AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, the Democratic Party’s agenda is effectively crippled by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Because of Republican gerrymandering in the wake of the last round of redistricting in 2010, winning back the House is an uphill battle for Democrats in the best of years, at least for the time being. In my view the House is unlikely to change hands before 2020.
In California, on the other hand, the prospects for enacting the Democratic Party’s agenda and priorities are far brighter. In the 2012 elections, the California Democratic Party achieved a milestone, winning enough seats to gain complete control of the legislative branch of the state government — such that the Democrats can pass, and the Democratic governor can sign into law, pretty much anything they want without interference from the Republicans.
This represents a significant opportunity, in my view.
I’ve said before in this space that the greatest fear about Obamacare for the national Republican Party has nothing to do with communism and death panels. Their greatest fear is that it will actually work, people will come to depend on it, and that all those newly insured people will remember all the fear-mongering done by the Republicans and recognize that fear mongering for the deeply silly thing that it was.
Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Legislature have a golden opportunity to enable a similar epiphany, and on way more issues than just health care. There are a number of programs and initiatives that are currently impossible to enact at the national level, but that could be enacted at the state level and function as persuasive test projects for federal Democratic policy efforts.
Some ideas:
Launch a massive public works program. There is both a lot of slack in the labor market and a crying need for infrastructure improvements throughout the state. For example, a significant portion of California’s levee system dates back to the 19th century, and the potential for things to go terribly wrong has been raised in nearly apocalyptic terms by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For a taste of what I’m talking about, pour yourself a stiff drink and then Google the term “California ARkStorm.”
Moreover, a non-trivial percentage of our roads, rail lines, water delivery systems and energy distribution systems — particularly in our coastal zones — are vulnerable to being massively disrupted in the next significant earthquake, particularly on the Hayward Fault. These risks can be mitigated, but it will take a multi-year, large-scale commitment to get it done. Let’s put idle workers to work on these projects.
Restore a tuition-free public higher education system. It used to be a commonplace of political economics that education is not just a personal good but also a social good. Education makes possible not just economic progress, but also a better citizenry. After graduating from college in the 1950s, my mother took some graduate courses at UC-Berkeley and did so without paying a cent for tuition, fees or books. Her expenses were paid by state taxpayers, and in return those taxpayers got a high school Spanish teacher. Free (to students) college education would enable quite a bit of class mobility, since it would make preparation for entrance into the upper middle class affordable for everyone.
Establish a statewide industrial policy. Right now the Bay Area is a great place to live for those with graduate degrees and advanced technical and computer skills (and the generous paychecks those qualifications bring). It is becoming less and less affordable for the vast majority of its residents, who do not have those skills and credentials. A reasonable alternative is to encourage the growth of advanced, skill-intensive manufacturing enterprises in the state — things like optics, precision machine tools, advanced energy generation and so forth — and to provide, at taxpayer expense, the advanced vocational skills training to all those currently struggling working-class people so they can staff those enterprises for high wages. There is no immutable law that says that advanced, precision things can only be manufactured by German and Japanese workers. California could become Germany on the Pacific, but achieving that would require a substantial commitment from the state government.
There is an immense amount of industrial infrastructure around the Bay Area that is either decaying quietly or being converted into chic lofts for tech workers. Call me crazy, but I think a better use of industrial infrastructure is for industrial enterprises to put them to use for industrial purposes.
I’d love, for example, to see the United States become a leading shipbuilder in the world once again. Mare Island would be nearly ideal for that purpose, since it was more or less designed by the Navy expressly to do just that. Encouraging a commercial ship-building industry there would go a long way toward reviving Vallejo’s fortunes. My childhood city of Richmond could similarly benefit — it was a major center of shipbuilding during the Second World War, and the old harbor is just sitting there waiting to be used once again.
All this and more could be done, but it requires courage and commitment from the California Democratic Party. Success would more or less guarantee Democratic governance in the state for the foreseeable future, and would be a persuasive argument for similar actions on the national level by the Democrats — and for giving the national Democrats large enough congressional majorities to do so.
Matt Talbot is a writer and poet, as well as an old Benicia hand. He works for a tech start-up in San Francisco.
