Ask the 'Geek Candidate' for California Governor 1109
No, not Arnold Schwarzenegger. We're talking abut Georgy Russell, who studied computer science at UC Berkeley, often wears ThinkGeek clothing, has a blog, reads Slashdot, and knows how to run Linux. Since this California electoral free-for-all has turned into a worldwide spectator sport as bizarre as any other 'Reality TV' show currently airing, Slashdot might as well get in on the media frenzy and interview a candidate, and Georgy is the obvious choice. We'll email Georgy 10 of the highest-moderated questions, and publish her answers (and, yes, the chosen questions in the same post) as soon as she replies.
Do you think the recall is fair? (Score:5, Insightful)
This whole situation seems like a gross abuse of a recall system that relies on honesty and virtuous politicians. Unfortunately California is no such utopia. By running in the election you have shown your support for it, how do you justify this support given the evident problems.
Budget (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Miss Russell, (Score:5, Insightful)
Now, then, why do you -THINK- she's so popular?
(Oh, and she's a twenty-something).
Re:Do you think the recall is fair? (Score:2, Insightful)
Do you think this election is Real? (Score:5, Insightful)
Won't this whole election fiasco cripple anyone who actually wins?
Media Attention (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Miss Russell, (Score:4, Insightful)
While I feel (see here [slashdot.org])that some of her issues are going to cause detrimental harm to her campaign due to the current status of most of the voting population, I think that people could possibly relate to her (especially 18-29 aged voters, sadly, most of that group doesn't vote).
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:-1, Insightful)
are you just another stupid techno-libertarian? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Marijuana (Score:2, Insightful)
Also, ask a 13 year old which is easier to get: illegal marijuana or legal beer? Sometimes making something legal helps.
Who's in your staff? (Score:5, Insightful)
budget crisis (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:1, Insightful)
You believe that that is a positive thing for our country?
Mandating Open Source? (Score:3, Insightful)
What I want to know is, do you think that passing a law mandating the use of free software wherever it does the job properly would be proper? While many people here at
Thank You,
Alex Kirk
Re:Do you think the recall is fair? (Score:5, Insightful)
If you think that a vote of no confidence is fair, which happens quite often in the "democratic" world, then you should think the California recall is fair.
That said, I happen to dislike votes of no confidence. I'm all for removing an executive from office should (s)he prove incompetent, but holding an election to replace that person should not occur. That is the purpose of offices such as the U.S. Vice President, or, in California's case, the Lt. Governor. What *should* happen is that, should a recall vote occur and Gov. Davis is removed, the Lt. Governor should take his place and an election should be held for Lt. Governor (which is elected seperately by California law, IIRC). Furthermore, that vote should take place in the legislature, not by popular vote.
However, that's me. Feel free to argue with me about it.
Firearms laws (Score:3, Insightful)
Twenty percent vote could win (Score:2, Insightful)
Let's assume for a moment that you won with only 21% of the vote. It is likely there would be some resentment from the constituancy. With such a lack of support from the voters the legislature and even the judicial branch may see you as weak or even wounded.
What would you do your first days in office to gain popular support and show the other politicans that you are really a person of the people, by the people, and for the people?
Re:Do you think the recall is fair? (Score:5, Insightful)
What is unfair about it? It is a constitutional way for the people to re-assert their power in California. There are plenty of reasons why Davis should lose his job, but the single most important reason is that the people don't want him in office anymore- thats why the recall statutes were put on the books in the first place!
I personally love this whole thing. The only people that are upset by this process are people like Davis that think that they are losing power. They can't stand that they have no control over what is happening or what candidates end up on the ballot. As far as I am concerned, the further this gets from the typical choice between two boring candidates slinging mud at each other, the better.
Re:Do you think the recall is fair? (Score:2, Insightful)
I guess people are afraid of the L word these days?
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:5, Insightful)
but you think the first thing the paramedics should do is "check their papers."
gee, glad i don't live in america any more.
and you're assuming that *all* illegal immigrants came over the border knowing they were illegal. a fair number of illegal immigrants are brought over with promises of legal immigration and legal jobs. a lot of internet add servers do geo-targeting and they know my ip addresses are outside the states so i see ads everyday advertising companies that will bring me over to work in the states legally (or so they say).
and these are american companies exploiting foreign workers. often in high risk jobs with little regard for osha.
and you favour leaving them bleeding in the streets.
nice.
