California has a problem

No the problem is not Davis or even the current deficit. The problem is the lack of accountability and the disenfranchisement of many of the voters in California under our current State government system.

Term limits, the magic pill to fix all the woes in politics, can’t fix the problem because it treats a symptom, the disease goes merrily on.

The problem is lack of accountability for the mess we find ourselves in from our Assembly and Senate members as well as our statewide office holders (Governor, Lt. Governor, et. al.).

The Assembly members claim they are responsible and hold down wasteful spending and wants to lessen the tax burden on the lower income people but the Assembly as a whole is responsible for the mess we are in. The Senate members say the same thing and our state wide office holders say its the legislators who approve the budget. Everyone is responsible and careful with the public money and its not their fault the State is in a mess, but here we are.

Also, with the way the districts are drawn every ten years, many people have no reason to show up and vote. If a person is a conservative living in West LA, it makes no sense for them to bother to vote for the Assembly or Senate seats because the majority of voters in the district are liberal who will decide which liberal they want to represent them. Likewise, a liberal living in Orange County has no say in who will be elected in their districts because the majority of voters are conservative and they will decide which conservative they want to represent them.

Also, third party members (Libertarian, Green, Peace & Freedom, American Independent) have no reason to show up because their candidates cannot win except in the most unusual circumstances.

So we have voter apathy because many people believe (correctly) their vote does not matter in the Assembly and Senate races and so do not have a voice how that branch works. Also the people who are elected to these houses know who they represent and can safely ignore those who’s votes won’t count or who won’t vote for them anyway.

What we end up with is a system where voters are apathetic and ignored or very active and showered with goodies from their representatives. The representatives know who they are beholden too and instead of caring what is good for the State and all its citizens only care for their little group of supporters. The end result is a budget mess and no one is responsible.

How to fix this type of mess? I’ll talk about that next time.