Ask the 'Geek Candidate' for California Governor

No, not Arnold Schwarzenegger. We're talking abut Georgy Russell, who studied computer science at UC Berkeley, often wears ThinkGeek clothing, has a blog, reads Slashdot, and knows how to run Linux. Since this California electoral free-for-all has turned into a worldwide spectator sport as bizarre as any other 'Reality TV' show currently airing, Slashdot might as well get in on the media frenzy and interview a candidate, and Georgy is the obvious choice. We'll email Georgy 10 of the highest-moderated questions, and publish her answers (and, yes, the chosen questions in the same post) as soon as she replies.

Comments

Do you think the recall is fair?

[mjmalone]

Do you think the california recall election is fair? I understand that a lot of Californians are unhappy with Gray Davis' performance, but he WAS elected by the people, if people dislike him then they can vote him out of office when his term is up. It seems unfair that Davis needs a majority of votes to remain in office, but a replacement candidate could be selected by a plurality. It is possible, and quite likely, that Davis will be voted out with 60% or fewer votes. That would mean 40% or more voters essentially voted for Davis, but he would not be the winner, one of the 400+ other candidates on the ballot would and in all liklihood that candidate will have received far fewer than 40% of the votes.

This whole situation seems like a gross abuse of a recall system that relies on honesty and virtuous politicians. Unfortunately California is no such utopia. By running in the election you have shown your support for it, how do you justify this support given the evident problems.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[name773]

recall system that relies on honesty and viruous politicians

lol, no wonder why it isn't working

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[Yohahn]

Some things are actually atrributable to others.

Even though some people are whiners and want to blame everthing on others, this dosen't negate the times that somebody/something else is to blame.

I'm always amused that people blame govenors/presidents for things that are frequently more attributable to their legislative bodies.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[Randolpho]

I'd just like to point out that the California recall vote is not very different from a vote of no confidence in parliamentary systems (perhaps closer to Germany's constructive vote of no confidence than others). The only real difference is that the candidates don't have to be members of the legislature.

If you think that a vote of no confidence is fair, which happens quite often in the "democratic" world, then you should think the California recall is fair.

That said, I happen to dislike votes of no confidence. I'm all for removing an executive from office should (s)he prove incompetent, but holding an election to replace that person should not occur. That is the purpose of offices such as the U.S. Vice President, or, in California's case, the Lt. Governor. What *should* happen is that, should a recall vote occur and Gov. Davis is removed, the Lt. Governor should take his place and an election should be held for Lt. Governor (which is elected seperately by California law, IIRC). Furthermore, that vote should take place in the legislature, not by popular vote.

However, that's me. Feel free to argue with me about it. :)

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[mjmalone]

And if you look at the statistics the reason for this number is that Perot got 19% of the votes. Clinton still got the majority of votes by more than 5 percentage points. In the scenario I describe Davis would get the majority of votes and would still lose the election.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[cheezedawg]

Do you think the california recall election is fair?

What is unfair about it? It is a constitutional way for the people to re-assert their power in California. There are plenty of reasons why Davis should lose his job, but the single most important reason is that the people don't want him in office anymore- thats why the recall statutes were put on the books in the first place!

I personally love this whole thing. The only people that are upset by this process are people like Davis that think that they are losing power. They can't stand that they have no control over what is happening or what candidates end up on the ballot. As far as I am concerned, the further this gets from the typical choice between two boring candidates slinging mud at each other, the better.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[GigsVT]

I'm a Fiscal Conservative, Social Liberal.

I guess people are afraid of the L word these days?

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[rjamestaylor]

Er, the recall is part of the California election law, not some kind of new ploy. In fact, Gray Davis is on record as supporting the recall of elected officials (not himself, strangely...not).

The reason for the uproar is that he purposefully hid the size of the deficit prior to the election and within days of (barely) winning re-election (against a brainless buffoon, Bill 'Slander' Simon) he released the $30 billion deficit numbers. Brainless Bill Simon said the deficit would be over $25 billion and Joe "Gray" Davis denied this in the campaign, saying Simon was inflating the numbers unfairly and the deficit would only be $10 billion at the most.

BTW, the reason for the deficit is NOT the energy scams run by the likes of Enron, et al. That fiasco is being passed directly on to businesses and consumers in the form of high rates all because Do-Nothing Davis sat on the crisis, eating his To-Fu Berry shakes and Turkey sandwiches, for over a year until he signed the stupid multi-year rate agreement with the power cos.

This recall is not about right-wingers upset at Democrats -- those signing the 1.7 million signatures for the recall election came from a cross-section of political opinion in Ca.

Lastly, the recall is an ELECTION. If the voters want to keep this train-wreck of a governor, they can say so at the polls.

That is the legal election process in California.

Fair? What a stupid, insipid question.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[cheezedawg]

The funny thing is that Gray Davis is doing a decent job.

You are definately in a minority if you believe that.

Much of the deficit is Enron's fault (I seem to recall that taking roughly $30 billion to clean up)

I think the upper estimates of the cost of the energy crisis were around $4 billion. That hurts, but that does not bring the deficit from $12 billion (like Davis was claiming during the campaign) to $35 billion. Davis wasn't responsible for creating the energy crisis mess, but he sure didn't handle the situation well when it came up (and signing those overpriced long term contracts in a panic 2 years ago didnt help either).

No, the problem with Davis is deeper than just the energy crisis. In Davis's first years in office, his budgets increased state spending by double digits each year. This was on unsustainable ".com-boom" tax revenue. During this time he also signed anti-business legislation, like the workers compensation act and the paid family leave act. As a result, businesses started leaving California en-masse. In fact, California has lost more jobs so far this year than the rest of the nation combined. As an icing on the cake, Davis went ahead and tripled the vehicle registration taxes a few months ago. In his mind this was going to increase revenue, but in reality it has just killed new car sales and further hurt the economy.

I think the most telling aspect of Davis has been his reaction to this whole thing. After the recall vote was certified, Davis could have gone out and touted his accomplishments to clear his name. After all, if Davis is right and he shouldn't be recalled, then there should be some reasons to keep him in office, right? But no. The first thing he does is huddle in a room with some lawyers for a week to come up with a ridiculous suit against the recall process itself. When that fails, he flies to Chicago to meet with big labor union bosses to negotiate their "support". And instead of campaigning for himself, all he has done so far is belittle his opponents and the recall process in general.

No, I won't miss Davis at all.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[BigFire]

Was it Enron's fault that he give the firefighter 90% pension? Was it Enron's fault that he expanded the state payroll based on the assumption that the internet bubble will last forever? Was it Enron's fault that he give away the bank when dealing with State Prison Guard union (who's one of his biggest campaign contributors)?

