be entitled to keep some portion of the money they earn.

It's still a shock to me that even the raving socialists can complain about the taxes in california. From the comments here all would be right if just 30-40 billion more in tax revenue could be enacted without those evil republicans standing in their way. Its truly a frightening look into the unrepentant greed and maliciousness of the socialist mindset.


This is not a red or blue state issue....this is an issue of over spending by Sacramento politicians. And the majority of those are Democrats period. Again I say I am a life long Democrat, but enough is enough. We can not take care of everyone in the state with welfare. All that does is encourage welfare to continue. When someone can get something for nothing it does not encourage them to get off welfare. Prop 13 has hurt the state, I bought my house in 2005, we pay 5000.00 in property taxes for it. My neighbors house is worth more than mine and they pay 468.00 a year in property taxes. Fair California is beautiful but who has time to enjoy it because of working to just get by. The cost of living here is outrageous. My car license sticker last year cost 238.00...just for the sticker and my car is a 2006 Ford, with the tax increase just passed, that sticker due in July is 378.00...outrageous. The sales tax in LA is 10%. My utilities are loaded with water bill for 2 months of service is over 200.00 and 35.00 of that is for water, the rest is taxes and fees charged by my city to just receive water....outrageous. The state also in this past increase just raised the state income tax to all who work. And if you are lucky enough to get a state refund...they tax you on the refund you received the year before...outrageous, that is double taxation period.
It's time to throw the bums out and start over. Vote NO on all props May 19th except 1F, that penalizes the Sacramento thieves.

cali love

people like firechain like to call belief in cause and effect "communism". I've lived in California for about 90% of my life. I was in elementary school when prop 13 passed and experienced first hand the results - the almost immediate shortages of school supplies, the cutting of corners, increasing disrepair, the elimination of programs, the scramble to organize school fund raisers - and I was in a wealthy school district! I can only imagine the impact on less wealthy areas.

The trend is clear. Prior to prop 13 California had one of the top educational systems in the US. Since its passage its been a steady downward course to now California being down near Mississippi in educational rankings (which appears to be the true goal of many conservatives - to turn the entire US into mississippi).

That said I believe prop 13 had many valid points and good intentions with respect to helping the elderly stay in their homes. But any one who doesn't recognize the huge negative impact its had on the CA educational system is delusional or just plain doesn't know CA history.

This by the way pretty well describes the average US conservative. They live in a fantasy world of invisible hands and ayn rand novels rather than empirical evidence, and then accuse members of the reality-based community of being communists and/or fascists.

Even worse are the red-state conservatives who smugly lecture us, call themselves the "true americans" while in the same breath calling for secession, and "rugged individualists" while their states suck up more federal money then they contribute in taxes.

I call them red-states because they're bloodsuckers and we're the blue-states because we're getting our blood sucked by them. A lot of CA financial problems would be solved if we just got back $1 for every $1 we put into the federal government. That should be our motto - a dollar in for every dollar out. Better our money even go to health and education for illegal aliens - who are generally hard working and honest - then these smug, hypocritical, conservative red-state bloodsuckers who enjoy taking our money then lecturing us.


For a person living far outside the state (in fact never even visited) this is a very interesting read. I didn't realize how bad the situation in California was, however this article does leave some room for hope in my opinion.

It is revealing that an article which blasts extremism and special interest groups for subverting the honest intentions of direct democracy would bring about so many rhetoric laden comments. This also represents the challenge and opportunity that California faces. If, by the proposals in the article or otherwise, extremism can be moderated, California could remake itself. Perhaps the experiment would be worth it afterall.


