Fox and Hounds Daily Says Goodbye
With this article, we end publication of Fox and Hounds Daily. It has been a satisfying 12½ year run. When we opened in May 2008, our site was designed to offer an opportunity to those who wished to engage in public debate on many issues, especially in politics and business, but found it difficult to get placed in newspaper op-ed pages.
Co-publishers Tom Ross, Bryan Merica and I have kept F&H going over this time investing our own time, funding, and staff help. Last year at this time we considered closing the site, however with an election on the horizon we decided to keep F&H going through the election year. With the election come and gone, and with no sense of additional resources, we have decided to close the site down.
Fox and Hounds will live on, at least, with my articles collected in the California State Library.
On a personal note, I have spent over 40 years in California policy and politics. There have been some incredible high moments and some difficult low points. It pains me that politics too often is a blood sport, frequently demonizing the motives of opponents and using the legal system as a weapon in public discourse. At Fox & Hounds, we tried to adhere to the practice of giving all a voice in the debate, yet keep the commentaries civil and avoided personal attacks.
F&H offered the opportunity to publish different perspectives (even ones that criticized my writings!). We had success as indicated by the Washington Post twice citing Fox and Hounds Daily one of the best California political websites and many other positive affirmations and comments received over the years.
Tom, Bryan and I want to thank our many readers and writers for being part of our journey. The publishers of Fox and Hounds Daily believe that we added value to California and its people. We hope you agree.
Time for Gov. to Call Special Session on Prisons
The Supreme Court’s decision on rejecting California’s prison plan is the most compelling reason for the Governor to call a special session of the Legislature to deal with this prison crisis that personally affects us.
The Court’s decision emphasizes the need for immediate action to provide more in-custody housing for unrehabilitated and dangerous felons, so they do not become an additional threat to all of us.
It is only with the creation of additional space that the State of California will have the autonomy to run its own prisons, without the interference of federal judges.
Austerity Policies Cannot Succeed Without Complementary Prosperity Policies
One of the overwhelming challenges facing fiscal conservatives is how to cut government spending without harming economic recovery. It may seem obvious that governments eventually have to stop relying on borrowing to finance their deficits, but eliminating government spending deficits can only partly rely on spending cuts. Economic growth is the other essential element.
To explore and catalog worthy prescriptions for economic growth, the California Public Policy Center has launched a new project, the California Prosperity Forum. We seek informed and constructive policy ideas and analysis from any source, guided by our core belief that prosperity and opportunity will return to California through a combination of common sense reforms in Sacramento, greater freedom for the private sector, and innovation in our public schools.
Charles Munger Jr. Speaks on the Art of Political Reform
In a session dedicated to reforming California politics, one of the chief movers behind recent reforms told an audience at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo last week that he won’t proceed with further reforms until he has “an army at his back.” Physicist and philanthropist Charles Munger Jr., who financially supported and campaigned for successful redistricting reform and the top-two primary in the state, says more political reforms are needed in California.
After being involved in a number of state proposition campaigns, Munger has concluded that any reform needs support from an army of people or someone who has a bully pulpit. He said Governor Schwarzenegger used the bully pulpit effectively in helping pass both redistricting and the top two primary.
Gov. Brown Signs SB 7 to Neuter Charter Cities
Despite the California Constitution section which guarantees California’s 121 charter cities the authority over their municipal business, Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 7, which will deprive these cities of state funding and financial assistance for projects if they do not pay the prevailing wage. The bill was a classic special interest sponsored bill, sponsored by the State Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO.
What does SB 7 do?
SB 7 compels charter cities to require prevailing wages on local projects they construct with local funds by withholding all state contracting funds from non-compliant cities. The result could mean that local governments simply forgo important infrastructure projects because they cannot afford to fund them.
The Boyfriend’s Back, And Infrastructure Is In Trouble
As I’ve explained here previously, the California electorate is in reality very much like the worst boyfriend or girlfriend you’ve ever had.
He gets easily angry or frustrated about everything. But he can’t tell you what he wants you to do to make him happy.
That’s the sort of thing you’re not supposed to say if you’re in politics or the media. The voters and the audience are always right, and California elites genuflect more than most toward public opinion.
Tale of California’s Two Economies
California is an economy of regions—from the north to the south—from the inland to coastal communities—California’s regional economies are diverse.
When the recession hit in 2008, no region was exempt. Five years later, the state’s economy is improved, but not every region has bounced back in the same way. In fact, getting back to the “good old days” has been uneven.
Unemployment rates for coastal communities have dipped, many below the state’s unemployment rate of 8.9 percent. Jobs are being added and housing prices are soaring.