Gov. Schwarzenegger and the Budget Crisis

Re “Gov.’s Agenda to Go to Ballot,” Dec. 7: Excuse me, but our so-called governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, did not run on a platform to borrow $15 billion and stick it to our kids. His mandate was formed by unrealistic promises, trust and a belief that he could resolve the budget crisis by cutting out waste. It is only arrogance and ego that could lead him to believe people will blindly follow his lead to pass his agenda. I applaud all our legislators in recognizing that amending the California Constitution is serious business and should not be done in a span of a few weeks.

Schwarzenegger’s current proposal to put a spending cap and bonds on the November 2004 ballot is premature; he has tried working with our legislators for how long? What are his plans for the next year-plus? My guess is that he will continue to feed his ego by taking to the road with one-liners and simplistic campaign slogans based on fictitious Hollywood characters. We need a governor who is willing to shun the limelight, hunker down and do the hard work of negotiations and compromise. Until then I have about as much respect for Schwarzenegger as he seems to have for women.

Yolande Macias McKay

Glendora

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The Oct. 7 recall of former Gov. Gray Davis, the election of populist Gov. Schwarzenegger, the repeal of the vehicle tax increase and the repeal of the driver’s license law, under threats of ballot measures (in progress), are making it painfully clear to politicians that voters are fed up with years of gross mismanagement. Even now, as the inept Legislature refuses get its act together to deal with the enormous deficit, Schwarzenegger intends to turn to the initiative process to get it done. However, government by crisis simply won’t work.

The governor and voters should consider carefully constructed ballot initiatives that would restructure taxes back to local government control and require super-majority voter approval for all matters of taxation and major public policy.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

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Political observers should not be surprised that Schwarzenegger’s first proposals to reduce spending are aimed at California’s least powerful and most vulnerable groups, disabled children and adults.

Schwarzenegger’s plans to cut $252 million in services to persons with developmental disabilities and $385 million from in-home support services that keep disabled adults out of institutions may seem almost noncontroversial. They are not likely to provoke electoral retribution from major lobbyists or blocs of voters.

Schwarzenegger’s preoccupation with competitive bodybuilding and physical appearance may have diverted his attention from the needs of people with disabilities, except for programs such as the Special Olympics, which encourage us to achieve almost unattainable able-bodied standards. Meanwhile, politics remains much the same; only the characters -- and some of the victims -- change occasionally.

Harlan Hahn

Santa Monica