Joesph Gray Davis is good at three things:

1. Raise campaign money.
2. Run a dirty campaign.
3. Give away the house to his campaign contributors.

None of these qualified him as an effective governor.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[Martin Blank]

In California (can't speak for the other states, but I believe they're similar), the Lieutenant Governor is elected separately from the Governor. Back when Davis (a Democrat) was the Lt. Gov. for Pete Wilson (a Republican), the Democrat-strong Legislature would pass bills when Wilson was out of state (vacations, meeting business leaders, participating in meetings with other governors) so Davis could sign them into law. It kept Wilson in the state often, his out-of-state schedule usually closely synchronized with the Legislature's schedule.

This is opposite to how presidents and vice presidents are elected, which is as a part of the same ticket.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[entartete]

yeah, that sounds more like presidential candidate material.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[Randolpho]

Others have responded already, but I'd like to also point out that *originally* the Vice President was not the President's right-hand man; he was the runner up of the presidential election. It was the 12th Amendment that changed it to the current system.

I personally also think the 12th Amendment should be repealed. :)

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[Jhon]

I think you missed the point of my message. The state debt isn't related to the energy crisis -- they are unrelated. The cost of electricity has been passed on to the consumer. The $40 billion budget deficit is on TOP of that.

You need to remember, the state's answer to the energy scam was to raise consumer rates to pay the bloated expenses over the next decade or two. This is on top of a nearly 10% state sales tax and over 10% state income tax -- and NOT including the proposed income tax for county and city. How much can a state take away from it's citizins?

This *problem* is more related to the state legislature than Davis alone -- he just SIGNED all the spending bills -- the state house and assembly had to pass them. We need a gov who'll tell them to "get stuffed" -- not someone trying to make EVERYONE happy so he'll have a shot to use california as a spring-board to the whitehouse.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[squiggleslash]

Here's the scenario people are talking about.

Votes for "Do not recall Davis, we want to keep him": 49.9%
Votes for Larry Flynt: 30%

Flynt wins, because:

• Davis is unable to get 50% of the vote, and is thus recalled
• Davis is unable to stand in the election that follows, because he is constitutionally unable to do so
• Of the other candidates, Larry Flynt has the largest share of the vote. (Arnie comes close, at 29.9%. Problem is, that picture of Arnie with the naked woman sitting on his shoulders seriously undermines his credibility, people who would have voted for him go for Larry instead.)

Davis: 49.9% of the vote. Flynt: 30%. How would that be fair?

(All this is, obviously irrelevent if someone actually gets over 50% of the vote, or if Davis wins, but with hundreds of candidates standing, that seems highly unlikely to happen.)

(Oh, and while I know it's not going to happen, I somehow feel that Larry Flynt winning would be the best result for all, I don't think anyone would try to force a recall for a merely unpopular (rather than actually dangerous) governor again, especially on the grounds that the State is economically up shit creek - yeah, like an expensive and unnecessary election is going to help)

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[reflective recursion]

I don't live in cali. nor do I know everything about all the candidates (why would I?), but I think Flynt or Georgy would be the better choices. Flynt started out very young with his own business (bootlegging moonshine) and has dealt with the law on numerous occasions. From his experience with Hustler magazine I'm sure he knows how to keep money flowing into a business and knows what it takes. Whereas Arnold probably has an agent and doesn't even need to find movies to star in. They just land in his lap. Flynt will lose though, just because he is unpopular. Who really wants to say that they have a pornographer as governor?

On the other side is Georgy, who is a computer programmer. The experience of dealing with constraints and trade-offs such as speed/time/memory/etc. would probably fit in well with constraints of running a state. Though, unlike Larry Flynt, there is no proof that I know of that she was a successful programmer. She, too, will most likely lose to Arnold.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[Pxtl]

His representative shouldn't need a majority - they should, however, need a plurality. Plurality is the basis for the US electoral system. The idea that a person could be elected without plurality is prepostrous.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[lambadomy]

Thinking a vote of no confidence is fair does not make the recall fair. In the recall, davis has to get 50%+ of the votes (votes against the recall). If he does not, he cannot win, even if no other candidate gets more votes than there were against the recall. While I do not know, I do not believe this 50% burden applies in votes of no confidence.

The moment a new governor is elected (if one is), I believe a new recall action could begin. How would someone who only got, say, 25-30% of the vote in the recall election win against another recall? The whole process is absurd and needs to be stopped. I'd imagine whoever the new governor is their first order of business will be to get the recall process scrapped.

Re:Do you think the recall is fair?

[PHoliday]

Simply absurd.

So we're going to recall a governor, which by it's very nature indicates that the electorate feels that something has gone horribly wrong in the Governor's office, then we're going to allow him to exploit the fact that there are so many people running against him to re-take the office he was just fired from? If that's your idea of fair, I'm glad you're not the one making the call here.

You also seem to be neglecting the fact that in the replacement election, there is no primary -- something that would eliminate probably 150 candidates from the ballot.

Without a primary, allowing a newly recalled governor back on the ballot is nothing but a tremendous waste of taxpayer's dollars and runs completely contrary to any sort of democratic ideal still held here.

questions about the campaign.

[garcia]

I would like to know if you fear that two of your more controversial issues (legalization of marijuana and gay marriages) will be detrimental to your campaign?

While I believe that as more and more "young" people run for and are elected to office, these items might come to pass, don't you think that it is a little early to be attempting to make these strides?

My other issue is your stance on Health Care. The fine State of CA has many illegal immigrants on its soil, (in fact it depends on those people for many "lowly" jobs IIRC). Are you planning on REAL citizens covering the insurance costs for these illegal immigrants and their children? Don't you see this as a large enough burden on the population as it is?

Re:questions about the campaign.

[kevin lyda]

since california depends on illegal immigrants for it's "lowly" jobs - many of which are high risk - do you instead support high quality health care for any of those immigrants who end up in hospital and paying for that by FINING THEIR EMPLOYERS?

Re:questions about the campaign.

[Anonymous Coward]

It is this kind of small minded opinion that always amazes me - especially on /. where the average IQ is probably higher than the tabloid reading masses.
Surely you can see that the whole "blaming the imigrants" thing is nothing but spin - and fundamentally not that different to the anti-semitism happening in Nazi Germany pre WW2.
Immigrants come to rich countries for a reason - a better quality of life. It is surely human nature to better ourselves as individuals and groups - this is how we have achieved so much as a species. We have to accept that we are living in a capitalist world - and as capitalism dictates that money is proportional to quality of life then people in poorer countries will naturally want to migrate to richer ones. This is not because they are evil, lazy or stupid, but simply the human desire to better ones self.
One thing that is never mentioned by any politician in western governments is the cause of dissatisfaction that causes illigal immigration. It is naive to assume that becoming an illegal immigrant is a "easy option", but as long as the richest countries keep exploiting the poorest countries (and hence keep the poor countries poor) there will be individuals who refuse to live the life they are born to.
The craziest thing of all to me is that the western world now insists on beaming its sanitised and idealised version of western life into the poorer countries via television channels - simply highlighting what they haven't got.
</soapbox>

Re:questions about the campaign.