Re:Do you think the recall is fair? (Score:2, Insightful)
The reason for the uproar is that he purposefully hid the size of the deficit prior to the election and within days of (barely) winning re-election (against a brainless buffoon, Bill 'Slander' Simon) he released the $30 billion deficit numbers. Brainless Bill Simon said the deficit would be over $25 billion and Joe "Gray" Davis denied this in the campaign, saying Simon was inflating the numbers unfairly and the deficit would only be $10 billion at the most.
BTW, the reason for the deficit is NOT the energy scams run by the likes of Enron, et al. That fiasco is being passed directly on to businesses and consumers in the form of high rates all because Do-Nothing Davis sat on the crisis, eating his To-Fu Berry shakes and Turkey sandwiches, for over a year until he signed the stupid multi-year rate agreement with the power cos.
This recall is not about right-wingers upset at Democrats -- those signing the 1.7 million signatures for the recall election came from a cross-section of political opinion in Ca.
Lastly, the recall is an ELECTION. If the voters want to keep this train-wreck of a governor, they can say so at the polls.
That is the legal election process in California.
Fair? What a stupid, insipid question.
Fiscal Dicipline?? (Score:3, Insightful)
For about 80%, the vast majority of Californians, the increased taxes necessary to fund universal health care would be less than their current costs for private health care. A new system would allow for much needed accountability for health coverage, and create competition based on quality of care rather than cost of care.
How can you (on the same web page) talk about your fiscal dicipline and introduce an idea for universal health care?
Additionally, in a single payer system there is *no* competition. Is your universal health care really universal or are you unsure of the meaning of competition??
Clearly you haven't thought a lot of this through. There are typos on your web pages and *worse* there are logical fallacies in your political rhetoric.
On the other hand I love your approach to gay marriage and marijuana. But that's the Libertarian in me... not the liberal.
Why should I vote for you?? (Aside from the fact that you're hella cute and also geeky?)
May I suggest a new sloagan for you??
Georgy for Govenor. The same political hot air... now tempered with good looks!
~foooo
PS. I don't live in Kalifornia, but if I did I'd spend my vote on someone less bleeding heart and opt for a more practical candidate.
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:3, Insightful)
They pay taxes (sales tax and the federal taxes deducted from their paychecks).
Please pardon what may be a stupid question, but since federal tax withholding is done using social security numbers, and since illegal aliens don't have SSNs, how does this work? Wouldn't that be a big red flag for the IRS that someone is employing illegal aliens? I thought, rather, that most illegal aliens worked "under the table," with no taxes being withheld or accounting being performed.
Did Florez go far enough investigating Oracle? (Score:2, Insightful)
Yeah it's fair, and Davis will go! (Score:2, Insightful)
I would disagree with the original statement that he was elected by the people. I live in California, and the major problem is the nature of the "Open Primary" system. Basically what happened is that the Dems got the word out, and they voted in mass for the weaker of his potential Rebpublican opponents (ie, Bill Simon vs. Richard Riordan) in the Republican primary. This was enough to throw the elections. In addition, during hte *Republican* primary, Davis ran a massive number of attack ads against Riordan, the stronger Republican candidate.
So in the Republican primary, you had the Dems+1/3 Republicans voting for Simon, and 2/3 Republicans voting for Riordan. Of course, Riordan lost the primary, and Simon was such a weak candidate he couldn't beat Davis on his own merit.
So if you look at it that way, no, Davis was not elected by a fair majority of the population in a fair election. He bought it. People didn't like him then, and less now.
if people dislike him then they can vote him out of office when his term is up.
He's screwed this state up enough that he doesn't deserve the extra time. No thanks.
This whole situation seems like a gross abuse of a recall system that relies on honesty and virtuous politicians. Unfortunately California is no such utopia. By running in the election you have shown your support for it, how do you justify this support given the evident problems.
