Because People Matter

Some (corporate interests) want to write a new state constitution

That California government is in a financial crisis is not news – but it is in  crisis.  And, that only 13% of Californians think that the legislature – both Republican and Democrats are doing a good job, indicates a that an opportunity exists to throw the baby out with the bath water.  Or, as Rahm Emanuel says, “don’t allow a good crisis to go to waste.”

At an interesting conference, “Getting to Reform: Avenues to Constitutional Change in California,” on October 14, at the Sacramento Convention Center,  Prof. Kimberly Nalder, an associate professor of Government  at Sacramento State said California voters are like a person  who contracts with a personal trainer to lose weight, then says, “but I don’t want to do any exercise and I don’t want to go on a diet.”  and then blames the trainer for not producing results.  The conference was sponsored by the Center for California Studies at CSU-Sacramento and others.

The Real Trouble With Natomas Schools

By Duane Campbell

The Sacramento Bee has its top story in the Our Region section for Sept. 24, 2009, “Troubled Natomas schools will  get county education office help,”  by Diana Lambert.  Here: http://www.sacbee.com/education/story/2205459.html
 
The article, and the headlines, miss the major points,  create a distorted frame for the story, and assign blame for the wrong problem.

The issue is that the Natomas schools have  cut their budgets by $31.2 million, and now, due to the failure of the legislature to adequately fund the schools, they must cut even more.  Natomas is not a troubled school district.  Like all districts it must respond to the draconian cuts  imposed from the state.

THE FOURTH OF JULIO — A HOLIDAY FOR REAL AMERICANS

   By Andy Porras
   Hispanic Link News Service

 My mother Pepa and I were shopping in the South Texas town of Del Rio, where I was born and raised, preparing for our regular family Fourth of July picnic, when a Little League teammate of mine, Bubba, bumped into us.
   “Howdy!” roared Bubba, a real big kid for his age. ”What y’all doin’ here today?”
When I told him we were preparing for a picnic on the Fourth, he broke into laughter and squeezed the air out of my thin frame with his oversized arm.
   “No, no, buddy,” he corrected me. “You guys celebrate Cinco de Mayo, The Fourth of July is for Americans only!”

EL CUATRO DE JULIO – DÍA FESTIVO PARA TODOS

por    Andy Porras
Hispanic Link News Service

    Estábamos de compras mi madre, Pepa, y yo en el pueblo del sur de Texas llamado Del Río, donde nací y me crié, para prepararnos para nuestra acostumbrada merienda familiar del Cuatro de Julio, cuando nos topamos con Bubba, compañero mío del equipo de las pequeñas ligas.
   “¡Howdy!” vociferó Bubba, quien para su edad era un niño bien grande.  “¿Qué hacen ustedes por aquí hoy?” Cuando le dije que nos preparábamos para una merienda el Cuatro, se comenzó a reír y con su desproporcionado brazo me apretó hasta dejarme sin respiración. 
    “No, no, cuate”, me corrigió. “Ustedes celebran el Cinco de Mayo. ¡El Cuatro de Julio es sólo para los americanos!”