[Marxism] Opportunity knocks for Parliamentary Cretinism: California Greens and Peace and Freedom Party

[Anthony Boynton]

The article below is from today's Sacramento Bee. I have no idea how bad is
the state of the California Green Party, nor of how much worse the state of
the California Peace and Freedom Party's state is, but the local elections
this Novemeber, and the 2010 midterm elections are almost certain to open a
great opportunity for both parties to grow, increase the numbers of people
and candidates involved, and gain larger %s of the votes. The Greens, who
have elected people to various local offices, certainly stand to a chance to
significantly increase the numbers they elect. I know the
anti-parliamentarians, and maybe even the antidisestablishmentarians on the
list, will think this is no big deal, but it is another opening for
rebuilding the left in the USA, which should not be dropped. Although
dropping the ball is powerful left tradition in the USA.


Anthony


Voters take a dim view of governor, Legislature

By Kevin Yamamura kyamamura at sacbee.com

Published: Friday, May. 1, 2009 - 12:00 am | Page 1A



With the economy and state budget in turmoil, California voters are more
frustrated than ever with state lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,
according to a Field Poll released today.



Only 14 percent of registered voters approve of the Legislature's
performance, compared with 74 percent who disapprove of the Democratic-led
institution. That is the lowest mark for the California Legislature in the
Field Poll's 27-year history of tracking its job performance rating.



Schwarzenegger also hit a new personal low, with 33 percent saying they
approve of the Republican governor, compared with 55 percent who disapprove.
And a slightly higher percentage of Democrats approve of him than do members
of his own Republican Party, according to the poll.



"You have to budget in your own home, and if you can't do the job in
balancing the state budget on time, you should step down," said Claire
Northcutt, a 49-year-old independent voter from Sacramento who runs an
in-home nursing business. "If I didn't pass the budget of my business on
time, where would I be?"



The paltry approval numbers couldn't come at a worse time for state leaders.
They are asking voters to approve six measures they placed on the May 19
special election ballot to help close the state's budget deficit.



With the election fast approaching, Schwarzenegger and lawmakers have done
little publicly this week to promote the measures. Instead, they have relied
on teachers, firefighters and AARP to promote their cause in ads and events,
perhaps a recognition that state leaders are politically toxic right now.



For instance, backers of Propositions 1A through 1F are running an ad that
actually uses politicians as a foil. In the 30-second spot, a father says
that politicians have "got us in quite a mess."



"We're not going to be on the TV ads," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell
Steinberg, D-Sacramento. "We're involved, however. You know, the Legislature
is generally unpopular, but people tend to like their own legislator. So in
my caucus, people are out there speaking in their communities."



Schwarzenegger is a rare politician in that Democrats, Republicans and
independent voters all have roughly the same view of his performance.



Republicans give him the lowest support, with 30 percent approval and 57
percent disapproval. By comparison, 32 percent of Democrats said they
approve and 56 percent said they disapprove.



The governor has drawn criticism from Republicans for helping to craft a
budget that contains temporary tax hikes on sales, income and vehicles.



"What's remarkable about his job rating numbers is that there's no
differentiation between the two parties," said Field Poll Director Mark
DiCamillo. "I can't think of another elected official who, when getting
negative ratings, scores just as poorly among his own party as among the
opposing party."



Julie Soderlund, a political spokeswoman for Schwarzenegger and the campaign
to pass the ballot measures, said that voters should resist taking their
anger out on the special election propositions because various programs will
suffer as a result.



One measure, Proposition 1C, would raise $5 billion for the budget by
borrowing against future California Lottery revenues.



"If these don't pass, there will be a significant hole in the budget, and
that has a direct impact on people as a whole, not the politicians,"
Soderlund said.



Donald Dougherty, 60, a Colfax retiree, said he plans to consider the ballot
measures on their own merits because "we shouldn't get sucked up in our
negativity." Though he's a Democrat, Dougherty approves of Schwarzenegger
but disapproves of the Legislature.



"I think he's trying to do the right thing," Dougherty said of the governor.
"He's not perfect, but he's got some good ideas."



Of the Legislature, he said, "They're not helping the people to succeed.
They're fighting amongst themselves and have their own agendas
individually."



Northcutt, however, says she plans to take out her frustrations on the
ballot measures.



"I've decided that if it involves any taxes whatsoever, I'm voting no," she
said. "I would have to say I'm just down on all government. It wouldn't
matter if it was Arnold in there or Billy Bob, I just don't think they've
done a good job."