I will also say that Davis' popularity, which was never high, nosedived after the election when he was utterly unable to get a budget done and when people saw his choices for budget cuts. Of course, some people are dumb and get pissed at any budget cuts - I'll admit they are necessary. But his choices were horrendous - cutting education as one of the first things to go, that's just criminal.
I will be voting to get the hell rid of Davis. He's an idiot, he's dishonest (ask him how much money he took from Enron and Cisco), and he needs to leave. The basis for the recall is fair, and he's earned it by losing the trust of CA.
See ya, Gray.
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:3, Insightful)
Do you have evidence of illegal immigrants getting an actual paycheck with federal taxes withheld? I have lived around various groups of illegal immigrants (crop workers in southern Georgia, construction workers in Atlanta). To the best of my knowledge, all of them were paid in cash, with no taxes being taken from their wages.
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:3, Insightful)
Uh, no. Well, OK, they pay sales tax, but so does everyone who buys anything. A large majority of them do NOT have taxes deducated from their paychecks, or even have paychecks at all (cash under the table), since if they got a social security number, that wouldn't help them "stay under the radar", and you can't deduct taxes from a paycheck without a social security number.
Re:What part of illegal don't you understand? (Score:3, Insightful)
hm. i suppose putting them in garbage bags and dumping them in the landfill would just use up valuable landfill space. maybe they could just be ground up and used for dog chow.
yes, i think that's the way to go.
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:4, Insightful)
They pay taxes. Federal taxes deducted from their paychecks.
Where exactly is that fscking line item on the envelope full of singles that they get at the end of the day?
They are not a draw on social programs?
The county of Los Angeles ALONE - in 1 year paid out $350 MILLION (one county, one year) last year in medical expendatures to "undocumented workers". How do they know this? If you have a valid SSN, you get MediCAL. If you don't have a valid SSN, they simply bill your (ficticious) residence. The cost last year was $380 million. (LA Times)
If they get arrested they get tossed out?
It costs the state of California 7 times more to incarcerate "undocumented" Californians [ca.gov] than it will cost to run this recall election.
They do not have to pay any insurance costs for their "vehicles" because they do not bother to register them, because, like you said, they avoid the DMV.
They most often use public transportation - which is by all accounts in every location in California a tax user, not a tax producer - because all state county, and city public transportation systems run at a loss, they do not make the cities/state money.
They do not pay for the cost of their children's education - because they do not pay income tax because they do not, on average, make enough to pay taxes since most of them make less than $22k a year.. below which, you do not pay federal income tax, and they can actually GET money back from the federal govnerment because you get $1000 for each child you have - the child tax credit.. so in the end, they MAKE more money off of the tax system alone than they put in.
They pay sale tax (on good that they buy in stores, but not on goods such as private sale of foodstuffs like what the farmers will sell to them at the end of the day). And they pay property tax (as part of their cost of rent) - but since they live disproportionately more people/dwelling, the revenue generated per captia is far below non-Latino rates.
In short - California is 100 times better than where they came from. Where they cam from they did not get free medical, free childbirth medical, free schooling for their kids, nearly free transportation costs, they don't get extorted by the cops as much as they did back in Mexico, China, Korea or whetever central American country they are from... and they get to be guarded by the best police, fire, and military protection in the world - without paying most of those nasty taxes that go to provide it all.
The employers of these people have an unfair tax advantage - but far far more importantly, they do not have to pay worker's compensation insurance on them - which in the State of California is running around 75% of worker's wages right now/year... it may go to 125% within 5 years. That means if you hire a guy for $40k a year, it will cost you nrealy $100k to hire them - when its all said and done...
This state is on the verge of total colapse - and it is because this state is responsible for the care, feeding (school lunches and breakfasts), and medical of non-trivial portions of other country's populations.
I did not sign up for the recall because I want to see at what point people will "get it" - that you cannot run a state like this, or it will collapse. With the party in power now standing up things like the "end poverty in California committee" [ca.gov] movement in the state legislature - perhapse you remember that from the past.. Stalin and Lennin were both big proponents of the same ideals.
