November 2 is less than two weeks away. Highly regarded political sources say California’s Proposition 23 has slim, but still finite, chances of passing. Californians are likely to further support the economic demise of their state, spinning itself off the road, like Spain.
But two weeks remain at the chance of redemption. California wouldn’t be the first to rise up from the quagmire it’s created for itself.
Check out change in New Jersey
As another case history of uncontrolled descent followed by a chance at redemption, consider New Jersey. Being a transplanted New Jersey native, I still follow its bizarre political scene.
Former Democrat Governor of New Jersey, Jim McGreavey, resigned in 2004 when it was revealed that he had appointed his intimate male friend as head of N.J. State Homeland Security, even though the friend wasn’t even a U.S. citizen, nevermind not his wife!
The powerful Democrat organization turned to Sen. Jon Corzine. Taxes had been on the increase for years, and wealth was already leaving the state. I was one of the émigrés. I, along with many others, could no longer afford New Jersey. But Corzine did nothing to stem the ebb tide out of the state. In fact, he reinforced it, exacerbating the out flow of folks and businesses with a kiss good-bye to their tax revenues taken elsewhere. Hey, California. Sound familiar?
During the election of 2005 (New Jersey has off-year elections), it was revealed that Corzine had a long affair with a female state worker union president. This is still fodder for the media. Despite the personal shenanigans in political offices made public, Corzine was elected anyway. Predictably, things got much worse. New Jerseyans, like Californians, get what they elect.
Fast forward. It’s 2009. New Jersey had tolerated just about enough. They elected Chris Christie, a tough-minded, budget-slashing, union-bashing conservative with values of hard work, family, and personal freedom held in high esteem. Christie is putting New Jersey back on the track, despite the screaming and yelling from the hard-core progressive constituency…because it’s been painful for everybody Left or Right in the middle of things in New Jersey.
Change in California too?
So, Californians shouldn’t give up the gavel just yet. Take a look at ye brethren on the Other Left Coast and see how they did it. Take a look at the redemption that awaits those who change their ways in time.
File a different perspective in the voting booth in two weeks. Make a difference. Be the difference. Cast the appropriate vote accordingly.