Sorry to say you,, have been scammed. The Bay Area Council and Mr. Wunderman are corporate CEO's. Remember Enron and friends who may have alone created this mess in California by scamming billions. They wrote the legislation to do it. California Forward is a "bi-partisan" group of foundations like the health care foundations who earned their money preventing health care. "They" are responsible for the massive money flowing into Republican coffers. 15 Republican legislators held California hostage last year thanks to their work. Now they want to use a "jury pool" list of people to rewrite the constitution due to the "extreme" positions of many in this state. Extreme responds to extremes. My suggestion is to vote Democratic and get the 2/3rd needed to allow the legislature to work again. Unfortunately even if 2/3rd of the legislature votes to overturn the horrible 2/3rd requirement in order to vote for budgets and taxes, they still need to pass a proposition to change the constitution and eliminate the 2/3rd rule. By the way, anyone anywhere in the world with enough money can buy the signatures and place a proposition on the ballot to rewrite the constitution. Usually they are done to enrich the sponsors like Howard Jarvis, owner of commercial real estate, who earned millions from his Proposition 13. The legislature is helpless to do anything about it. This did not happen by accident and it was not a result of either the democratic process or these crazy wingnut Californians. The American mainstream media are as gullible or as "bought" as you,


One of the biggest problems of Californai and US is greed. It is everywhere; Bernie Madoff, the chairperson of NASDAQ operated a Ponzi game for more than 20 years. The huge bonus paid to the captains of our financial institutions make you cry. The corruptions of our politicians reported on newspaper. The incompetent cabinet members of Bush administration are reported now a day.

Here is an example; the San Francisco – Oakland Bridge was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. To replace eastern half of the bridge, after the design and budget approved in 1997 - it was 1.1billion. But, by 2001, the price tag more than double to 2.6 billion. It doubles again to 5.1 billion in 2004. It was increased again to estimated 8.6 billion in 2007. The completion date is also delayed again and again, the latest completion is 2013. It was reported on the newspaper that the steel for the bridge is imported from China and when it arrived to the port of Oakland, two unions are fighting to unload the steal, so the ship just stay there unloaded and construction of bridge was delayed yet one more time.

California politicians, just like the politicians in Washington D.C. are bought by special interest groups, PAC, and unions. Lots of them are corrupted...

The best job in the state of California is work for the state and city government. You get 3% per year of retirement per one year worked for some cities as reported on newspaper. After 20 years, you could retire with 60% of regular income, and they want more.

The high school graduation rate is less than half in Los Angels, but education gets half of total budget in California, and they want more. Ever time I visit school; I do not understand what they are talking about in their offices, lots of empty desk with few old ladies, too old to make complete sentences.

The prison system is complete chaos; over crowded rooms for prostitutes, drunker, murderers, gang members, rapists, thieves, and innocent traffic violators.

Here is another example.... Few months ago, I saw an article in San Francisco Chronicle, one policeman was making $163,000 per year, retired after working for police department for 30 years, got a lump-sum retirement payment of 2.1 million dollar, re-hired back the very next day for potentially $191,000 per year with overtime. They want more money.

The streets in California are not safe to walk in broad daylight, when I called police department that I heard a noise in my backyard in midnight, policeman said may be it was a cat or a dog, they refused to check it out. But, they are very happy to give you parking tickets, speeding tickets....

The illegals are getting free medical care, free education, subsidize housing, food stamps. They are helping us to bankrupt California too; they pay no taxes because most of them accept only cash, and then send the money overseas. In most parts of LA basically is like living in some of the countries south of the boarder. The illegals also want more money every time they have a chance.

Almost everybody wants more money, very few people willing to pay; the taxes are very high in California already. Sacramento politicians overspend every year, keep on borrowing, play some Ponzi games, and smoking mirrors. The poor, honest working stiffs get screwed.

There are too many lawyers, accountants, salesperson, and bullshxt artists in California. Greed, Ponzi games, gets something for nothing, every body wants more money and the honest soul got screwed and it is getting worse every day.


