Recall Effort Could Backfire on Union
The prison guard union’s announcement that it will file recall papers against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may not work out as union officials expect. This action will put a spotlight on the union and add evidence to the charge that public employee unions want to wrap up control of state government. Two weeks ago on this site, Patrick Dorinson drew a comparison between the public employee unions’ efforts to dominate state government and the railroad barons’ control of state government at the beginning of the 20th century. This recall effort is another piece of evidence to endorse that argument.
The California Correctional Peace Officer Association’s charge that this recall effort is not about money and the two-year old contract dispute with the governor is laughable. Everyone will see it for what it is.
A Different Take on Sarah Palin and the 2008 Presidential Election
I’ve now read two separate posts about Sarah Palin by colleagues whose friendship I value and whose opinions I respect. Both question various aspects of Sarah Palin’s fitness to not only function as John McCain’s running mate, but also to serve as America’s vice president. While they clearly have a right to their questions, concerns and opinions about John McCain’s vice presidential pick, they have missed the boat about Alaska’s current governor.
Gov. Palin, in spite of her political beliefs, is the second woman to serve on a presidential ticket. That, in and of itself, is historic. Nowhere is it written that only a pro-choice, Democrat woman could serve on a presidential ticket. Second, her character, warmth and charm have resonated with the American voter – except for those die-hard Obama fanatics. Living in California, we are in a bubble and view the world differently than the overwhelming majority of the United States – a blessing in some circumstances and a curse in others.
The Obama campaign’s initial instinct – to attack Sarah Palin for being mayor of a small town even prior to her formal introduction – coupled with Senator Obama’s juicy comments about small town folks “clinging to guns and religion” (comments made in San Francisco, by the way) unknowingly played right into the McCain campaign’s hand. Hilary hit Obama hard on the rural, small town voter issue. Clearly, these folks had and still have serious questions and doubts about Barack Obama.
The Recall Gamble
I think the governor should embrace the recall proposed by the prison guards union.
Read my reasons in today’s Los Angeles Times here.
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions – for free
California environmental regulators have proposed a multitude of new rules that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions below their 1990 levels. Virtually every measure would cost a lot of money, either through mandated new investments in alternative energy or energy efficiency technologies, or in foregone economic opportunities to expand industries in California.
However, there is at least one strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that costs absolutely nothing, could save workers and businesses time and money, and even make people happy — the use of four-day/ten-hour work weeks.
Imagine: by shortening the work week by one day, a worker would not only free up that day for personal use, she would spend less money on gasoline and automobile expenses, reduce congestion on the roads, and reduce smog-forming pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.