Refusing to Criticize Schwarzenegger

It is easier to criticize Governor Schwarzenegger that to praise him for showing us what is actually wrong with the system. I believe he earnestly attempted to positively and constructively influence Sacramento’s lawmakers and failed. Not his fault is my opinion, because he did so in the best way he could reckon from the stormy currents he faced. He attempted to deliver on his campaign promises and his public service was just that, not self service!

With that said, it is likely true that he overestimated and actually didn’t understand the challenge. Naive’ ok! I’ll take that every day over the likes of Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina or for that matter George Bush.

I will remember Governor Schwarzenegger as a man who challenged bureaucracy and attempted to build a consensus to bridge the gaps of partisanship. Saying he was naive’ is not a slam because it is clear that few actually do understand and even fewer are willing to discuss what is broken and why. But before I take issue with what is truly dysfunctional in California I want to be on the record for saying that in my mind, Governor Schwarzenegger deserves our respect for attempting to work within and use a system that is broken and built to fail. He deserves our respect for refusing to sign a budget where prisons are given more money than education. He deserves our respect for being a public servant and not a self servant the most uncommon commodity in today’s political arena.

Fear mongers and their special interests friends make an end run on our legislature at every bump in the road. It is California’s initiative process that enables, fosters and continually undermines our governing structure and processes. Why bother electing and paying a state legislature lets save the money. We’ll do our own legislating so why have two? This is the hyper-partisanship we refer to when we discuss Sacramento. The Initiative process makes laws that have not been budgeted for or analyzed, debated and scrutinized. Yet we continue to fund them and leave the how to, for Sacramento and the Governor. California wake up; these problems are not partisan they are special and self interests. Follow the money; look to see who those special interest groups are and you will solve the problem. Thank you, Arnold for giving it the old college try. Your legacy is a good one in my book. (http://thirdcloud-yourhonormayibeheard.blogspot.com/)