Friday, February 12, 2010

California's Long, Painful Slide Into The Ocean

And if California slides into the ocean
Like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing
Until I pay my bill

- Warren Zevon

I haven't commented much on politics lately, because the whole thing is so damn depressing, but there are a couple of things going on in California right now that demand a bit of commentary.

The first is the ridiculous battle going on the Legislature (primarily, the State Assembly) over the nomination of Abel Maldonado as Lt. Governor. Frankly, if it wasn't happening before our very eyes, I wouldn't have believed it could happen. This is a job that has no value, no meaning whatsoever - with the possible exception of being one vote on the UC Board of Regents and the CSU Board of Trustees. There would less than a year left in the man's term in this generally useless position. So what exactly is the f*cking problem here? Please.

The second is the news this week that the drive to put a California Constitution initiative on the November ballot is likely doomed to fail, because the effort is being shunned by the signature gathering firms that view it as a threat to their livelihood. After all, if we actually reform California government, there may be less need for initiatives, and in turn less need for signature gathering.

Just think about that for a moment, let it stew, and then go swear at the mirror. I've sworn that I would never live anywhere but California, but this is the kind of thing that might actually make me reconsider that vow.

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