Is Hardball A Felony?
Politics is not inherently a criminal enterprise, but you’d never know it by the headlines. Texas Governor Rick Perry’s indictment in Texas is another example of a political prosecution that seeks to criminalize common political behavior. Perry has been charged with “abuse of official capacity” (maximum sentence 99 years) and “coercion of a public servant” […]
The Illogic of Goodwin Liu
When you don’t have an idea what you’re talking about, keep your mouth shut. Goodwin Liu, unfortunately, couldn’t hold to this advice, and so the associate justice of the California Supreme Court revealed himself to be thoroughly, and embarrassingly, uninformed on California’s constitution and its system of direct democracy. This is often a space for […]
Lawmakers Don’t Think Rules Apply to Them
No one would dispute that California’s diversity extends to the wide political gulf between conservative Californians and those who see themselves as liberal. From strong Tea Party interests in the more rural areas to the “Occupiers” in San Francisco, the balkanization of our body politic is well recognized. But there should be, if there isn’t […]
How Labor Money Undermines the Financial Literacy of California’s Legislators
“In an era when we aren’t going to have tax increases, figure out how to be more efficient spending the money we’ve got, and the Republicans can help you do that if they’ll get off the philosophical cant about stuff and help you make things more efficient. They actually culturally know more and occupationally know […]
Fire Threat Increases, California Discourages Safety
There have been more multi-alarm house fires in California in the past six months than in the previous two years combined, according to a recent report from KCRA in Sacramento. Given that, it’s hard to believe that the state would embrace a policy that deemphasizes fire safety. For more than 40 years, California pursued a […]