A Bid for Transparency Turns Murky
In an age when the quest for transparency in government is treated akin to securing the holy grail, Sen. John Moorlach’s “Financial Transparency Act” (SB 1251) has been frustrated by legislative hurdles. On Tuesday, the bill was turned aside on a party line vote although all members of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee did vote […]
I Marvel That Brown Got Through Berkeley With So Little Vision
You can learn a lot about a man by his insults. And the essential elitism of Gov. Jerry Brown came through when he took a shot at U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the Republican presidential candidate recently. “I tell you – I have not given a lot of thought to Sen. Cruz, but I marvel at […]
A $15 Minimum Wage Is A Booby Prize For American Workers
In principle, there is solid moral ground for the recent drive to boost the minimum wage to $15, with California and New York State taking dramatic steps Monday toward that goal. Low-wage workers have been losing ground for decades, as stagnant incomes have been eroded by higher living costs. This has been particularly tragic for workers in […]
‘Civil War’ Between Actors and Ad Industry Fades into the History Books
Motion picture director Billy Wilder was once asked whether he would ever again hire Marilyn Monroe, who was routinely late to the set. “I have an aunt who’s always on time,” Wilder answered, “but nobody would pay a nickel to see her.” That tells you a lot about the business of acting. The ultimate judge […]
Trump could be the Gift the Democrats Want Most
Donald Trump is the gift the Democratic Party could never have expected. The Republicans of whom he purports to be one want nothing to do with him. All the more reason the Democrats should welcome him with open arms. So loathsome is the prospect of his nomination that some Californian Democrats are actually talking about […]