The Republican Party in California has only one allegiance, to itself. In the state's legislature, they vote as a bloc. This is especially true in matters concerning taxes and fees: Each Republican has pledged to vote down any attempt to raise taxes. They understand their power as a minority in a situation that requires 2/3 vote to pass an annual budget. By closing ranks, the little bloc controls the purse strings. Individual deviance from the party line carries severe consequences. The three Republican legislators who voted for Feb's budget, thus ending the interminable impasse, have suffered mightily for doing so. Some have been removed from key leadership posts, others have been ridiculed and mocked over the airwaves and newspapers, and all can kiss their political futures as Republicans good-bye. This kind of legislative bullying is unacceptable and remarkably undemocratic. This kind of adherence to party ideology, over the interests of the state's general welfare and future, is treasonous.


Hey nabilalk-
Anyone how wants more information on any Ca ballot issues or candidates can go to the Ca Democratic site, League of Women voters, etc.
An informed voter is the best kind of voter.

Jomo Wanjala

""whosyourchaddie wrote:
May 15, 2009 15:50As an immigrant myself, I hate to say it but Britannicus is right. California is too kind to illegals and those that help illegals. The state is a gateway, immigrants come, gain some semblence of legitimacy and then move onto other states. Unfortunately for California, they have to pay for the weeding out of the immigrant population through prisons, crowded schools and crumbling infastructure. The other states benefit from the more employable and motivated immigrants coming their way.""

I disagree, countries which have low immigration rates -Japan, Sweden, Arab Emirates, have poor economic growth, low standards of living, and low quality manufactureing -The Japanese can't build cars to their lack of diversity.

Jomo Wanjala

California is simply becoming more Mexican, both culturally and fiscally. Mexican immigrants work harder than lazy American, the answer then it to give US citizenship to all Mexicans, allow anyone who wants to, move to California. The economy would be booming, Mexico's is.

St Jimmy

I was a homeowner in New Jersey when Prop 13 passed in California. I'm amazed it took this long to paralyze the state. Selfishness and greed are crippling this entire nation, California is just the first to become ungovernable. When The entire state is burning and there's no water to put out the fires, I wonder how the folks who have supported this absurdity are going to react...blaming the liberals no doubt. But I also wonder why the demographics have been allowed to change in this largest state...California, once a beacon for all dreamers, is now "The Ghetto State" this is truly heartbreaking.

Stephen Morris

This article tries to suggest that, whereas Democracy might work in a small homogeneous country like Switzerland, it cannot work in a large state like California.

The argument doesn't hold together.

First, the suggestion that multi-lingual, multi-denominational, multi-ethnic Switzerland is "homogeneous" may be disregarded immediately.

Secondly, it overlooks California's long-run success. Since the right of initiative was introduced in 1911, California has been one of the most prosperous, progressive and dynamic societies in the world. Much of that success has come in the last 30 years.

One might equally try to argue that Britain's current recession - and the parliamentary expenses scandal - prove that the Westminster system is unviable.

Thirdly, California is constrained by the non-democratic United States Constitution. That constitution has promoted the development of two mighty political parties which vie for a monopoly on power. It is the intransigence of those parties in the California legislature that has contributed to the current problems.

The United States Constitution also obliges California to maintain a "republican form of government". This provision is rarely litigated, and any meaning that might be assigned to it by the inscrutable US Supreme Court is uncertain, but that very uncertainty may have deterred attempts to overhaul Californian government in ways which could have reined in the over-mighty political parties described in the article.

Consider, for example, California's government against Switzerland's. Under the Swiss federal constitution, parliament is elected on a system of proportional representation which prevents the creation of two great political factions. Moreover, the Executive is not elected directly, but entirely appointed by Parliament. (Would that be a "republican form of government"?) Reflecting the diverse make-up of Parliament, the Swiss federal cabinet comprises members of the four (at times five) largest political parties who govern on a collegial basis. It is not uncommon for cabinet ministers to represent views opposite to those of their own political parties!

The type of posturing characteristic of the Republican Party and the Democratic Party would be pointless in Switzerland . . . not because Switzerland is small and homogeneous, but because the electoral system and the democratic system make it so.

