Jun 09 2009

Constitutional convention needed to fix California

Desperate times call for drastic measures.
by Don Blubaugh

In May, voters soundly rejected efforts by the governor and Legislature to balance the state budget. The state is on shaking fiscal grounds. Voters no longer trust our state leaders.

How did we get here?

For years, Sacramento politicians have responded to various interest groups each wanting its piece of the state budget in exchange for financial contributions to election campaigns.

Running for state office is an expensive proposition. It is not unusual to see $5 million spent on contested campaigns.

With money being paramount to political office survival, it is no wonder that there is a lack of vision or goal for all California’s future. Our system rewards special interests leading to specialized legislation that often ignores long-term costs and impacts.

We, the voters, have a hand in this matter also. We voted for Proposition 13, which cut our taxes but gave the state the authority to decide who gets property taxes; we voted for term limits making sure legislators are not around to be accountable for decisions they make that have long-term consequences; we voted for ballot initiatives without full knowledge of the intricacies and costs; we voted to support major chunks of the state budget being earmarked for schools; we demand long and mandated state prison terms for repeat offenders but failed to acknowledge its additional costs; we approve bond issues that serve our interests but without regard to costs; we idolize fire and police services but fail to see the costs of wages and early retirements; we assume incorrectly that fat in government being cut will leave enough money to give us all we want.

The country’s economic meltdown, re-election dynamics, costs of campaigns, the influence of special interests, term limits and a disengaged public voting on special interest, single purpose initiatives without regard to cost impacts have led to today’s crisis. There is no connection between what is expected and what is available to pay for services.

All of us must change how we view our government, how it operates and what we expect from it. History and recent experience casts serious doubt whether the change can come from our current elected state political leadership.

Any change requires strong leadership. Too often candidates for political office seek the cover of opinion polls to find what they should stand for. Additionally, they then have to reckon with special interests for campaign support. And, there is the dynamic in California that legislators tend to come from their party extreme wings unwilling to compromise to get the job done.

There are two basic approaches to fix our broken system: (1) comprehensive reform and or (2) incremental one-at-a-time revisions that will lead over time to fundamental change. I would like to advance the former, bolder approach. We need a total review of our entire governance system and piecemeal change will take too long and likely produce more of what we already have.

A constitutional convention should be created to draft a new governance system. It would look at the totality of our governmental system including finance and budgeting. The convention would prepare proposals for voter approval. Selecting members will be a daunting task as will the work that is to be performed. Critics note that there are many pitfalls along the way including special interests dominating the panel, current public sacred cows might be tampered with, etc.

But, what choice do we have? Efforts at government reform have been few and far between during the past 50 years. None were as comprehensive as is now needed. All seem to agree that our system is broke. A constitutional convention is our only real hope for effective change.

We must take our government back and have it perform effectively for us. We must be engaged, we cannot want government services and not expect to pay, we must demand more from those who represent us. Urge your legislators to support such a convention and sign the petition mandating a convention be called. This is serious business that requires all our personal attention and support.