LIVE from Las Vegas: Achieving a progressive future for California, the "ungovernable" state

Good afternoon from the Great Southwest! I'm listening to the final minutes of an outstanding panel about the troubles facing the Golden State, called, "California's Challenge: From 'Failifornia' to Progressive Laboratory".

This is one of the more focused panels that I've ever attended at a Netroots Nation, and I think the specific focus is a key reason why the discussion — moderated by a great friend of NPI (Robert Cruickshank) — has been so fascinating.

The panel identified California's broken initiative process as the root cause of many of its problems. Past right wing ballot measures, for instance, are standing (like zombies!) in the way of marriage equality, simple majority for budgets, a stronger common wealth, and a fairer criminal justice system.

We in Washington State are used to Tim Eyman sponsoring toxic ballot measures, but there's a key difference between Washington and California that is worth keeping in mind. In California, initiatives — or propositions as they're known down there — can be used to not only amend statutes, but the Constitution as well.

Our Constitution, conversely, requires a supermajority vote of the Legislature and a simple majority vote of the people to approve an amendment. This protects the basic democratic idea of majority rule with minority rights. (Or, at least it's supposed to. The Constitution is just a document, it only has meaning if we respect it).

Once California fixes its basic plan of government, it ought to lock in the reforms by following Washington's example and making it impossible for the Constitution to be changed by proposition. It's just not a good thing for corporations to be able to have the ability to buy an election and thereby obtain changes to the supreme law of America's most populous state that are not in the public interest.

I really appreciated hearing the panelists describe their vision for restoring the California Dream. The Golden State is one of the most heterogeneous places in America, not only demographically, but geographically. It has towering redwoods forests, hot, dry deserts, beautiful ocean beaches, a mighty mountain range, and fertile valleys. The state's natural features truly are as diverse as its people.

But instead of celebrating their diversity and coming together to build a better future, Californians have spent many of the last few years bitterly squabbling about the state's challenges, and dithering instead of taking action. As mentioned earlier, right wing ballot measures prevent California's Democratically controlled Legislature from effectively responding to problems, and Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't exactly been a force for progressive change either.

Unfortunately, these right wing ballot measures have thrown California into a vicious cycle. By making government not work, they have destroyed the public's faith and confidence in government, which has made California ungovernable. Reversing this situation will, I think, require a huge outreach commitment.

But I believe it can be done. The group of people I'm listening to is smart, well-spoken, and motivated. There's no question that these folks will be in the vanguard of the effort to give California the progressive future it deserves.