| Perhaps, you realize that California State | | | | take California into the future. After reading this |
| Government is in a huge financial crisis, one which | | | | book, it appears to me that this is the foundation |
| has continued through several governors, and | | | | of our errors, and more folks should understand |
| cost one Governor his governorship, as he was | | | | these things/ |
| voted out of office and replaced by Arnold | | | | The author warns about the changes in ethnic |
| Schwarzenegger. And yet still, the same fiscal | | | | diversity facing California's future. Also how that |
| challenges go on today, the gridlock in | | | | will affect what is needed in the future. He goes |
| Sacramento is well known, and looks like it will | | | | through the statistics and demographics of the |
| continue to go on well into the future. | | | | Latino population, and its rapid expansion, high birth |
| How did we get to here, where are we going in | | | | rates, and the need for schools. How education |
| the future, and why hasn't all this already been | | | | will be paramount. He also talks about the racial |
| fixed? | | | | divides, the incredible political distrust, and the |
| These are all complicated and complex problems. | | | | challenges we face in California due to the division |
| However, there is a very good book I'd like you | | | | between the left-leaning Northern California, and |
| to read which was written back in 2000. It | | | | the rest of Southern California's middle of the |
| explains the issues that occurred in the 1990s and | | | | road and conservative and liberal mixed base. |
| the warnings and challenges for the new | | | | There are nearly 120 pages of statistics, surveys, |
| millennium. It's good to read about what happened | | | | and summaries of how all the data was collected. |
| previously, so we can understand how we got | | | | In many cases this book is more of a research |
| into this situation, and perhaps, why we went | | | | project than anything else, but the commentary |
| down the wrong road, and how to get back on | | | | within the book is absolutely incredible, it appears |
| track. The book that I'd like to recommend to | | | | he is right on the money, it's just too bad no one |
| you is called; | | | | was listening. I believe anyone who is running for |
| "California in the New Millennium - The Changing | | | | public office, or running any agency in the great |
| Social and Political Landscape" by Mark Baldassare, | | | | state of California needs to read this book. I also |
| co-published with The Public Policy Institute of | | | | believe that county supervisors should be reading |
| California; University Of California Press Los | | | | this book along with all the city managers. |
| Angeles, California, 2000; (265 pp), ISBN: | | | | Indeed, I am glad to have this book in my |
| 0-520-22512-0. | | | | personal library, and I see many of the challenges |
| This author takes a hard look at California's | | | | in California as future challenges for other states. |
| financing, and the challenges ahead. He is also an | | | | It would be silly for governors of other states not |
| author of the book; "When Governments Fail: the | | | | to read this book, or have it in their personal |
| Orange County Bankruptcy" published in 1998. He | | | | public-policy library. It is very telling, and very |
| also wrote another book which I don't own but I'd | | | | commanding. It's hard to debate much of anything |
| like to find called; "Paradise: The Suburban | | | | in here, and even if you don't agree with the |
| Transformation in America," published in 1986. | | | | author's particular political persuasion or point of |
| When reading this book I was totally amazed at | | | | view, you have to understand his fiscal advice. |
| all the things that Mark got right, and all the | | | | We all need to think about this now, due to our |
| challenges he outlined ahead, my only question is | | | | current financial crisis. And, we cannot hide our |
| why did no one listen? I wonder if Tom | | | | heads in the sand, which the author himself |
| McClintock has read this book, and if those are | | | | warns, it is time that these issues were |
| the reasons he made the statements he did | | | | addressed, which is exactly as he stated back in |
| during the last election when Arnold | | | | 2000. Now, it's a decade later, but there is still |
| Schwarzenegger was elected. It seemed at the | | | | time to fix things. So, I hope you will please |
| time that only, McClintock fully understood the | | | | consider all this. |
| fiscal responsibility, which would be necessary to | | | | |