Fox and Hounds Daily Says Goodbye
With this article, we end publication of Fox and Hounds Daily. It has been a satisfying 12½ year run. When we opened in May 2008, our site was designed to offer an opportunity to those who wished to engage in public debate on many issues, especially in politics and business, but found it difficult to get placed in newspaper op-ed pages.
Co-publishers Tom Ross, Bryan Merica and I have kept F&H going over this time investing our own time, funding, and staff help. Last year at this time we considered closing the site, however with an election on the horizon we decided to keep F&H going through the election year. With the election come and gone, and with no sense of additional resources, we have decided to close the site down.
Fox and Hounds will live on, at least, with my articles collected in the California State Library.
On a personal note, I have spent over 40 years in California policy and politics. There have been some incredible high moments and some difficult low points. It pains me that politics too often is a blood sport, frequently demonizing the motives of opponents and using the legal system as a weapon in public discourse. At Fox & Hounds, we tried to adhere to the practice of giving all a voice in the debate, yet keep the commentaries civil and avoided personal attacks.
F&H offered the opportunity to publish different perspectives (even ones that criticized my writings!). We had success as indicated by the Washington Post twice citing Fox and Hounds Daily one of the best California political websites and many other positive affirmations and comments received over the years.
Tom, Bryan and I want to thank our many readers and writers for being part of our journey. The publishers of Fox and Hounds Daily believe that we added value to California and its people. We hope you agree.
A Presidency Getting Built On Lies?
Some readers of this column may not like what follows—-and for those who favored Donald Trump enough to vote for him, my conclusions will be disagreeable or worse.
I say this in advance not because more justification is needed—the “facts” speak for themselves.
However, we are in an over-heated atmosphere of clashing values and viewpoints unparalleled in recent history which is magnified and perhaps distorted when the integrity of those chosen to govern us is open to question.
Trust in what our leaders say—not just now but in every Administration—Republican or Democrat—is vital to our national well-being. Words uttered by presidents have especially significant impact and actions even more. Although the record is very scanty only weeks into the new Administration, alarm bells are already going off and big storm clouds are forming. (more…)
The New California Ferrari Goes 196 Miles Per Hour, And Comes With a Cupholder
When I finally got the keys to California, I wondered how fast it would go. So, on the 210 freeway, I floored the accelerator, and within seconds, I was driving 100 miles per hour.
I immediately felt exhilaration—and fear. This speed was totally unfamiliar to someone who has spent his life driving beaten-up Toyotas. In California we like to think we can move as fast as our imaginations can take us, but this shiny red convertible named California moved too fast for me.
I was not driving my own car. Ferrari let me drive its latest California model—officially the Ferrari California T—for four rainy January days. I requested the loaner because I thought it might provide some escapist fun at a difficult time for our state and country, and because, on the north side of age 40, I deserve a mid-life crisis. (more…)
Why Newsom Should be Rooting for Faulconer to Run
After last year, you may not want to hear this, but in California another election year has already arrived.
The reason is that under the top two primary in a one-party-dominant state, ultimate outcomes in 2018 will be largely determined by the makeup of the candidate field in the primary. And for potential candidates, the time is almost at hand to decide whether to enter the field.
At the statewide level, what this means is that at all eyes should be on San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Not only may he be the only potential Republican candidate with a strong chance to advance out of the top-two primary, but whether he is in or out will likely determine whether any Democrat other than Gavin Newsom has a chance to win in November 2018. (more…)
If the question is upward mobility the answer is California colleges
What’s the most effective tool to improve economic mobility in California?
Higher minimum wage? No.
Mandatory employment benefits? Nope.
Higher redistributive taxes? Nada.
It’s the California State University and community colleges.
According to a landmark study for the Equality Opportunity Project, Stanford’s Raj Chetty and coauthors found that certain state and community colleges offer effective pathways to higher incomes for younger generations. (more…)
The State Is Cutting My Kids’ Schools
The email from the school superintendent dropped like an anvil in small school district (just one high school and middle school, and three elementary schools) where I live.
Under Gov. Brown’s January budget proposal, our schools would get $900,000 less from the state than they did in 2016-17 budget.
The superintendent admitted to surprise. This news came after the passage of the Prop 55 tax rates on income, it came at a time of low unemployment and economic growth. How could the schools be cut?
Because this is California, and school funding makes no sense. (more…)
Equality of poverty spreads in California
Tucked away in Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2017-18 budget was some very disturbing news about jobs in California.
Although new jobs have been created, they don’t pay much.
The governor’s budget proposal says the tax revenue coming into the state treasury isn’t growing fast enough to keep up with spending because over the last four years, “the percentage of wage and salary growth from high-wage sectors dropped from 50 percent to 36 percent of total growth.”
California’s income tax collects revenue from higher earners but not from low earners. (more…)