[spoonyfork]

Based on your comment, I doubt that you have seen the total cost of uninsured health care especially in a state like California. Here in Michigan it is crippling. In this case they do take something from the rest of population.

Your point is valid, though. If they were all to be declared "legal" overnight, this issue would not go away.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[kevin lyda]

so prior to receiving emergency medical treatment you should have your citizenship checked? if someone falls off a building or has a heart attack they *must* be treated in the first few minutes or they will die. and the initial treatment costs a lot of money - ambulance, staff, drugs, rooms.

but you think the first thing the paramedics should do is "check their papers."

gee, glad i don't live in america any more.

and you're assuming that *all* illegal immigrants came over the border knowing they were illegal. a fair number of illegal immigrants are brought over with promises of legal immigration and legal jobs. a lot of internet add servers do geo-targeting and they know my ip addresses are outside the states so i see ads everyday advertising companies that will bring me over to work in the states legally (or so they say).

and these are american companies exploiting foreign workers. often in high risk jobs with little regard for osha.

and you favour leaving them bleeding in the streets.

nice.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[bourne]

They pay taxes (sales tax and the federal taxes deducted from their paychecks).

Please pardon what may be a stupid question, but since federal tax withholding is done using social security numbers, and since illegal aliens don't have SSNs, how does this work? Wouldn't that be a big red flag for the IRS that someone is employing illegal aliens? I thought, rather, that most illegal aliens worked "under the table," with no taxes being withheld or accounting being performed.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[arnie_apesacrappin]

They pay taxes (sales tax and the federal taxes deducted from their paychecks

Do you have evidence of illegal immigrants getting an actual paycheck with federal taxes withheld? I have lived around various groups of illegal immigrants (crop workers in southern Georgia, construction workers in Atlanta). To the best of my knowledge, all of them were paid in cash, with no taxes being taken from their wages.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[jdreed1024]

They pay taxes (sales tax and the federal taxes deducted from their paychecks).

Uh, no. Well, OK, they pay sales tax, but so does everyone who buys anything. A large majority of them do NOT have taxes deducated from their paychecks, or even have paychecks at all (cash under the table), since if they got a social security number, that wouldn't help them "stay under the radar", and you can't deduct taxes from a paycheck without a social security number.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[gsfprez]

Lets look at your generally assumed positions - 1 at a time...

They pay taxes. Federal taxes deducted from their paychecks.

Where exactly is that fscking line item on the envelope full of singles that they get at the end of the day?

They are not a draw on social programs?

The county of Los Angeles ALONE - in 1 year paid out $350 MILLION (one county, one year) last year in medical expendatures to "undocumented workers". How do they know this? If you have a valid SSN, you get MediCAL. If you don't have a valid SSN, they simply bill your (ficticious) residence. The cost last year was $380 million. (LA Times)

If they get arrested they get tossed out?

It costs the state of California 7 times more to incarcerate "undocumented" Californians than it will cost to run this recall election.

They do not have to pay any insurance costs for their "vehicles" because they do not bother to register them, because, like you said, they avoid the DMV.

They most often use public transportation - which is by all accounts in every location in California a tax user, not a tax producer - because all state county, and city public transportation systems run at a loss, they do not make the cities/state money.

They do not pay for the cost of their children's education - because they do not pay income tax because they do not, on average, make enough to pay taxes since most of them make less than $22k a year.. below which, you do not pay federal income tax, and they can actually GET money back from the federal govnerment because you get $1000 for each child you have - the child tax credit.. so in the end, they MAKE more money off of the tax system alone than they put in.

They pay sale tax (on good that they buy in stores, but not on goods such as private sale of foodstuffs like what the farmers will sell to them at the end of the day). And they pay property tax (as part of their cost of rent) - but since they live disproportionately more people/dwelling, the revenue generated per captia is far below non-Latino rates.

In short - California is 100 times better than where they came from. Where they cam from they did not get free medical, free childbirth medical, free schooling for their kids, nearly free transportation costs, they don't get extorted by the cops as much as they did back in Mexico, China, Korea or whetever central American country they are from... and they get to be guarded by the best police, fire, and military protection in the world - without paying most of those nasty taxes that go to provide it all.

The employers of these people have an unfair tax advantage - but far far more importantly, they do not have to pay worker's compensation insurance on them - which in the State of California is running around 75% of worker's wages right now/year... it may go to 125% within 5 years. That means if you hire a guy for $40k a year, it will cost you nrealy $100k to hire them - when its all said and done...

This state is on the verge of total colapse - and it is because this state is responsible for the care, feeding (school lunches and breakfasts), and medical of non-trivial portions of other country's populations.

I did not sign up for the recall because I want to see at what point people will "get it" - that you cannot run a state like this, or it will collapse. With the party in power now standing up things like the "end poverty in California committee" movement in the state legislature - perhapse you remember that from the past.. Stalin and Lennin were both big proponents of the same ideals.

I want Americans to feel first hand what socialism does to a state... i want them to experience total colapse of a state under the weight of open borders and unlimited government programs. Because it is obvious to me that most people still left i

Re:questions about the campaign.

[Phantasmo]

Costing more than double Canada's system per person, the U.S. health system eats up 13+% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compared to Canada's 9%. And, tragically, for all the money it costs, the U.S. health system serves only a fraction of the population.

A staggering 43 million Americans have no health coverage whatsoever and another 100 million are considered under-insured.
- Why NOT Privatize

It looks like the US could easily afford health care for both "real citizens" as you call them and illegal immigrants.

Besides, I'd rather pay an extra $10 in taxes this year than let some poor kid with a bullet in her stomach die on the street.

Nobody wins unless everyone wins, right?

Re:questions about the campaign.

[litesgod]

Then let them come via legal channels and not come sneaking across the border!

Look- I'm a Republican who believes that we need serious imigration reform, our policy is too restrictive (I know, not exactly the party line there). The southwest sees tons of illegals because we as a country won't let them come across in a legit manner. However, all that will change by giving illegals free health care is increasing the number of illegals. Politicians on both sides of the aisle spend way to much time fighting symptoms. Get to the cause- make these aliens legal and then allow them the same health care options the rest of America has.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[rossjudson]

What do open borders and unlimited government programs have to do with socialism? Nothing, of course. They are policies that are in no way related to socialism itself. You're dealing with a system that's out of control, not a problem with socialism.

A socialist country can tightly control its borders, and choose a specific set of government programs that exist to benefit only citizens.

As far as I know the worker's comp system in California is pretty much busted.

Shiny jails and crumbling schools. That's what California is all about. Direct democracy == stupid tax laws == gradual decline.

And why is it that nobody goes after the employers of these illegal immigrants? If employers started going to jail, the situation might change. How friggin' hard can it be to catch these people, anyway?

Re:questions about the campaign.