I want Americans to feel first hand what socialism does to a state... i want them to experience total colapse of a state under the weight of open borders and unlimited government programs. Because it is obvious to me that most people still left i
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:5, Insightful)
A staggering 43 million Americans have no health coverage whatsoever and another 100 million are considered under-insured.
- Why NOT Privatize [web.net]
It looks like the US could easily afford health care for both "real citizens" as you call them and illegal immigrants.
Besides, I'd rather pay an extra $10 in taxes this year than let some poor kid with a bullet in her stomach die on the street.
Nobody wins unless everyone wins, right?
You underestimate the power (Score:5, Insightful)
It brings up another interesting aspect of cultural power in this election; how many people will see Arnold as anything less than a hero? How many people will be influenced by his characters' ability to go against seemingly overwhelming odds to survive and succeed? This is not to say that the big guy isn't a good person - I was quite impressed by his charitable donations and interest in children. But he has gone against aliens, liquid metal assassins, sword weilding tribesmen, evil public servents and some villians too ridiculous to mention and succeeded each time.
How will his opponents (Ms. Russell, this question is for you) fight against this vision in the public's mind so that their issues and faces can take center stage?
myke
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:5, Insightful)
Look- I'm a Republican who believes that we need serious imigration reform, our policy is too restrictive (I know, not exactly the party line there). The southwest sees tons of illegals because we as a country won't let them come across in a legit manner. However, all that will change by giving illegals free health care is increasing the number of illegals. Politicians on both sides of the aisle spend way to much time fighting symptoms. Get to the cause- make these aliens legal and then allow them the same health care options the rest of America has.
What's to stop... (Score:2, Insightful)
Having another election is a Good Thing.
Where the business? (Score:5, Insightful)
It appears you might be in a segment of the political spectrum where you are duty bound to think of business as the Bad Guys, but I'd ask you to look beyond that. At least look for ways to attract smaller businesses which is where most of the job growth tends to occur anyway.
I'm afraid your statements have too much ideological content. For example, there are reasons OTHER than "special interests" that prevent wide adoption of solar energy. Some of them have a solid scientific and economic basis. And the crack about "Oh, do we want to be like Bush's Texas" was also silly.
A lot of us out here are really, really tired of that blame game nonsense. We don't want to hear California's woes blamed on Bush or 9/11 or El Nino or the flapping of a butterfly's wings in Argentina. What's done is done and now is now. What do you propose to FIX it?
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:3, Insightful)
A socialist country can tightly control its borders, and choose a specific set of government programs that exist to benefit only citizens.
As far as I know the worker's comp system in California is pretty much busted.
Shiny jails and crumbling schools. That's what California is all about. Direct democracy == stupid tax laws == gradual decline.
And why is it that nobody goes after the employers of these illegal immigrants? If employers started going to jail, the situation might change. How friggin' hard can it be to catch these people, anyway?
Why bother legalizing marijuana? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:More importantly, is the recall legal (Score:3, Insightful)
Cattle (Score:3, Insightful)
Television broadcasters and advertisers are schooled to direct their messages to an average 12 year-old mentality because that, unfortunately, has been proven by far the most effective way to get people to, 'Vote with their Wallets.'
Likewise, success in politics, as has been demonstrated since the dawn of politics, and which is certainly true today, is almost never achieved by appealing to the minds of a "Self-motivated, rational and informed public." Success in politics is nearly always achieve by manipulating and then addressing base emotions through overly-simplified representations of issues. "People would rather believe a Simple Lie than a Complex Truth."
--The simple fact that 'Arnie', whose primary claim to fame is physical size and a movie career where he played big guys with big guns and 'blowed stuff up real good', is actually in a real position to win, is an excellent example.
So, (and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here by assuming you are *not* yet another deluded and/or self-serving jerk), how do you personally approach the whole problem that success in politics is largely based on manipulating like cattle the very voting public which it is the politician's job to respect and serve?