Fourth, the evidence presented could be used to argue that California suffers not from too much Democracy but from too little. Not only are referendums held less frequently in California than in Switzerland (where they occur up to four times a year) but the threshold for initiatives is much higher in California. Why make a comparison with Switzerland to argue in one direction but not the other? (Also, the United States Constitution interferes once again when it comes to regulating payment for signature collection.)

Fifth, on the issue of low voter turn-out, there are other solutions. One is compulsory voting as used in Australia. Another is quasi-compulsory voting, in which attendance at the polling booth is a matter of public record (while the vote itself is, of course, secret).

Sixth, it might indeed be the case that Democracy works better in smaller jurisdictions (although the population of Switzerland is over 7.5 million, which is hardly small). But even if that argument were accepted, it could point to another solution: the break-up of California into smaller and more governable entities. Again, a notable difference between Switzerland and California is Switzerland's strong cantonal system with its 26 autonomous cantons and half-cantons having an average population of about 300,000. (Again, the US Constitution may prevent the federalisation of California, but it would allow several US States to be created from it.)

Moreover, the democratic system might help to facilitate such restructuring, as evidenced by the creation of Canton Jura out of Canton Berne in 1979. Is it not plausible that it is politicians - not the People - who desire huge states over which to wield power?

Of course, notwithstanding all these arguments, it is conceivable that what the People of California really want is to rid themselves of Democracy, and submit themselves to the exclusive rule of (so-called) "representatives". If that were the case, who would be authorised to declare that their preference is "wrong"?

However . . . it is worth noting that very few jurisdictions in the world have ever given the People the opportunity to choose Democracy. Where they have, the People have chosen it.

I suspect that many people around the world - labouring under non-democratic constitutions - would envy Californians' right to choose. And if Californians do vote to abolish their democratic rights, their children and grandchildren may come to regret a decision that proves difficult - if not impossible - to reverse.


I don't know about you cali love, but my apple computer came from china. I love the unrepentant communists and their view that prop 13 is the source of their problems. Yah thats all thats standing between california and good governance is the ability to collect MORE taxes. One person even bandied about the term "undertaxed." I was unaware such a fantastical thought even existed. Not that gov't isn't providing the services it should, or that the roads are bad or schools need new books, but merely that the gov't isn't taking a large enough chunk of the people's money, truly one of the more militaristically marxist thoughts I've come across in a long time. My guess is though that concepts like undertaxed rule the thinking of california's legislature.

cali love

You all can mock California but its the about last place in the US still making things the rest of the world wants to buy - which is pretty important in a global economy. The rest of world wants google, hollywood, ipods, iphones. It doesn't want nascar and country western, you'd have to pay them to take it.

Texas is like the saudi arabia of the US - rich from oil and natural resources and full of fundamentalists trying to ram their beliefs down everyone elses throats. Any technology industry texas has is totally a result of government pork barrel spending.

California has generated innovative companies like google, apple, pixar, and cisco and many many more. Texas has brought us enron, a bunch of corrupt oil barons, and the worst president in United States history. texas corporations like enron stole over $20 billion from California in the fraudulent energy crisis of 2001, aided and abetted by Cheney and the other criminals in the bush administration. but like true crime bosses the smug texas tycoons mock the people they steal from.

Now the texas governor talks about seceding. let them - good riddance. at least this secessionist talk reveals the fraudulence of their patriotism.


The article is timely for a great state that gave the world the Silicon Valley, Bing cherry, JPL and of course Hollywood where the incumbent governor came from who should had stayed there in the first place. I say let’s redo the state constitution and fix the gerrymandering of election districts nonsense for good.

Golden Trade

Southern California is one of the worst places I have ever lived in. Dirty, expensive, running out of water. And the people ahhhh.... the people....This is what you get for being a comunist and pretending to be a part of a country born in capitalism.



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