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Matt said: but it requires courage and commitment from the California Democratic Party
Great ideas Matt! Utopia can be attained, if Democrats can just put their minds to it. /sarcasm
Maybe though some of these sobering stats will need to be reversed first:
Most Business friendly states: Wyoming #1…. California #48
Small Business Friendly States : Idaho, Utah (two others) A+, Michigan, Illinois, Calif. D
State Business Tax climate Index: Wyoming #1…..California #48
Top five states losing residents: #1 Illinois, #2, NY, #3 California
Ha! As if Wyoming and California are comparable in any way. What a farce.
All you are saying in all of this Matt is TAX, TAX, TAX. The problem is we are already taxed way too much and eventually you will run out of other peoples money. These are old ideas that have been proven over and over and over and over again, ad nauseam to not work. How about some fresh untried ideas for a change instead of all the old broken records? It doesn’t work! People are not incentivized by free stuff. They are motivated by what they work to achieve. It is a basic human instinct. Well maybe not for you but for those of us that work hard for a living it is. How about some incentive based concepts where people benefit from some assistance based upon their hard work and initiative and contribution rather than just a hand out.
No, he is saying a great deal more — but all you see is TAX TAX TAX. What do you think that says about you? (Hint: Nothing good.)
Not to worry Hank when the Dems lose the Senate let me see what you would say then. I guess not enough taxes.
They may lose the Senate but they will take it back in 2016. The landslide is already building, and the Republicans thinking they’re on the right track with a 2014 win will make it all the sweeter. Also looks like Dems will pick up some governorships this year — Maine, Kansas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida, maybe more. And of course, Bob, you live in California, sunny, liberal California — never forget it.
Sounds like Jerome…without the facts.
I can not believe what I just read. It appears Matt wants a one party system. Pure Marx, Commuinism and for Socilist ideals. Matt it appears you are a very left leaning person with all those ideals. All this state has to do is get the oil out of the ground. and at the same time quit worrying about global warming/climate change which is a myth. IThat will solve all those problems and you will be very happy. Fracking can be done healthy and clean. The dems had control for over forty years in the house of reps and it went no where but did up your taxes. Your answer has always been exchange and redistribute the income and wealth. Matt you may want to try other countries and see just how it worked out. Not some 5/6 mil population country. Try Russia just as an example. Matt your pure Marxist ideals are something I do not understand but again it does follow how you always writer. BlAME THE OTHER GUY WHICH IN THIS CASE IS THE REPUBLICANS.
Define socialism. Define Marxism. You cannot. Just throwing words against the wall to see how they splatter.
Great stuff as usual Matt. When the other guy (Republicans) deserve blame, blame away.
Glad to see you post more often Hank. Keeps the debate alive and ALSO Liberal Socialism.
What is liberal socialism?
What is conservative socialism?
How deep is the ocean? How high is the moon?
Depth is not his forte…
Matt stated: the Democrats can pass, and the Democratic governor can sign into law, pretty much anything they want without interference from the Republicans.
Matt, you have made it clear that all that is wrong in the country is clearly the fault of Republicans, though you have rarely offered any specifics.
Regarding California: Can you name three bills, laws or policies that were not enacted by the majority party which have then contributed to the poor economy, deteriorating infrastructure, overcrowded prisons, poor financial condition or educational shortcomings?
Bear in mind the Democrats have controlled the Sacramento legislation since Reagan days.
Also, no fair citing vetoes as the Democrats have had full control since 2011 and any law worth passing, could have been passed.
You likely will remain silent and not respond, I will take that as an indication that you do not have an answer to a simple and legitimate question.
I would also remind you of one thing: Gray Davis.
From the column: Restore a tuition-free public higher education system
Let’s take a closer look at that idea:
Between the CSU and the UC system’s there are approximately 650,000 FTES’ (full time equivalent Students). Tuition generates about $6.5 Billion in revenue.
That lost revenue would then go into the state’s general budget deficit. As of March 10 of this year that deficit was 14.1 billion.
Thus the proposed solution would increase the deficit 146%.
Didn’t the writer suggest previously that the government can just print more money to help pay the bills?
Maybe we could get a special run of 50’s and 20’s from the Mint to help us out?