Our Elected Morons
As I'm fond of saying, California is so debt-laden, we're in danger of breaking off and falling into the Pacific Ocean. But, never mind the truly serious issues. Democratic state senator Gloria Romero is fixing to strip California's state rock of its title because it contains asbestos (the only thing dumber than the fact that we actually have a state rock, which is serpentine).
Jessie Schiewe blogs at the LA Times about Cali Senate Bill 624:
...which has been passed by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources but still has a long way to go in the Legislature, would strip serpentine of its state-rock title, held since 1965. Why? Because the rock "contains the deadly mineral chrysotile asbestos, a known carcinogen, exposure to which increases the risk of the cancer mesothelioma" and because "California should not designate a rock known to be toxic to the health of its residents as the state's official rock."
And California voters should not designate clueless numpties to represent them, but they sure keep doing it.
I nominate Gloria Romero for the new state rock.
mpetrie98 at July 7, 2010 2:40 AM
It's not the rock that's serpentine...
Radwaste at July 7, 2010 2:48 AM
HEEEYYYY!!! Wait a minute, I thought Illinois was #1? We're Greece on Lake Michigan, haven't you heard?
Juliana at July 7, 2010 3:53 AM
There was a letter to the editor a few days ago here in Austin praising the high-speed rail California is trying to make, and wondering why we don't do more of that. California's idiocy is leaking into Texas with all the people moving here from there.
momof4 at July 7, 2010 4:55 AM
Definition of Designate:
1. To indicate or specify; point out.
2. To give a name or title to; characterize.
Question: As the state rock was chosen long ago, how exactly is not changing it the same as designating it the state rock?
I realize the politicans seem to get dumber as the years roll by, but should they be at least conversent with the english language?
And why the push to change? Has there been some new fad of californians eating the state rock?
Or smashing the stones and snorting the rubble?
lujlp at July 7, 2010 6:07 AM
When people open their mouth, they remove all doubt!
jksisco at July 7, 2010 7:18 AM
And what are they doing about California state government which is also known to be toxic?
AllenS at July 7, 2010 8:09 AM
Maybe someone should introduce a rider to the senate bill, designating Nicotiana Tabacum the California state flower. Watch as exploding-head mayhem ensues.
old rpm daddy at July 7, 2010 8:09 AM
Because most legislative seats are safe for either the Republican or Democratic nominee, there are few places in which it much matters whether candidates are skilled or capable. Instead, what we typically get are people who become the nominee by being a loyal party hack instead of a person with ideas that benefit one's potential constituents. There are a few decent and capable legislators in California, but they are the exception.
Under its current political system, California is doomed. That our legislators waste time with this sort of nonsense instead of addressing real issues is but one example. Our government's persistent inability to address its financial problems – which will in no way be altered by November's elections, regardless of the contrary protestations of the Whitman and Brown campaigns – mean that we will almost certainly be simultaneously the state with the largest economy in the U.S. and the first state to default on its debts.
Christopher at July 7, 2010 9:02 AM
Seems rather appropriate to me that their state rock is toxic.
Joe at July 7, 2010 9:11 AM
I love California!
Jason S. at July 7, 2010 9:36 AM
Amy, do you recall the old adage, "We deserve the politicians we elect" ?
With yourself as a big exception, who is it that's responsible for those "Elected Morons"?
California is a bellwether state that all intelligent people concerned about their future should closely watch. The recent polls don't give me much optimism. Please tell me why Jerry Brown is remotely close, yet alone ahead?!
In my work with BC Digital Divide, I've come across a large spectrum of people. One of them was a recovered heroin addict named Bonnie. Talking with her at lunch one day, I learned that she used to live in my neighborhood, albeit inside cardboard boxes beside dumpsters. I eventually asked her the most important question of all: "What was it that eventually prompted you to break your addiction and get off drugs?"
Her answer was simple & succinct: "I eventually hit rock bottom. Up until then I had not. But once I did, the path upward was clear & obvious."
