When the Boston Red Sox ended their long World Series drought in 2004, Sports Illustrated recognized the long suffering Red Sox Nation – the entire fan base – as its sports person of the year. In that spirit of selecting a large group as deserving, I would like to consider the Voters of California as Californian of the Year.
In the November elections, the voters set down markers that are making seasoned cryptographers scratch their heads. Not only did the Voters stop the Republican national wave across the country, they established the Democrats as nearly unchallenged leaders in this state.
The voters, of course, were not in lockstep with the Democratic Party. They opposed a number of ballot measures that the party supported, especially the redistricting measures.
More glaringly, the voters continued to handcuff the instincts of the newly elected leaders by shooting down tax increases and making it harder to raise fees.
Is there method to the voters’ madness, political scientists ask?
Look at the polls that purport to determine the Voters thinking. Don’t cut spending. Don’t raise taxes. Go forth and balance the budget. You would think if the Voters are unclear on which direction to take, they would at least support a mixed bag of Republicans and Democrats for elected state offices, or change more seats in the legislature, but that did not happen.
Yet, as it has been for decades now, voters set the direction for the state. “All political power is inherent in the people,” the state constitution says. And, so it should be. But, the constitution doesn’t say that the people have to be clear in wielding this power.
The legislature and new governor will have to follow the path ordered by the voters … or try to convince them that they are mistaken. Not an easy task. Even if that route is successful, it will be the Voters again who, ultimately, will be directing policy.
One cannot consider Californian of the Year without acknowledging the achievement of Governor-elect Jerry Brown.
The once and future governor did an effective job of convincing the voters that he was the right person for the job to fix California.
When Brown left his first turn in the governor’s office and lost a U.S. Senate contest to Pete Wilson, he declared that he was tired of the people and they were probably tired of him. After years of rest, Brown and the voters decided to take another chance on each other. It is a remarkable accomplishment. We’ll see how it works out.