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.

Arne Duncan , Kevin Johnson and Cheerleaders for Education "Reform"

By Duane Campbell

I was fortunate  to catch Bill Moyer’s Journal on PBS on Sunday, Sept.13.  Among his guests were Dr. Jim Young Kim.  Born in the U.S. and raised in Iowa, he has spent the last twenty-five years delivering health care to some the world’s poorest people including those of Haiti, Africa, and Asia.  He will now take a position as President of Dartmouth University.

His discussion pointed out that improving health care delivery required the participation of the doctors, nurses, and medical workers, and community members in their communities—it does not come from the hospital/health care industry.   His talk reminded me of the arguments  often made before about school reform.

Californians Know What to Do

A way to help California lawmakers balance the budget

By Willie L. Pelote, Sr.
First published at InsideBayArea.com

Now that California voters have handed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his cadre of special interests another resounding special election defeat, proponents of public services, fiscal responsibility, child care and mental health programs are gearing up for the battle over the 2010 state budget.