| Styrian Take Over |
13 October 2003
|
Gray Out, Arnold In
The People of California have spoken, and they have to live with their decision. Gray Davis will cease to be governor some time in November, and Arnold Schwarzenegger of Stryia, Austria, will take up the role. He had better succeed, but the odds are against it.
California's problem is America's problem -- people want more government than they are willing to pay for. When the economy is booming, there are a few grumbles about FICA and sales tax. When things are tough, and when government needs to spend more according to Keynesian economics and mandates from the people, every penny denied the masses is considered a crime and every economy drive by the government is viewed as hart-hearted.
In the particular case of Mr. Davis, he was unlikely ever to be considered a great leader of the people -- even his first name was uncharismatic. But in good times, he might have sailed through his term to the end with few regrets by any. California is not doing as well as Californians think it should, and so, they vented their rage on him. That is the primary function of a democratic election, to let the people rage in the voting booth instead of in the streets. It does not provide wise leaders except by happenstance.
For his part, Mr. Schwarzenegger must bring some kind of balance to the finances of the state before anything can be done -- as one of his predecessors, former Governor Jerry Brown, once said, "What good is a social program if you can't pay for it?" This will mean higher, not lower, taxes, and fewer, not more, services. Californians, particularly those who rarely vote but who turned up to vote on Tuesday, will view this as a betrayal. The louder they scream, the more likely that Mr. Schwarzenegger will get the job done.
One hopes he is successful, not because he is a great human being nor because he is of a certain party, but rather because a failed Schwarzenegger administration is too awful to contemplate for California, the US, and the world.
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