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.
State Treasurer Refinances State Bond Debt, Saves Taxpayers $270 Million
The State of California has found a way to save $270 million — without budget cuts or raising taxes.
State Treasurer John Chiang recently announced that his office had completed the sale of $1.93 billion in general obligation bonds, which will deliver hundreds of millions of dollars of savings to taxpayers. Like homeowners refinancing their mortgage, the overwhelming majority of funds were used to refinance approximately $1.54 billion of existing debt.
“I am very pleased at the result of this sale, which will save taxpayers such a substantial sum over the remaining life of the refinanced debt,” Chiang said in a press release announcing the bond financing deal. “Recent credit upgrades have increased the market’s confidence in the state’s credit worthiness and individual and institutional investors alike continued to demonstrate faith in California.” (more…)
An Election all about Ronald Reagan—Or is it?
If Ronald Reagan had been around this election season the practically canonized former president would have dominated the field and already cleared most of it.
Say what you will for his approach to governance and his feel-good economics which appeased the middle class while bolstering the fortunes of the big earners— he played well for his time.
Today California’s (and the nation’s) GOP is faced with a much different set of challenges which are more personal and destructive to a party badly divided in its views and in disarray over the best choice to lead the nation. (more…)
Becoming America The Not-So-Beautiful
“They don’t know history, but they are making it. But what are they making?” – Victor Serge, “The Conquered City,” 1932
In contrast to the physical sciences, and even other social sciences, the study of history is, by nature, subjective. There is no real mathematical formula to assess the past. It is more an art, or artifice, than a science.
Yet how we present and think of the past can shape our future as much as the statistics-laden studies of economists and other social scientists. Throughout recorded time, historians have reflected on the past to show the way to the future and suggest those values that we should embrace or, at other times, reject. (more…)
Has Brown Done Lasting Damage to the Initiative Process?
If you have a good idea in California, Jerry Brown has made life harder for you to get attention for it.
Before Jerry Brown became governor of California again in 2011, voters could consider ballot initiatives at any statewide election; this spread out measures and gave each initiative more of a chance to make its case. And, before Jerry Brown became governor again, Californians could file any idea they had for an initiative with the state for $200.
Now, Californians no longer have either of these powers.
First, Brown pushed all ballot initiatives to November elections. The supposed goal was to put all the measures on the “general election” ballot so that more people would get to consider them. But November elections aren’t general elections anymore—they are runoffs under the top two system. And pushing ballot initiatives to the same ballot means less time and consideration for each measures. (more…)
The Role of Certifications and Badges in California’s Workforce World
Within California’s workforce world over the past few years, there is growing interest in training certifications, and more recently in training badges. Both certifications and badges are seen as improving the transition of unemployed Californians into jobs. But do they do so, or are they mainly income generators for training institutes?
Our friends from Treasure of the Sierra Madre (above) know a few things about badges (here). Even they, though, would be hard-pressed to sort through the claims being made about certifications and badges: which, if any, have value in the hiring process. Let’s see if we can start the process, with the assistance of John Colborn of the Aspen Institute and Kris Stadelman of NOVA. (more…)
The Real Revenue Challenge Facing California
California Forward, a political reform group, recently invited Californians to take a “Revenue Challenge.” The challenge consists of an online survey where participants can rate how more than a dozen legislative proposals—mostly aimed at raising taxes—meet a set of criteria for a sustainable tax system. The goal is to gather feedback on existing proposals, identify ways to improve them, and generate new ideas for building a revenue system California can rely on.
Kudos to California Forward for trying to engage a public that’s lost faith in government. Changes to our tax laws should always be made with public input and transparency.
The “Revenue Challenge” has one major limitation: It’s focused largely on ways to raise more revenue. This isn’t CA Fwd’s fault. Its Financing the Future series highlights the revenue proposals moving through the Legislature or making their way toward the 2016 ballot—and most of them would raise taxes in various ways. The Revenue Challenge asks Californians to think about whether these measures will “move the state toward a better tax system.” (more…)