ListenPolitical Fix
Libertarians Woo Disenchanted Gay and Lesbian Democrats
- July 1, 2009
- By Gloria Penner
During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama appealed to the LGBT community with visions of what an Obama administration would accomplish on behalf of fair treatment and equality. But that’s not happening fast enough – if at all – for gay and lesbian Democrats who opened their wallets to Obama with high hopes. Read more →
Water Politics: Democracy or Labyrinth
- June 24, 2009
- By Gloria Penner
Our nation prides itself on the power of the people. Many political philosophers believe that it is public opinion that drives democracy and that ordinary citizens can actually influence the decisions that ultimately shape their lives and their destinies. However, in California, especially in semi-arid Southern California, this may not entirely hold true. Here, it is the control of water that has shaped the destiny of the land and its inhabitants. Read more →
Safeguarding California Judges from the Influence of Campaign Contributions
- June 18, 2009
- By Gloria Penner
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision put the spotlight on concerns that judges could be influenced by large campaign contributions. How large is large? In the case of Caperton vs. Massey Coal Company, the chief executive of Massey contributed $3 million to the election campaign of a West Virginia candidate to the state Supreme Court. Brent Benjamin won that election and just 3 years later overturned a $50 million claim against Massey. What a deal! Three million dollars to win $50 million. In a close decision, the high court ruled that judges have to recuse themselves from cases where substantial campaign contributions create the impression of bias. But the court didn’t establish how much money is too much money.
Read more →Small Cities Are Doing Just Fine, Thank You
- June 4, 2009
- By Gloria Penner
The City of San Diego’s well-publicized budget struggles include pay cuts and fee hikes. But even cuts and hikes aren’t enough to quell Mayor Jerry Sanders’ worry, anger and frustration at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s intention to borrow $2 billion from local governments. So I assumed that other cities in San Diego County would also be worrying at the prospect of state legislators shoveling property taxes from small municipalities into California’s coffers. After all, fewer city dollars mean fewer city services and smaller staffs to serve local residents. Read more →
Same-Sex Marriage and the Cultural Shift
- May 28, 2009
- By Gloria Penner
When the California Supreme Court handed down its six to one decision upholding Proposition 8 on May 26th, reaction was swift from both sides. Prop. 8 supporters cheered and immediately geared up for the next fight to protect traditional marriage between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriage advocates laid plans for that next fight to extend marriage to gays and lesbians. Read more →
So You Want to Be Sheriff?
- May 1, 2009
- By Gloria Penner
Normally, the San Diego County Sheriff is elected by county voters every four years. But this year, it will be very, very different. Sometime this spring, instead of a potential 1.5 million registered voters going to the polls to choose one of the county's most powerful officials, the decision will be made by only five people. True, those five are themselves powerful as members of the County Board of Supervisors and collectively have spent almost 100 years in office. But since all are white and Republican in an increasingly racially diverse region where Democrats now outnumber Republicans, it is reasonable to question whether their choice would reflect the voters. Read more →
Surprise! Another Election in May
- April 23, 2009
- By Gloria Penner
So you thought you had done your good citizen job when you voted last November. Well, you're not off the hook yet. California is in big financial trouble and your vote may be the answer that the state Legislature is looking for to plug a multi-billion dollar gap between what the state takes in and what it spends. But then again, you may decide that you don't want to do the Legislature's job. After all, that's what they get paid those big bucks to do. Or perhaps after reading through the six propositions, you don't like the choices that that Propositions 1A through 1F offer. Read more →
The Census: Statistical Sampling is a Hot Potato
- April 17, 2009
- By Gloria Penner
Try dropping the words "statistical sampling" while in conversation with a Republican politician and watch the sizzle. Why does such a nerdy blending of adjective and noun inflame GOP lawmakers like House Minority Leader John Boehner and Vista's conservative Congressman Darrell Issa? Issa is the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Read more →
Politics of Clean Tech
- March 5, 2009
- By Gloria Penner
The audio on this blog features the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation's Andrew Poat who, while not a household name, is known in political circles as an established state and then local government official. So I decided that if I wanted to know something about the new "in" industry, rumored to be a competitor for biotech and high-tech, Andrew would be the one to ask. Read more →
The Pitiful Progress of Women in Politics
- Feb. 27, 2009
- By Gloria Penner
There may be some argument somewhere that although 50.7 percent of Americans are female, there's no reason that half of our Congress or our state legislatures or even our governors need to be women. Well that argument against a 50-50 split, whatever its rationale, apparently is powerful. On the other hand, the assertion that because women are half the people, they should be half the elected lawmakers has little traction in this nation. Read more →
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