-FL
Experience (Score:3, Insightful)
I understand what you mean when you say that Bush and Davis show that political experience is overrated. But I think that's a ludicrous characterization of an obvious point: experience does not guarantee success, but can you have success without experience? What is your experience in the field of public speaking and policy analysis? As someone who has been involved with high school policy debate and still is involved with college parliamentary debate, I often feel there is a depth to issues that most ordinary people don't understand, a depth that usually comes through a careful, two-sided analysis of issues that is, more often than not, unique to some kind of analytical, political activity. Please provide evidence (or at least convince me) that you have this depth.
Cordially,
Samuel Chang
Re:About the deficit problem (Score:5, Insightful)
But they are all related. Consumer spending is down because people are out of work. People are out of work because the economy is bad. The economy is especially bad in California because of the asinine anti-business legislation that is driving businesses [fortune.com] out of the state.
The message? Sales taxes are a bad idea.
The message I get is that you shouldn't increase state spending by 30% in three years during a period of unsustainable growth in tax revenue.
And I happen to think that sales taxes are the most fair methods of taxation because they let the individual choose how much taxes they are going to pay.
One idea I like is the circulation fee system.
I hate that idea. Coerced spending- ugh.
Re:that means (Score:3, Insightful)
The Chickens have come home to roost. (Score:3, Insightful)
It seemed like such a good idea at the time. But social services were cut. Libraries, for example, were decimated and whaddyaknow, the so-calledd "quality of life" began to deteriorate. (But hey! You lifers' property taxes are low, so to hell with your neighbors!)
So what did the government do? Began to rely on income tax. With the 90's boom the (state) government stayed afloat on dot-commers' riches for a few more years. Then the bust.
Now the chickens are home to roost. This has nothing to do with Davis. He inherited this mess caused by the voters when Proposition 13 was passed many years ago. But the *Voters* take no responsibility for the mess they created. They voted Prop 13 in; they vote Davis out. Somehow, they see no connection.
If elected, you will also inherit this mess. What will you do to educate voters to being citizens of the state instead of citizens of their own plot of land? How will you teach voters that word that is so hard to say, Responsibility?
Views on RIAA and SCO (Score:2, Insightful)
For the RIAA cases, most politicians would side with RIAA. Afterall, sharing copyright material is an infringement. But how do you view the methods being used to find these music sharers. Are they a threat to privacy rights? In another words, do the ends justify the means? Also, do you feel the fines, $10k+, are to severe for those convicted. Many of those who download and share musics are kids, from teenagers to college students. They seemed to be singled out for something they don't feel is any more illegal than jaywalking. I personally feel that the fine should be no more than $500.
As for the SCO case, do you support the actions taken by SCO? I suppose there's little a CA governor can do in this case. What are your views on the Open Source Software and GPL. What protection and their limits do you feel they should have?
I understand these cases are not bound within California, but many of those involved are in the state. How much can you influence these cases if you are elected governor, and what would you do?
Re:What part of illegal don't you understand? (Score:3, Insightful)
i find it odd that in california which seeks to legalise drug use, is so keen on beating down on illegal immigrants. well, no, it fits the self-absorbed attitude i see from most california politicians (left and right).
i'm still curious how a country that hypes free trade around the world seems unwilling to allow the free movement of labour into it.
Re:Experience [Addendum] (Score:3, Insightful)
Clean elections--
Do you honestly believe that money needs to be removed from the elections equation? How will this ensure an efficient solution if no one is allowed to contribute to a candidate s/he endorses, and how will this ensure that majority candidates will not be swamped by the radicals that flood out of the woodwork by a more equitable playing field? How much money would each candidate get out of the public funding pool? What happens if too many candidates run and not enough money is available?
Justice System--
While I agree in principle that the death penalty is bad policy, please offer a concrete solution to take care of the the problems that arise with letting more convicted felons into already overcrowded prisons. If I read your website right, you seem to advocate loosening sentences for as-yet-not-elaborated-on cases. Do give something substantial here.
Budget Woes--
Please, please, please tell us what you will do to *solve* the budget problems, other than "make courageous decisions."
Health Care--
Please elaborate on how Vermont's health care system, which serves a population of 613,090 (probably less than LA's population even), will scale up to serve California's population of 34,501,130.
