Partisanship Must Be Harnessed, Not Fought
News item: Pete Peterson, the Republican candidate for California Secretary of State, has 30 percent support, and a big lead, in a new Field Poll.
Joe Mathews
April 21, 2014
Author: Joe Mathews
Connecting California Columnist and Editor, Zócalo Public Square, Fellow at the Center for Social Cohesion at Arizona State University and co-author of California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It (UC Press, 2010)
Can Good Government and First Amendment Groups Win Back the Public Trust?
It’s clear, with the charges against noted campaign finance advocate Leland Yee, that good government and campaign finance reform groups that gave him awards have
Joe Mathews
April 18, 2014
The Governor Should Move to the Delta
When you’re faced with two different thorny problems, sometimes the best way to make progress is by combining them. I’m talking to you, Jerry Brown.
Joe Mathews
April 17, 2014
What If Uncle Leland Had Won?
Here’s a thought exercise for the Leland Yee scandal. What if the investigation had been delayed, or stayed underground, for another year? What if last
Joe Mathews
April 11, 2014
Does Derek Cressman Know Kung Fu?
Does Derek Cressman, candidate for California Secretary of State, know kung fu? Or is he packing a weapon? Such questions occur after reading responses by
Joe Mathews
April 8, 2014
Why the New York Times’ Sentencing Commission Won’t Work
The New York Times editorial page gave California some free advice recently, and it was worth every penny: establish a sentencing commission to fix your
Joe Mathews
April 4, 2014
Does California Hate Marriage?
This weekend, The Accident gets hitched. The Accident is my term of endearment (really!) for my baby sister Katie, who arrived, unexpectedly, 11 ½ years
Joe Mathews
April 3, 2014
We Owe Rod Wright An Apology
Rod Wright doesn’t deserve this. Yes, the state senator was convicted of lying about where he lived. But does that mean he should be haphazardly
Joe Mathews
April 2, 2014
Why are D.C. Politicians Sweet on California?
Dear Washington, D.C., I know that your politicians will say anything to get elected and your wonks are perpetually grasping at straws. But I find
Joe Mathews
March 28, 2014