Initiative & Referendum in the Spotlight at Global Forum in SF

A Global Forum on direct democracy will hold its U.S. conference July 30 to August 4 in San Francisco. The conference is free to the public. Nearly 300 participants have signed up so far representing 30 countries and 27 U. S. states.

While the conference features numerous panels on issues that run the gamut from direct democracy in the digital age to the question of creating a national initiative to international perspectives on the I&R process, there are many California centric events. Included is a Saturday morning panel that asks the question: Is California’s Initiative Process Ruining the State, Or Saving It?

Speakers from around the country include Ralph Nader, John Fund, and Grover Norquist along with California political figures Bob Hertzberg, Ward Connerly, Jon Coupal, Tom Hayden, Peter Schrag, Bob Stern and many others.

Trading in Positive Signs

If
you’re a business person in Los Angeles, you’ve got plenty to worry
about. Your sales may be poky, your taxes may go up, and in just a few
short weeks, Lindsay Lohan will be released from jail and driving on
our streets again.

But here’s something you don’t have to worry about: the international trade deficit.

In fact, I’ll go further: You might even take some comfort in our deepening trade deficit.