Such, I believe, is the same with those Californians who are supporting the absolutely failed policies of Jerry Brown and all that he represents. They have not hit rock bottom yet and need to suffer even more economic pain to reach bottom. For they are no different than a drug addict in that they're addicted to entitlements and a strong sense that a big government knows best. They don't and it doesn't. Period.
Robert W. (Vancouver) at July 7, 2010 9:39 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/07/07/our_elected_mor.html#comment-1730299">comment from Robert W. (Vancouver)Sigh...absolutely right, Robert. Also, people here don't connect the boondoggles they vote for, like the "high-speed" train to SF with the notion that they will have to be paid for.
Amy Alkon at July 7, 2010 9:44 AM
Robert, as an expert in California governance, what are Jerry Brown's failed policies? When he was governor, he cut taxes and the state government ran a surplus. He overwhelmingly won reelection in 1978. More evidence of failure?
I do not currently think it much matters who wins the governorship, because the governor is not where the main problem lies - it is our failed legislature that cannot make difficult choices and pass budgets thanks to our 2/3 majority requirement to do so. But again, as an expert in California politics, perhaps you can explain how Whitman will overcome these problems where Brown cannot.
Christopher at July 7, 2010 11:12 AM
christopher, how old are you? When jerry brown took office, our education system was the envy of most of the country. The state university system was excellent and affordable. Moonbeam stripped it for his f;ing social programs. The fact that we had surpluses were solely because he inherited surpluses. Does rose bird ring a bell? Jerry brown is a f'ing political parasite who has never held a real job. Jerry Brown was a driver to unionizing all of the state labor which is the prime driver for the f'ing world of hurt we are already in. Jerry Brown stopped all nuclear reactor development in california, leaving us with a third world grid. Jerry Brown was a disaster. Now, that has nothing to do with whitman. So once again as in the national elections we are going to have to vote for an idiot and a scumbag. we have seen the idiot before so i guess i will go with the scumbag
ron at July 7, 2010 12:28 PM
Future news,
The California Commission on Worthy Rocks has issued its first report today. Little progress has been made. It seems that most rocks are inedible or even poisonous as a powder. Rock Salt was a favored candidate, until the comittee discovered that salt is bad for you, although very tasty on french fries, which are also bad for you.
The committee has announced that it will continue to meet until a candidate rock is found which is free of negative messages that could hurt our "young ones". Some have questioned whether children should be allowed to play on rocks until this work is done.
Andrew_M_Garland at July 7, 2010 1:12 PM
Ron, Jerry Brown's tenure as governor predated my arrival in California by many years, so I'm certain I don't know the full picture about what he did. I'm also not writing as a fan or supporter of his; I'm especially not fond of his pro-labor stance. And if he killed further nuclear power building in the state, that was a bad idea, too.
That said, it does not seem like he was not the fiscally irresponsible governor Whitman's ads portray him to be. I'm also not sure about your claim that his actions damaged our state universities, several (UCLA, UCB, UCSD, and UCSF Medical) of which are still among the most prestigious in the U.S. today, and their costs are not substantially out of line with other top tier public universities like UM and UVA. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong about these things, though.
My main point, which has been illustrated time and time again since I have lived here, is that the governorship in California is at most a secondary issue; the deeper problem with our government is our dysfunctional legislature and budgetary process. And as Amy noted above, our proposition system that lets people vote in things like high speed rail without any real understanding of how these things must be paid for. Direct democracy is a recipe for bad law.
Christopher at July 7, 2010 2:35 PM
The true morons are the voters who elected Gloria Romero into office.
Tony at July 7, 2010 6:41 PM
Look at it this way -- as long as they are writing useless bills and debating over useless policies such as what the "state rock" is, they at least aren't raising taxes, making more laws, or doing anything else actually damaging. Would that they only spend 2/3+ of every year on issues like this...
Random Internet Surfer at July 8, 2010 9:31 AM
What a horribly depressing story to read in the morning. I can't believe my taxes go toward paying this moron.
GingerLemon at July 9, 2010 6:44 AM
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