How the Democrats Can Fail: Look to California

California state politics is a giant mess. Thanks to excessive gerrymandering, we have a majority of far-left Democrats running the legislature, battling against far-right Republicans to pass a ballooning budget every year, and consistently mismanaging a populace that would rather have a moderate government more in the center.

The California Democrats are beholden to the unions: teachers, firefighters, prison guards, and many state workers, all of whom demand huge raises, Cadillac benefits, and large pensions. The California teachers union may be the worst of the bunch: teachers are judged nearly entirely on years service and education, not on competency, and it is nearly impossible to fire teacher that has a few years experience. California teachers also get over 1/3 more pay than the national average, but continually want to divert more state money for more pay.

Now state employees and union members are "outraged" that there will be layoffs in their field. Are you serious? We're in the worst recession since the Great Depression! Everyone's getting laid off! This is the sense of entitlement the California special interests now have.

The Wall Street Journal has a great article about the state of California, and how "tax and spend governance may finally hit the wall". California Democrats have been recklessly spending without restraint, leading our state to the brink of bankruptcy. Now there are a lame series of propositions that try to raise taxes into a "rainy day" slush fund, and others that raid other programs that were previously passed by voters for specific purposes.

If the national Democrats want to see how to lose power, look to California. Democratics being puppets of special interests, combined with massive spending with no regard to financial consequences have put our state in critical condition.

GOP: from the Big Tent to the Pup Tent

With Arlen Spector's defection from Republican to Democrat, the GOP is looking sadder and sadder.  Now after so many years of "with us or against us" mentality and cheap scare tactics to try and keep power, they are starting a "listening tour"--funny that they never bothered listening before they lost power.  I think this party can choose to change and become a serious opposition party again, or continue on their path towards irrelevance, possibly to one day ceasing to exist as their fringe elements take over.  I really hope they can get their act together, because I see a weak Republican party unable to counter a huge shift past the center and far to the left in this country.  Here are five suggestions for the GOP:

1.  Quit playing to the ignorant and lazy.  Fear mongering and cheap shots without substance may get some votes, but weaken the party brand.  Become the anti-Cheneys.

2.  Choose to make your stand on issues that really matter, instead of issues that play to a special interest.  Remember the special session of Congress for Terry Schaivo that ended up accomplishing nothing?

3.  Try to get the majority by leaning closer to the center, not by accumulating enough special interests to win a slim majority.  This worked to get G.W. Bush elected twice, but also increased the country's divide and ended up backfiring.  Also, forcing out the moderating elements of the party will keep you in the minority indefinitely.

4.  Quit blindly choosing religion and law enforcement over individual rights.  This would mean welcoming more libertarian ideas into the party, including gay marriage and medical marijuana.  These are complex issues, and the GOP hardline positions alienate many from the party.  Also, far-right positions on immigration (including wanting to overturn the Fourteenth Amendment) will get you nowhere.

5.  Concentrate on countering the actual bad ideas of the Democratic party.  California is teetering on the brink of bankrupty in part because of many concessions to strong unions (teachers, prison guards) that promote mediocracy, not meritocracy.  Democrats also promote "nanny state" laws, can be against free trade, and many times believe government can do a better job than the private sector.  These ideas need an intelligence counterargument.