The Lesson of Trump: Don’t Mix Religion and Politics
A truism of American politics is that if you play around with race or religion you will get burned. Donald Trump has played both the race and religion card, and if current polling is to be believed; opinion has hardened against him in the past two weeks and he is headed for a thumping defeat. […]
Prop. 56: Tax ’Em If You Got ’Em
You’re probably something like me: a professional who doesn’t smoke tobacco. Although in my case, I puff an occasional stogie, maybe once every two months. So if Proposition 56 passes in November, increasing tobacco taxes $2 a pack, it’s one of the few taxes that wouldn’t phase my personal bank account. And it wouldn’t affect […]
The Walls Are Too High in the Kingdom of Ventura
Ventura County is the most glorious and verdant of California kingdoms. Just ask its princes and princesses—those fortunate enough to be able to afford to live and vote there. The nearly 900,000 residents can pretend that they live in the country, with parks or farmland always nearby. The Kingdom of Ventura’s cities remains a series […]
Climate Change and Partisanship
Ten years ago, California led the nation in climate change policy when it passed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, landmark legislation that required the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. While passed largely along partisan lines, Assembly Bill (AB) 32 was signed into law by Republican Governor Arnold […]