Legalization of Marijuana--
Although I may be in the minority on this issue, do you think that allowing another mind-altering, functionally-impairing substance on the market is a good thing? Is burning paper and plant leaves good for the environment? What about secondhand smoke? What about commercialization of marjiuana, which will inevitably put additives in to make it smoother and more carcinogenic?
Economic Prosperity--
Please, once again, tell us what you will do about this, other than "take a page from President Clinton."
Overall, I think you introduce many ideas which are great but will be extremely costly to California. Given your repeated use of the words "fiscal discipline," I am less convinced that you have a consistent theme running throughout your platform. California cannot afford to partially fund every political candidate, provide universal health care, and achieve fiscal solvency. This does not include the costs of regulating marijuana and investing in clean energy technologies, which will add to the burden. As you would have Arnold do, please clearly elaborate on what policy initiatives you will undertake, how you would fund them, why they will work, and not what things are like.
Cordially,
Samuel Chang
Re:Do you think the recall is fair? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:2, Insightful)
Typical liberal response...use scare tacticts to get your point across. Take a legitimate debate and throw your opponents view to some far out position no one holds.
No one is or ever will be denied emergency health care in California or any other state. The concern of the rising costs of healthcare and diminishing benefits is ever growing as "managed" healthcare and trial lawyers run amock are an ever increasing burden on the system. It just so happens that locally, here in CA, we have another burden...that of non tax paying illegal immigrants receiving benefits payed for by tax paying citizens. The argument that it's not an issue because you think somehow that we wouldn't have anyone to take out our trash otherwise is one that has and will continue to fall on the deaf ears hard-working tax-paying voting citizens.
Re:questions about the campaign. (Score:2, Insightful)
Illegals - est. 700,000 [immigration.gov]
California - pop. 33,871,648 [census.gov]
Illegals - est. 2,000,000 [immigration.gov]
Illegal info [immigration.gov] [immigration.gov]
While I agree that California is in bad shape due to the extensive government regulation of business that you mentioned above, I have to disagree about the illegal immigrants being a significant part of the problem. While Texas does not have quite as high a proportion of immigrants as California, the budget certainly does not have a 40 billion dollar deficit. I can't see how having twice the illegal immigrant population (proportionally) can account for those billions of dollars.
Re:About the deficit problem (Score:3, Insightful)
No no they do not. Sales taxes are very unfair and quite regressive. The simple reason is that at lower incomes most people *have* to spend a big chunk of their paychecks on food, clothes, other things that they need and can not really choose not to spend on and as a result they end up paying sales tax on a much larger percentage of their income than a rich person who spends a much lower percantage of their income on things they can not choose to be without. So no sales taxes and a really unfair and bad thing.
Re:Do you think the recall is fair? (Score:2, Insightful)
So we're going to recall a governor, which by it's very nature indicates that the electorate feels that something has gone horribly wrong in the Governor's office, then we're going to allow him to exploit the fact that there are so many people running against him to re-take the office he was just fired from? If that's your idea of fair, I'm glad you're not the one making the call here.
You also seem to be neglecting the fact that in the replacement election, there is no primary -- something that would eliminate probably 150 candidates from the ballot.
Without a primary, allowing a newly recalled governor back on the ballot is nothing but a tremendous waste of taxpayer's dollars and runs completely contrary to any sort of democratic ideal still held here.
Education (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:About the deficit problem (Score:3, Insightful)
Sales taxes are, by their nature, regressive. The poorer you are, the bigger a burden they are on you - you have to spend a larger percentage of your income, while richer people can save or invest their money and not pay the sales tax (not to mention any other benefits of being richer). Now I know there are plenty of people in here who think that that's just dandy, and since this isn't really on topic,lets just say it really is obviously not a good idea to tax those most who make the least.
Is CA really controlled by businessmen? (Score:3, Insightful)
Your quote implies leigislation is largely bought by businessmen. However, Davis has been accused of being a puppet of labor unions, enacting anti-business legislation that is driving business away from California. Do you intend to continue this trend, and if so, how will this affect the budget as more businesses leave California, reducing tax revenue?
