Broken Governance

California is a broken state. It has always courted corruption, after all its wealthy and wealth breeds corruption. About 100 years ago things were so bad the initiative process was written into the State Constitution. This was a method for the people to take back governance. It was necessary because the robber barons were running the state. Now as all life does, we have come full circle. The initiative process has been usurped by today’s robber barons. This is not a recent event but has been building momentum for several decades. The fatal flaw being brilliantly exploited by big business and powerful individuals alike is that initiatives in California are amendments to the State Constitution. As such they can’t be modified by legislative law. What was once a strength is now our bane.
Anyone with sufficient funds can kick off an initiative. All it takes are signatures and a good advertising campaign. Now that the puppets in the Supreme Court have approved unlimited cash infusions by corporations into the electoral process things are getting worse in a hurry. Modern Americans are controlled by advertising. Having a third rate education system most do not learn critical thought. Government is taught in such a way as to induce coma. So, we tend to believe the most attractive advertising without question, especially where governance is concerned. How else can so many politician’s frequent and unchallenged dramatic changes on key issues be explained. They aren’t any stupider than the average Joe. They know they are on video and audio saying just the opposite only days or weeks before but not to worry, no one will recall. I struggle with this phenomenon. It has nothing to do with intellect. How is it that no one feels the need to pay attention to matters that directly affect them?
I have come to the conclusion that life in a dictatorship/kingdom/oligarchy etc. has a certain luxury lacking in democracies. People love this freedom and feel, being in a democracy and all, that they should have the right to it as well. It is the freedom to not give a crap. There are many rationalizations for the exercise of this freedom. Some common ones… “my vote won’t count anyway”, “I don’t understand the initiatives”, “both parties are the same” . I could continue but you get the picture.
So were am I going with this rant? A California private utility company has sponsored an initiative disguised as a “taxpayers right to vote act” that in reality is protection from competition for this utility. I worry because the advertising for this measure has been glossy, professional and very well funded. And, as I’ve pointed out the voting public is apathetic and uninformed. In a few days the votes will be cast and we shall see if my worries are ill founded. I really hope I’ve missed the mark on this.