[ink]

You can buy a SSN, complete with card and everything in downtown Santa Ana. They don't even hide it at all. By the time it's found out false, they can have another one -- but the false cards are often legitimate otherwise, so it's difficult to tell (and the employers, ahem, don't check very hard). Some of my illegal friends would get picked up on a Thursday, and be back before work on Monday; it's just part of life.

The truth is this: California WANTS illegal immagrants there so that they can have farm workers, people to clean up hotels, and (most importantly) a scapegoat for all the problems that exist in the state. It's WAY too easy to "illegally" get into California and work there for it to be a simple mistake. If they wanted to get rid of the "problem", then they'd start throwing employers in jail for hiring illegal workers. But they don't do that, and the fact that they don't is quite telling. The often white, republican farmers, wouldn't want their labor force to be depleted -- and to be fair, most every illegal immagrant would rather be doing that than living in northern Mexico.

I left California in 1995; after being born and raised there. I miss it at times, but not at the moment... Proposition 187 was supposed to "fix" all of this; it was passed right as I left the state, but it looks as though it didn't do much.

Oh, and my current state's budget was balanced this year.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[Master Controll Prog]

perhaps you should get better at giving blowjobs. then you would get paid more for it.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[Zoop]

You assume:

a) The cost is only $10 in taxes. Dubious. Health care, as you note, is expensive. To move to a Canadian-style system would cost loads more money and would make up the difference, as Canada does, by rationing services.

b) Kids with bullets in their stomachs are checked for insurance. Obviously you haven't spent much time in the US. Emergency room care is free for all, and a big source of our medical costs. Free or reduced cost medical care is available for indigent people through the Medicaid program. The service is underutilzed, and people who make slightly more than the qualifying income level tend to opt to save money for other things than health insurance, and they don't do it for ever. Many of these are young people with middle-class or better parents just starting out. The 43 million figure also includes people whose coverage under one job runs out before they start a new job, so it's not as if these people are permanently uninsured. "Under-insured" is very much a loaded term--some people (like me, 10 years ago) choose cheap catastrophic coverage because we're young and healthy and can manage our money well enough to keep the $1000 deductible lying around rather than spending it on beer.

I know, heresy, but there you go. Question authority.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[_newwave_]

and you favour leaving them bleeding in the streets

Typical liberal response...use scare tacticts to get your point across. Take a legitimate debate and throw your opponents view to some far out position no one holds.

No one is or ever will be denied emergency health care in California or any other state. The concern of the rising costs of healthcare and diminishing benefits is ever growing as "managed" healthcare and trial lawyers run amock are an ever increasing burden on the system. It just so happens that locally, here in CA, we have another burden...that of non tax paying illegal immigrants receiving benefits payed for by tax paying citizens. The argument that it's not an issue because you think somehow that we wouldn't have anyone to take out our trash otherwise is one that has and will continue to fall on the deaf ears hard-working tax-paying voting citizens.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[djandrock]

Texas - pop. 20,851,820 [census.gov]
Illegals - est. 700,000 [immigration.gov]
California - pop. 33,871,648 [census.gov]
Illegals - est. 2,000,000 [immigration.gov]
Illegal info [immigration.gov]

While I agree that California is in bad shape due to the extensive government regulation of business that you mentioned above, I have to disagree about the illegal immigrants being a significant part of the problem. While Texas does not have quite as high a proportion of immigrants as California, the budget certainly does not have a 40 billion dollar deficit. I can't see how having twice the illegal immigrant population (proportionally) can account for those billions of dollars.

Re:questions about the campaign.

[kevin lyda]

and i suggested that one might look towards employers of illegal immigrants to settle that bill.

i live overseas. thanks to geo-targeting ad servers i see all the ads promoting immigration to the states. and a lot of those ads look pretty iffy to me. smuggling people to work low-wage jobs in the us and europe is big business.

maybe you folks can have your tax burden reduced along with the margins of smugglers and employers of illegal immigrants.

Economy

[BgJonson79]

How are you going to fix the world's 5th* largest economy?

* ABC News last night

Obvious question

[lovebyte]

Why?

Re:Obvious question

[HaloZero]

Almost sounds to me like your .sig answered your own question.

RIAA vs. America

[southpolesammy]

What are your views on the RIAA's recent actions to protect their copyrights?

Hope to win or shake things up?

[Dark Paladin]

With the names of such heavyweights as Arnold and lightweights like Gary Coleman (no pun intended - well, all right, it was), do you honestly hope to win, or are making a Ralph Nader like point in forcing certain issues and ideas into the public's eye?

So...

[teamhasnoi]

As a geek superhottie, campaigning for the govenorship of California, will you take full advantage of the legions of Slashdotters ready to throw themselves in front of Arnold's limo, screaming, "My life for you!!". Please?

How do you think your involvement in technology can translate to leading California, and indirectly, the rest of the country? I see here that you have filed for several patents. How do you feel about companies such as PanIP using patents as a basis for lawsuits rather than innovation? Will you make intellectual 'property' a campaign issue?

Tongue-in-cheek...

[Noryungi]

Will you be back for "The Recall 2: Revenge of the Grays?" ;-)

Budget

[QuantumRiff]

How would you propose to balance California's budget? Cutbacks, or new revenue opportunities? If it is cutbacks, where would your biggest cutbacks come from?

Miss Russell,

[TommyH1000]

Your campaign seems to have the momentum of a runaway freight train. Why are you so popular?

Re:Miss Russell,

[paitre]

She's a geekgrrl, and she's hot.
Now, then, why do you -THINK- she's so popular?
(Oh, and she's a twenty-something).

Re:Miss Russell,

[aziraphale]

You've made the critical error of posting an obligatory Simpsons quote, without pointing the fact out in the subject line. How are you going to get +5 Funny for nodding knowingly at a pop culture reference if the moderators don't know it?

Re:Miss Russell,

[garcia]

she's American, she's FINE, she's obviously well educated, she grew up through hard times (was raised "poor" so her bio says), and she's tackling some important issues.

While I feel (see here)that some of her issues are going to cause detrimental harm to her campaign due to the current status of most of the voting population, I think that people could possibly relate to her (especially 18-29 aged voters, sadly, most of that group doesn't vote).

the most important question

[Mothra the III]

Boxers or briefs?

Re:the most important question

[Anonymous Coward]

I think in her case (as with CmdrTaco) pants are optional. Rowr!

Re:the most important question

[markhb]

vi or emacs?

Remainder of my .sig: be the majority of voters.

Illegal Imigration

[Mad-cat]

In light of the budget crisis, does the candidate consider illegal imigration into the state of California a problem? If so, does she intend to crack down on it?

Likewise, will the funding of benefit programs to imigrants (legal or otherwise) be cut, maintained, or increased?

Against Arnold, why?

[Cutriss]

Do you think you stand a chance against Arnold? If so, why?