How can you make this work? (Score:2, Insightful)
This is one thing that most people aren't talking about. It's one thing to offer slogans and platitudes, but when it comes down to business, how are you going to get the Democratic leadership in the state assembly to give you one minute of their time? I see Arnold winning, and then getting *nothing* done, because hey, if I was a Democratic member of the state house, I wouldn't want to work with you or any of the other usurpers. I'd be more than happy to watch you twist in the wind, unable to build any consensus, totally ineffective because what you did was wrong.
As a life long resident of the Golden State, this whole thing is a travesty. Too bad we didn't recall Pete Wilson, the father of this entire mess, when we had the chance.
Re:CowboyNeal for Governor (Score:3, Insightful)
Dude, this entire election *is* a CowboyNeal option...
I've got a question... (Score:2, Insightful)
Qualifications? (Score:5, Insightful)
<PERSONAL OPINION>
Like William F. Buckley, I'd rather be ruled or governed by the Everyman than I would by an increasing number of deep pocketed haves. That said, I'm not giving anybody a free pass, because they play the part of the geek or legit geeks. I want candidates to put forward a comprehensive platform. Programs they will execute. Priorities for their budgets. Don't placate me by "feeling my pain" or reciting the terms of the GPL.
<SUBOPINION ON CALIFORNIA>
If the marijuana legalization and gay marriage are the acid tests for your gubernatorial candidates, then you have a serious problem. These are journalistic issues, issues that sell papers and give the cable news talking heads something to babble about. In reality, these issues (in addition to file sharing, the RIAA, and IP infringement) affect minor assortments of people. They do not belong in the realm of public policy making where budget crises, transportation gridlock, and energy shortages will determine California's future. These affect homosexuals and heterosexuals, virgin lungs and potheads, and Windows neophytes and Linux zealots with no prejudice.
</SUBOPINION ON CALIFORNIA>
</POLITICAL OPINION>
The money wheel is broken. (Score:1, Insightful)
As opposed to the "charge what the market will bear" pricing policies that made the rich, rich.
Yeah! Real fair.
DOESN'T ANYONE HAVE ANY FREAKIN' QUESTIONS!!!?? (Score:3, Insightful)
Given that - what game are you trying to win? You know you aren't going to be elected Governor. Are you just hoping to get your issues addressed? Looking for a book deal? Did someone double dog dare you? Do you, perhaps, actually want to run for Governor 15 years years from now and are just laying a little very early groundwork? Do you just have an excess of zeal?
I can understand why most of the runners are in it. for the has been actors and such - $3500 is a chump change investment for the amoun of PR they generated. Some (Arianna) are obviously looking at writing a book. Arnold thinks he can actually win. Flynt probably sees it as paying $3500 to fart loudly and publicly at The Establisment.
Whay are you in this race?
not complicated (Score:3, Insightful)
The first item doesn't sound fair but it is a basic tenet of capitalism - what the market will bear. If I make $100,000 a year and spend 40% of that on taxes I am still gonna have a lot more money than someone who makes $40000 a year and only spends 20% on taxes.
Many people will claim that poor people cost more to society than rich people, but this is untrue. Poor people may incur more direct costs, like welfare, subsidized housing, medicare, etc. But this is just enough money to survive. Rich people need the services of the police to protect their numerous belongings. They need the fire department to keep their large homes and office buildings from burning down. They need a military to protect their foreign investments. They need special legislation to protect their business interests. They need bailouts after stealing from their own companies. The government provides these services, and they cost a lot.
Re:protect the state from theft (Score:2, Insightful)
Enron trader pleads guilty to rig california energy prices [usatoday.com]
Another trader pleads guilty. [forbes.com]
Fastow indicted in defrauding California PERS [usdoj.gov]
The Texas PUC recommends that Enron pay $7 million for manipulating power prices in Texas [chron.com]
Texas has an obscene overcapacity of power, and obscenely low prices.
As I said, there is truth in that California does not have enough capacity, but that does not mean they were not hoodwinked. I think it is kind of like ordering a penis pump that never is received. The mark is just too embarrassed to admit the crime took place
Legalize It? (Score:2, Insightful)