Machiavelli or Torquemada?
Cross-posted at NewGeography.com.
For more than one-third of a century Jerry Brown has proved one of the most interesting and original figures in American politics–and the 71-year-old former wunderkind might be back in office in 2010. If he indeed wins California’s gubernatorial election, the results could range from somewhat positive to positively disastrous.
Brown is a multi-faceted man, but in political terms he has a dual personality, split between two very different Catholic figures from the 15th century: Machiavelli and Tomas de Torquemada. For the sake of California, we better hope that he follows the pragmatism espoused by the Italian author more than the stern visage of the Grand Inquisitor.
Like a good Jesuit, Brown certainly can be flexible. Back in 1978, for example, he worked against Howard Jarvis’ Proposition 13, which capped real estate taxes. But once the measure was passed, Brown embraced it as his own. Indeed, he was so enthusiastic about the tax-cutting measure that Jarvis actually voted for Brown’s re-election late that same year. A month after the vote a Los Angeles Times poll revealed most Californians thought Brown actually supported 13.
This Cadillac is a Chevy
The national health care debate has many moving parts, but most of the friction is over how to pay for it. One of the new taxes proposed by both the Senate and the President is a “high-cost plan” excise tax: a 40 percent tax on the value of health insurance premiums that exceed a certain threshold of “high cost.” The tax would be levied against health insurers, but would very likely be passed on to policy holders.
As passed by the Senate, the annual thresholds were $8,500 for individual coverage and $23,000 for family coverage, beginning in 2013. The President proposed increasing the thresholds – to $10,200 and $27,500, respectively – but also postponed the effective date of the tax until 2018.
The stated purpose of the tax is to discourage “Cadillac” plans that are effectively subsidized by the income tax exclusion for employee benefits. Many conservative economists and elected officials have favored eliminating the tax subsidy for employer-sponsored plans and instead provide a tax deduction for the policy holder to help drive incentives and decision-making to the health care consumer. This proposal gives a nod in that direction by providing the disincentive, but no offsetting encouragement for consumers to take cost comparison into their own hands. In fact, it is nothing more or less than a revenue raising exercise.
Jerry in Wonderland
The year was 1975. Jerry Brown was Governor. And the movie “Alice in Wonderland” was all the rage.
Fast forward 35 years later. Jerry Brown wants to be Governor. And the movie “Alice in Wonderland” is all the rage.
Coincidence? I think not.
To peer into a third potential Jerry Brown reign, one only needs to take a trip down the rabbit hole into the fantasy world of Jerry’s Wonderland – where you’ll soon find that what’s up is down, and what’s down is up. It is here that a few comparisons can be drawn between the original tale vs. the tale that is playing out in California today.
The Setting: “The Garden” – which is the central location in the fictional tale – is a place that could easily pass for the State Capitol today. It is where all of the action takes place. It is where kings and queens hold court. It is where Tea Parties are held. And it is a place where all of the characters compete (and I’m quoting directly here) “in a Caucus race which consists of everyone running in a circle with no clear winner.” Ah, yes, this is all starting to sound familiar…
Drawing a Line at City Hall
I’m writing this column from City Hall. I came down here to get a business permit, and I’m waiting in this line. Judging from how slow this line is moving, and if I stand on my tiptoes and look at how many people are in front of me, it looks like it’ll take me, oh, maybe 18 months more. This could be a long column.
I guess it’s not so bad waiting here. I’ve got this cozy tent. I hired a maid twice a week. Good cable service.
Nice neighbors, too. Todd, a guy in a different line, the one to the left of mine, is a fine middle-age man (just don’t lend him money before the Friday night poker game). His line’s even slower than mine. He came a long time ago to get a license to open a shop because he had this innovative idea to rent videos so people can watch movies at home. He’s worried that if his line doesn’t move more quickly, by the time he gets his permit, VHS tapes may be passé.
Cell Phone Warning Labels Another Example Of Newsom’s Ridiculous, Grandstanding Ordinances
Cross-posted at PublicCEO
In the latest edition of, “I can’t believe an educated person would actually think this is a good idea,” we once again welcome a proposed ordinance from the desk of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Newsom has proposed an ordinance that all cell phones sold in his city be given a warning label similar to those placed on cigarettes.
Based on concerns that cell phones cause brain cancer, the proposal would require a label with the level of radio frequency emissions and specific absorption rate of the phone.
The problem: It’s just another example of Newsom’s feel-good, grandstanding types of ordinances that lack any actual substance or intelligent reason.
The ordinance would provide warning of a safety risk that remains scientifically unproven. Both the National Cancer Institute and the World Health Organization have opposed labeling because of beliefs that research does not support the need.