Pundits would be quick to point out that "obviously, he'd not run if he didn't think he had a chance"...but I doubt that ~130 miscellaneous people really think they have a chance against Arnold, or even Gary Coleman. Gary Coleman even said he doesn't expect to win, and that he supports Arnold.

Technology

[chrisgeleven]

Why does your blog and web site, from what I can tell, not mention any uses of technology that you would like to see? Can you describe any protential plans to use technology to reduce costs or provide more benefits for the same price?

The true test for the ability to run the state...

[jmuzic1]

The true test for the ability to run a state government is whether or not your website can withstand being slashdotted.

Marijuana

[jester]

Georgy, evidence actually shows that if children use marijuana once a month from the age of 13, they will NEVER achieve their potential. How can you justify your stance on weed given this FACT ?

Re:Marijuana

[Anonymous Coward]

What if their potential was to smoke weed?

Re:Marijuana

[kmurray]

As with most drugs, 13 year olds shouldn't be using them. Do you think a 13 year old who started using alcohol would meet his/her potential?
Also, ask a 13 year old which is easier to get: illegal marijuana or legal beer? Sometimes making something legal helps.

Re:Marijuana

[pherris]

Georgy, evidence actually shows that if children use marijuana once a month from the age of 13, they will NEVER achieve their potential. How can you justify your stance on weed given this FACT ?

You clearly do not understand what you are talking about. First off, the study you cite [in a later posting] stated that there was only a correlation and not a causation. Your comment has zero facts backing it up. It's like saying since over 80% of all schizophrenics abuse alcohol as teenages then alcohol must cause schizophrenia.

The current war on marijuana costs the US over 9 billion USD per year plus another 1+ billion in lost tax revenue if it was legal and taxed. Legalizing marijuana would open up over 130,000 prison spaces allowing more room for real criminals. The facts are that marijuana is much less harmful than alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and acetaminophen (Tylenol).

A great example of the failure on the war on marijuana is 19 year old Webster Alexander. A undercover cop asked him for some pot, Alexander gave him some. The cop asked again and this time offerred him money in exchange. After four "deals" Alexander was arrest, never given a competent lawyer, tried, convicted and sentenced to 26 years in jail for a total of $250 worth of sales. This is more time than a 2nd degree murder, 1st degree manslaughter or a molestation conviction gets you.

Please stop spreading FUD about marijuana because someone just might believe you.

Facts and Myths about Marijuana
"Marijuana Prohibition Costs Over $7 Billion Annually"
26 years for $250 worth of marijuana.
"Teenager Dies from Acetaminophen Overdose"

Hanz and Franz asked me to send this:

[tundog]

Dear pathetic little girly-man,

What is stopping ARN-ald from crushing your little girly-man body with his pumped-up biceps? I mean really, listen to me now and hear me later, how do you expect to beat ARN-ald when are a pathetic little girly-man?

Sincerely,

Hanz & Franz

Do you think this election is Real?

[Voltas]

With all the "Star Power" and the number of candidates that obviously are looking for media attention (I.E. Gary Colemen ), do you really thing that the candidates or the office really going to be taken serious when its all said and done?

Won't this whole election fiasco cripple anyone who actually wins?

My questions

[Henry V .009]

What do you think of illegal immigration in California? How do you think California should handle the budget demands imposed by it? And what do you think about companies in California out-sourcing high tech jobs to foreign countries and importing workers through the H2-1B Visa program in order to drive down wages in California?

Media Attention

[BigDork1001]

Do you feel that all the media attention around Arnold and the other big name people is making for an unfair election that won't give people, like yourself, with valid points and opinions a fair chance to express your views?

Seriously

[lowtekneq]

Alright, you may know your stuff in the geek world, but California has some serious problems. I'm sure most questions will be tech related, and though technology is a huge part of today's world there are so many more important things out there. Do you really want to be the George W. Bush of California?

qualifications

[spoonyfork]

In addition to being the co-founder of a storage software company and an avid dancer, what other qualifications and leadership experience do you have to politically lead the fifth largest economy of the world?

Did you pay SCO?

[sharkey]

Did you pay for your Linux licenses?

Re:Did you pay SCO?

[El_Ge_Ex]

Did you pay for your Linux licenses?

If not, would you support strategic military action against Utah?

-B

My Question(s).

[American AC in Paris]

If you are elected Governor of California, are you at all worried that one of the other contenders would simply bankroll a second recall election?

How would you deal with this?

How does it feel to be slashdotted?

[fuzzyping1]

Long live /.

Questions...

[Anonymous Coward]

Are you living tissue over metal endoskeleton too?

No seriously. As a candidiate for California - the most tech-heavy state in the US, can you give assurances that if you get into office, you will categorically make sure that Skynet is not built?

When will the DVD be out?

[the_real_tigga]

Can I get the whole "California Elections" comedy series on DVD?

Will there be a computer game?

Will I be able to buy candidates' portrait cups at Mc Donald's?

Know any good erotic fan-fiction sites?

The environment

[jester]

Georgy where do you stand on the environment ? After your President failed to endorse the Kyoto agreement, the US has done nothing but pollute the environment and show no sign of taking the responsibility for this attitude. Global warming is showing signs all around us and still your nation does nothing. You have no public transport strategy, you all use your gas-guzzling cars to drive small distances, and your policy on clean energy is non-existent.

Can you make the difference and take a lead on these issues to generate more respect for your country ?

are you just another stupid techno-libertarian?

[kevin lyda]

do you spout off stupid platitudes about "the market" and individual rights? or do you actually believe in the concept of "society" and the social, economic and quality of life benefits of a healthy community. do you believe that we should try to build a better society then the one we received? for instance we get free, good quality primary and secondary education - will you work towards free third level education? previous generations invested in roads in california, would your administration do more to invest in public transport? will you work towards better health care with better access? will you continue to inflame the gross xenophobia in california's public discourse, or will you try to have a more sensible discussion about immigrants - for instance nafta allows for the fre-flow of goods and capital amount the us, mexico and canada, but not labour. how is that free trade?

Microsoft....

[zarthrag]

Will you take a tougher stance on the Microsoft case and not sell out for a pithy few million? (that's right, I'm bashing!) Also, what is your stance on privacy? Spam? RIAA Maddness? And a free 54Mbps Wifi network for the *entire* state, every last square inch of it!

Do you understand..

[niko9]

Do you understand Dselect? That program scares the poop out me. But I figure if you can handle dselect, you can handle being govenor.

Who's in your staff?

[zoneball]

A good leader must surround him or herself with with the best advisors and experts within their respective fields. Who will you be bringing in to your campaign and administration, and what are their qualifications?

Free Software California

[bfree]

California appears to have the highest concentration of techinically literate people in the USA. How would you view the proposition of retooling California to only use Free Software in all (feasible, would need to be phased in) areas where the state has control (as opposed to private companies)? I would view this as having the advantage of reducing funds leaving the state and also developing a California based expertise which could be exported worldwide in helping other states (be they US style or actual countries) in converting to using Free Software. Each region which converts to free software is breeding an workforce for the future, both for its own needs and as an exportable commodity, would you like to take colifornia into the lead here by leveraging its already substantial technoligical know-how?

