The
next big political weapon:
The recall |
The
old saying is, as California goes, so goes the rest of the
country. There is a reason why this is an old saying: it's
because it is most often true. Love it or hate it, for better
or for worse, California is the ideological barometer of
our country, even more so than New York City. So when Governor
Gray Davis (D) is about to undergo a recall, it got me to
thinking about the possible repercussions, not only for
the whole country but for Mississippi.
According
to a July 8, 2003, Associated Press story, this is the 32nd
attempt in California history to recall a governor. The
previous 31 attempts were all unsuccessful in even reaching
the ballot. Also, according to the same story, only seven
of more than 100 attempts to recall state officials in California
have even made it to the ballot over the years. Just four
of those seven attempts were successful. However, this more
recent attempt was the charm, and it could be a major step
toward a new political trend.
What is significant about the California situation is that
the state has a $38 billion budget deficit. Many people
blame Gov. Davis for that. The California recall is about
two things: (a) the increasing frustration of voters regarding
state-level budget problems; and (b) presidential politics.
This recall effort is on the ballot because increasing numbers
of Californians are frightened by the state's financial
problems. It is also on the ballot because Republicans in
California have to know that the national party's chances
of winning electoral votes there will be enhanced if a Republican
is governor in the fall of 2004. The reason recalling the
governor isn't likely to help California financially is
that Gov. Davis didn't mess up the state's finances by himself.
Members of state legislature adopt budget bills. Legislators
are going to have to be the ones to pass along to governors
and the American people the hard news that government can
only pay for so much. Governors can help set the tone for
a more conservative governmental financial climate by preaching
the virtues of saving and restraint.
The ultimate significance of the California recall is that
large numbers of voters really do expect elected officials
to manage funds with an eye to the future, saving wherever
possible and showing the courage to say no to funding requests
that may be politically popular, but nonetheless unworthy
of public money.
Mississippians should set an example for Californians by
sending just that message during the November 2003 elections.
Mississippi does not have a recall system like California;
it really does not need one. What it needs is an active
citizenry, willing to demand performance from its officials
and to vote out of office in general elections anyone who
does not perform. As I have stated in previous columns,
Mississippi continues to be held back and at the bottom,
in my view, because of the vast numbers of unqualified elected
officials we have. In November, we need to recognize this
and vote for those who have the talent to truly represent
us.
In closing, I want to personally thank all of you who have
written a letter or subscribed to the DBJ's sister publication,
Delta Magazine (www.deltamagazine.com).
I have been in the publishing business since 1989 and I
have never experienced such an enormous response from any
of our publishing ventures especially in the beginning of
one of our startups. This tells me, loud and clear, that
the Delta did indeed need a beautiful full color magazine
to tell and show who we are and what living in the Delta
is all about. Thank you for your vote of approval for Delta
Magazine! DBJ
Scott Coopwood
Publisher
