CalBuzz and the Ungovernability of California

Two former news people (Phil Troustine and Jerry Roberts) publish a blog called Calbuzz. In yesterday's post they argued that California was ungovernable as a result of a series of policy decisions made over the last couple of decades. They claimed that Proposition 13, budget initiatives(presumably things like Proposition 98 and 99), Gerrymandering, Term Limits, Boom or Bust Taxation, and the two thirds vote requirement have caused this condition.

The argument is Gibbonesque in its focus. Edward Gibbon wrote The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire which argued that a series of events caused the Roman Empire to fail. I've always thought that this kind of deterministic historiography is wrong in part because it helps to obscure the real complexities of trying to understand significant events. I've also thought that the concept of ungovernability, while satisfying in one sense, is also flawed for many of the same reasons.

Clearly, Troustine and Roberts do not like most of the events on the list. So even if California's governmental system were humming along they would still be railing against most of them. Some of the things are creations of their political philosophy. For example, California's boom and bust tax system has been caused in part by the flawed notion that increasing the progressivity of the tax system will improve social equity. (When you rely too much on one source of revenue - particularly capital gains and options - you suffer consequences.)

In this particular budget meltdown a lot of commentators have argued that the two thirds requirement for raising taxes and for adopting a budget is an impediment to "majority" rule. Indeed, it is. Budgets make commitments. So do taxes. Those of us who think the two thirds requirement is a good idea would argue that it requires the majority to work harder to build consensus.

An old friend, Jane Wellman (who is now a first rate researcher on higher education issues) once coined the phrase Legislative Kabuki to describe the condition that the California process suffers under. In part because of the 24 hour news cycle and gerrymandered districts, few members of the legislature actually speak to each other. They put on their masks in committee hearings and in press conferences and never actually get down to a serious philosophical discussion about this or that policy.

One could argue that a simple solution to the problem would be to repeal Proposition 9 (the political "reform" initiative that swept Jerry Brown into office in the Watergate tinged time of 1974). Prior to that time lobbyists and legislators had a frat club atmosphere where they went out and socialized together. That made many members of the legislature into alcoholics. But the members actually knew each other and could, when necessary, speak to each other. Of course, reverting back to those days is impossible and also undesirable.

But the notion that current conditions make the state ungovernable and that all we need to do is to make a couple of tweaks to the system to get rid of faulty policies is naive and harmful. Ultimately, any organization depends on leaders. We've taken away the possibility that leaders can emerge, at least for the most part. Until that condition is solved, Gibbonesque analysis will continue to be the rage and we will be no closer to raising the approval ratings for the Governor and the Legislature.