Since you're running against Arnold

[jbrandon]

I assume you disagree with him on his fundamental principles. (See what is best in life)

Do you believe in the open steppe, fleet horse, falcon on your wrist, wind in your hair, or do you espouse some strange "third party" best-in-life principle?

Energy & Presidents

[cybermace5]

1. If you won the election, would you honestly push for a 100-square-mile surface area solar panel array? Do you have any idea of the amount of expense, energy, and emissions required to make that amount of solar panels?

2. Why do you continually attack Bush and supposed administration policies in all of your literature? Wouldn't it make more sense to discuss the intentions of candidates who are actually running for governor of California? If the current governor of California cannot prevent Bush from influencing the state, how would you?

Re:Energy & Presidents

[cybermace5]

No, Bush personally came to my house and took my job away. I shook my fist at him while he did it, but there's only so much you can do while a Secret Service agent has his boot on your neck. I was told my job was going to given to Bush's cash-loaded oil buddies in Texas, because they collect 'em or something.

Really, it was a nice experiment. Other tactics turn up many more promising leads, but this one mostly gets people who are interested in the idea and want to know if it works. I guess nobody wants $1000.

Okay - after having looked on her site...

[Pxtl]

I think I speak for almost every man here when I ask you the one question every guy here wants to ask you...

Will you marry me?

(well, every /.er here but self, as self is already engaged to other magical wonderful woman).

Re:Okay - after having looked on her site...

[Sri Lumpa]

Actually I have two questions for her:

1. You have made your position with regard to Gay marriages clear, however what is your position with respect to polygamy.

2. If you are favorable to polygamy, would you marry me?

Mandating Open Source?

[schnarff]

Since you're a "geek candidate", you're obviously well-aware of the massive short- and long-term savings California could achieve by switching its computing systems to free, Open Source projects. Considering the current budget crisis, I'm also assuming that such a switch has probably crossed your mind, at least fleetingly.

What I want to know is, do you think that passing a law mandating the use of free software wherever it does the job properly would be proper? While many people here at /. feel that such legislation is obviously correct, I personally feel that mandation of almost any sort from government, particularly when it relates to engineering choices, is likely to cause problems from a technical standpoint, not to mention the fact that it restricts freedom -- something I think we all want -- unnecessarily, since something as simple as executive direction to consider free projects could likely achieve the same objective.

Thank You,
Alex Kirk

Firearms laws

[Anonymous Coward]

California has some of the most draconian firearms laws in the nation. What will you do to protect/return the Second Amendment freedoms of Californians?

Re:question

[Pxtl]

Mod parent up - its on topic, and much more to the point then my post. Hell, I'm sure he speaks for a lot of guys here.

Twenty percent vote could win

[gone.fishing]

I heard that experts say with so many people running for the office it is possible that the victor may win with just twenty percent of the popular vote.

Let's assume for a moment that you won with only 21% of the vote. It is likely there would be some resentment from the constituancy. With such a lack of support from the voters the legislature and even the judicial branch may see you as weak or even wounded.

What would you do your first days in office to gain popular support and show the other politicans that you are really a person of the people, by the people, and for the people?

Geek Jobs

[WPIDalamar]

Being a Governor in california may give you the possibility for soem unique control over technical jobs and the tendency to outsource those. Also, I would imagine a governership could eventually lead to a congressional seat.

That being said, what would you do to help stem the tide of hi tech jobs leaving our country as Governor, and what would you try to do if you were eventually elected to congress?

Do you believe in your candidature?

[ParnBR]

I'm Brazilian, and we have a lot of parties. Many of them ally in majoritarian elections, but it's still common to have 3 or 4 major party candidates, and a few minor party candidates in any election for mayor, governor or president. Some of them publically recognize they don't stand a chance, but still want to participate in the electoral process to defend their ideas in a democratic way, as it's their right. Do you honestly believe in your candidature, or you are there just to make a point?

Greetings from Brazil. The forthcoming Californian election is drawing a lot of attention here. We are curious to see what's going to happen. =)

California's dismal education system

[IvyMike]

Your site is slashdotted to all heck right now, but on the pages that I did manage to load, I didn't see anything about California's education system. Last I heard (which was a few years ago) we were ranked 49th in the country (thank you, Louisiana!). I don't have any children, but my friends at work do, and my sister is a teacher (on emergency credentials), and the stories they tell about California's schools are frightening.

As governor, this is one of the areas that you would have a lot of control over. What are your ideas for improving our state's schools?

Debate?

[dr_dank]

Who would your ideal opponents in a televised debate be?

Do you support the state using open source/linux

[scupper]

Does Georgy support the state government adopting the use of open source software and operating systems like Linux?

Fiscal Dicipline??

[foooo]

Georgy is the only candidate courageous enough to put forward the tough decisions Californians will have to make to restore fiscal discipline to California.

For about 80%, the vast majority of Californians, the increased taxes necessary to fund universal health care would be less than their current costs for private health care. A new system would allow for much needed accountability for health coverage, and create competition based on quality of care rather than cost of care.


How can you (on the same web page) talk about your fiscal dicipline and introduce an idea for universal health care?

Additionally, in a single payer system there is *no* competition. Is your universal health care really universal or are you unsure of the meaning of competition??

Clearly you haven't thought a lot of this through. There are typos on your web pages and *worse* there are logical fallacies in your political rhetoric.

On the other hand I love your approach to gay marriage and marijuana. But that's the Libertarian in me... not the liberal.

Why should I vote for you?? (Aside from the fact that you're hella cute and also geeky?)



May I suggest a new sloagan for you??

Georgy for Govenor. The same political hot air... now tempered with good looks!

~foooo

PS. I don't live in Kalifornia, but if I did I'd spend my vote on someone less bleeding heart and opt for a more practical candidate.

A REAL GIRL??? My question-

[jaysones]

A/S/L?

Voting behavior

[NMerriam]

As we've seen in the lead-up to the Iraq conflict, people seem to feel very strongly about celebrities becoming involved in divisive political issues.

Given that it is likely much of Arnold Schwarzenneger's electoral support will come simply from his celebrity status, do you feel it would be okay for people to vote for you simply because you are beautiful ( *and smart!* )?

Did Florez go far enough investigating Oracle?

[scupper]

Did Assemblyman Dean Florez go far enough with investigation the Oracle deal and Gray Davis prior to Speaker Wesson shutting him down?

Thought experiment

[cybermace5]

Hi Georgy;

Can you do a little thought experiment for us? I think it would provide some insight into your understanding of your opponents and the issues.

