Seeking PR Help to Raise Tax Revenue
Now we’ve got a public school district considering hiring a political PR firm to convince other government officials to raise tax revenue by raising property assessments. Such an action may be illegal and it sure is reckless. Sure, campaigns supporting tax increases have hired professional help but not with taxpayers’ money. And, yes, with taxpayers’ […]
Father-Son Squabble Sets Course for CA Initiative Process
Why is California so hard to govern? One reason is that we’re suffering from daddy issues, and this Father’s Day is as good a time as any to confront them. The daddy in question is Grove Johnson, father of one of our most revered governors, Hiram Johnson, who served from 1911 through 1917. Johnson is […]
Train to Nowhere or Cutting Edge Vision?
Depending on your point of view, California’s plan for high-speed rail might be either a $69 billion fast train to nowhere or a visionary project that will keep the Golden State on the cutting edge of environmental protection and transportation technology. The voters have weighed in once in favor of the idea, and the Legislature […]
Housing Boom Is The Best Chance For A Recovery For The Rest Of Us
Our tepid economic recovery has been profoundly undemocratic in nature. Between the “too big to fail” banks and Ben Bernanke’s policy of dropping free money from helicopters on the investor class, there have been two recoveries, one for the rich, and another less rewarding one for the middle class. Viewed in this light, the recent […]