I want you to play devil's advocate for a moment, and imagine yourself in turn as the candidate for the Democrats, Republicans, and Green Party. What would your issues be, and what tactics would you use to gain the governorship?

Probably a tall order, but I think it would really highlight your grasp of the issues and political climate.

Is electrinic voting secure?

[RNLockwood]

The vulnerability of electronic voting systems to fraud has been discussed in tech circles but has caught the attention of almost no one in political office. For instance Riverside County and other counties now use electronic voting systems and Los Angeles County, among others, is poised to implement electronic voting. It appears that the county politicians are ignoring the issues of fraud and hacking. Then there is the issue if the machines can be configured to handle 150+ candidates.

What is your opinion of the suitability of electronic voting in California elections?

Dot Bomb?

[MikeFM]

What would you, as Governor, do to help the economy recover and grow? What would you do to restart California's lead as the technology capital of the world and recreate the jobs that have been lost in recent years?

The budget

[Wellspring]

What is your plan to deal with the current budgetary mess in California? To what extent do you plan on raising taxes and/or cutting services? And which programs will be cut and where?

I realize that these are specific and uncomfortable questions to ask, but California is in the midst of a major budgetary crisis, and any Governor will have to make specific and unpleasant choices to deal with it. So far, the answer the current Governor has chosen has been to pick and blame political opponents.

protect the state from theft

[fermion]

In the past, your state allowed a few special interests to rewrite your laws concerning energy regulation, which subsequently allowed a couple rednecks from Texas to steal billions of dollars from your citizens and in the process bring California to it's knees.

A similar situation, with less disastrous effect, occurred with Oracle. What are your plans to protect your state and it's cities from such special interests in the future.

Re:protect the state from theft

[fermion]

It is bad form to reply to your own comments, and there is a lot of truth to the statement that the crisis was more that just some unethical energy companies. However, just to justify my statement since so many people think they are false

Enron trader pleads guilty to rig california energy prices

Another trader pleads guilty.

Fastow indicted in defrauding California PERS

The Texas PUC recommends that Enron pay $7 million for manipulating power prices in Texas
Texas has an obscene overcapacity of power, and obscenely low prices.

As I said, there is truth in that California does not have enough capacity, but that does not mean they were not hoodwinked. I think it is kind of like ordering a penis pump that never is received. The mark is just too embarrassed to admit the crime took place

Energy Security

[QuackQuack]

While your interest in green energy is laudible, let's be honest here, these technologies are not as mature and cost effective as traditional power generation means.

As governor, will you insist on clean energy at the risk these never get built or are built in an insufficient number, or would you be willing to compromise and build fossil and/or nuclear plants to ensure that the 2001 fiasco which cost CA billions is never repeated?

Transport policy

[Anonymous Coward]

Transport is one of the biggest issues in the state today. California stands as an example to the rest of the world not only of how NOT to move people from A to B, but how not to position A and B in the first place.

Short-sighted planners still cling to the unbelievably outdated notion that you can reduce traffic congestion by building more roads and making existing ones wider. Are you aware of the phenomenon of 'induced traffic' or will you allow this destructive and self-defeating practice of runaway road-building to continue unopposed? Will you strive to overcome the political wrangling that has hampered efforts to build a European style high-speed rail link from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

Single-use zoning laws have led to the vandalism of California's built environment. It has transformed her 'cites' into a vast, ugly sprawl of strip malls, gas stations and fast food drive-thrus. Building a pedestrian-friendly city is well nigh illegal in most places. Will you speak out against the malling and sprawling of the west and advocate the growing North American movement known as 'new urbanism?'

Thanks.

Re:Transport policy

[W. Justice Black]

Single-use zoning laws have led to the vandalism of California's built environment. It has transformed her 'cites' into a vast, ugly sprawl of strip malls, gas stations and fast food drive-thrus.

This from someone who obviously has never been to, say, Dallas. Dallas is the sort of place where planners decided that large swath of land X (i.e. a few square miles) would be best suited for gas stations while swath Y would be best suited for Fast Food, etc., etc. The result: Huge traffic jams while people struggle to get gas in the only section of town that has it, then traffic getting to work (the areas of which again are concentrated), then huge traffic getting to the KFC where you grab dinner on the way home (because the traffic has kept you from having the time to cook a proper meal), then ... You get the idea.

I've mostly lived in Phoenix (which is planned reasonably well, though it is in full-sprawl-mode), and in Silicon Valley, and I must say it's not that bad, considering the constraints we have. While I think it rediculous that I'm a well-paid tech worker and still don't have a prayer of owning a house here (and am not willing to live in Sacramento or Hollister and commute), it's important to remember that most techies will eventually burn out and need to do something else at some point==moving elsewhere anyway in all likelihood.

If you want a real city to live in, there's always San Francisco. Knock yourself out. In the meantime, California's got bigger problems that need fixing.

Election spoiler

[dpille]

My apologies if this question is asked above in non-modded-up comments. I like it, though:

How do you feel about the possibility that you as a candidate (as well as those that vote for you) could be tarred with the same brush as Nader in 2000, namely, that you 'gave' the recall election to someone distasteful to the accuser, merely by being less distasteful but still participating? What do you think this says about democracy in California and the US when so many individual candidates could be similarly accused?

Re:What part of illegal don't you understand?

[kevin lyda]

right. the person themselves is illegal. now it's all clear.

hm. i suppose putting them in garbage bags and dumping them in the landfill would just use up valuable landfill space. maybe they could just be ground up and used for dog chow.

yes, i think that's the way to go.

Dear Arnie:

[pr0ntab]

Despite being Mr. Universe and having married a Kennedy, what other qualifications and leadership experience do you have to politically lead the fifth largest economy of the world?

Participation or Representation?

[Infonaut]

Given that the governor of California (whomever that will wind up being) only has the authority to influence about 30% of the state's budget (because the rest of it has already been earmarked by ballot measures over the years - per The Economist), do you think that ANY governor can actually have much of a positive effect on the economic situation in California?

Also, do you feel that the elected governor is assisted or confounded by the slew of ballot initiatives that come through every election cycle? If elected, would you seek to expand this participatory government because it empowers the people, keep it at the same level, or rein it in because it makes effective long-term strategy so difficult?

How does it feel...

[Valiss]

How does it feel being called the 'Geek Candidate' for California Governor?

You underestimate the power

[mykepredko]

of The Simpson's as a (Slashdot) cultural common denominator.

It brings up another interesting aspect of cultural power in this election; how many people will see Arnold as anything less than a hero? How many people will be influenced by his characters' ability to go against seemingly overwhelming odds to survive and succeed? This is not to say that the big guy isn't a good person - I was quite impressed by his charitable donations and interest in children. But he has gone against aliens, liquid metal assassins, sword weilding tribesmen, evil public servents and some villians too ridiculous to mention and succeeded each time.

How will his opponents (Ms. Russell, this question is for you) fight against this vision in the public's mind so that their issues and faces can take center stage?

myke

What's to stop...

[Coward the Anonymous]

the Lt. Govenor from organizing a recall so he can get the top job?

Having another election is a Good Thing.

Where the business?

[HarveyBirdman]

Why do I see nothing prominent on your site about attracting business to California? Who do you think is going to build (or pay for) your 100 square miles of solar panels? To his credit, the FIRST thing Arnold talked about in his first post-announcement press conference was getting business back to California. If you are not willing to address this, nothing else matters.

It appears you might be in a segment of the political spectrum where you are duty bound to think of business as the Bad Guys, but I'd ask you to look beyond that. At least look for ways to attract smaller businesses which is where most of the job growth tends to occur anyway.

I'm afraid your statements have too much ideological content. For example, there are reasons OTHER than "special interests" that prevent wide adoption of solar energy. Some of them have a solid scientific and economic basis. And the crack about "Oh, do we want to be like Bush's Texas" was also silly.

A lot of us out here are really, really tired of that blame game nonsense. We don't want to hear California's woes blamed on Bush or 9/11 or El Nino or the flapping of a butterfly's wings in Argentina. What's done is done and now is now. What do you propose to FIX it?

About the deficit problem

[missing000]

One thing that is interesting to note here is the fact that the massive state budget gaps come not from poor management, but from reduced consumer spending.

The states made a big mistake when they started using sales taxes to pad their incomes. This is one of the key problems with a national sales tax to replace the income tax, a system that keeps being promoted.

When spending is high, the ecconomy is good and the sales tax revenues are quite large. The state runs a surplus and the voters demand increased services.

Then spending declines and just when people get laid off, at the time when demand of services is highest, the state has to make dramatic cuts that prove to be unpopular.

The message? Sales taxes are a bad idea.

One idea I like is the circulation fee system. Instead of rewarding the non-use of money it rewards trading it quickly, thus creating a much higher amount of consumer spending, the engine that makes money powerful.

Re:About the deficit problem

[cheezedawg]

One thing that is interesting to note here is the fact that the massive state budget gaps come not from poor management, but from reduced consumer spending.

But they are all related. Consumer spending is down because people are out of work. People are out of work because the economy is bad. The economy is especially bad in California because of the asinine anti-business legislation that is driving businesses out of the state.

The message? Sales taxes are a bad idea.

The message I get is that you shouldn't increase state spending by 30% in three years during a period of unsustainable growth in tax revenue.

And I happen to think that sales taxes are the most fair methods of taxation because they let the individual choose how much taxes they are going to pay.

One idea I like is the circulation fee system.

I hate that idea. Coerced spending- ugh.

Re:About the deficit problem

[SquadBoy]

"And I happen to think that sales taxes are the most fair methods of taxation because they let the individual choose how much taxes they are going to pay."

No no they do not. Sales taxes are very unfair and quite regressive. The simple reason is that at lower incomes most people *have* to spend a big chunk of their paychecks on food, clothes, other things that they need and can not really choose not to spend on and as a result they end up paying sales tax on a much larger percentage of their income than a rich person who spends a much lower percantage of their income on things they can not choose to be without. So no sales taxes and a really unfair and bad thing.

Re:About the deficit problem

[lambadomy]

I think you're on the right track, but the idea that "sales taxes are the most fair methods of taxation" is a little problematic.

Sales taxes are, by their nature, regressive. The poorer you are, the bigger a burden they are on you - you have to spend a larger percentage of your income, while richer people can save or invest their money and not pay the sales tax (not to mention any other benefits of being richer). Now I know there are plenty of people in here who think that that's just dandy, and since this isn't really on topic,lets just say it really is obviously not a good idea to tax those most who make the least.

Couple Quetions

[ad0gg]

Do you like movies about gladiators?

Have you ever been in a turkish prison?

Re:More importantly, is the recall legal

[leviramsey]

Davis apparently ran a fraudulent campaign, specifically as regards the expected budget deficit. From other posts in this story, he spent the campaign claiming that the deficit would be $10-12 billion, and claiming that his opponent's claim of $25 billion was wildly exaggerated. There are plausible allegations that he conspired to keep the reports of the actual deficit (which was announced to be $30 billion and is now estimated at $38 billion) unreleased until after the election. In this case, the logic behind the recall is that, had all the facts been known, Davis would not have won.

that means

[www.sorehands.com]

That means that the illegal aliens must be deported. That the employers that hire them must be fined. That they cannot get government services or benefits.

In California, the police can take Mexican consular IDs or in registering children for school, issuing drivers licenses, etc.

Now, if you disgree with the immigration policy, you don't break the law. If you don't think a speed limit is bad, that does not exempt you from speeding tickets when you are going 50mph in a school zone.

Re:that means

[kevin lyda]

right, so if a person has a heart attack the first thing the paramedics should do is check to see if the person is a citizen. if not, they should just be left to die on the street - after all the immediate treatment of such an event would be tens of thousands of dollars.

Why bother legalizing marijuana?

[ExoticMandibles]

In your issues paper, you say you are for the legalization of marijuana. That's fine, so am I. However, marijuana is already legal in California for medical use, but can still be arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated under federal law. So, if you were elected governor of California, of what possible relevance is your stand on marijuana?

Re:More importantly, is the recall legal

[Lemmy Caution]

It should be noted that Georgy does not approve of the recall - like me and other who aren't particularly fond of Davis but understand what motivated the recall, she think its irresponsible, a waste of effort and money, and spiteful. However, as she points out, it does create a unique opportunity with a very low barrier for entry into the subsequent race, and that opportunity shouldn't be ignored.

5,000 votes might be the difference...

[sampson7]

I love your campaign -- at least at first blush. Then I started thinking -- what happens if 5,000 young, liberal, Democratic voters actually vote for you? It doesn't seem at all outside the realm of possibility. Do you worry that you might be pulling support from a legitimate liberal candidate and throwing the election to someone like Arnold? Nader's candidacy seemed like fun and games until someone (namely 226 servicemen and women so far and counting) got hurt. Not trying to be heavy-handed, but is this something you considered? As election day comes closer, would you consider endorsing Davis or some other lefty candidate?

Cattle

[Fantastic Lad]

Okay. I have a difficult question for you. Be careful. The spotlight is on.

Television broadcasters and advertisers are schooled to direct their messages to an average 12 year-old mentality because that, unfortunately, has been proven by far the most effective way to get people to, 'Vote with their Wallets.'

Likewise, success in politics, as has been demonstrated since the dawn of politics, and which is certainly true today, is almost never achieved by appealing to the minds of a "Self-motivated, rational and informed public." Success in politics is nearly always achieve by manipulating and then addressing base emotions through overly-simplified representations of issues. "People would rather believe a Simple Lie than a Complex Truth."

--The simple fact that 'Arnie', whose primary claim to fame is physical size and a movie career where he played big guys with big guns and 'blowed stuff up real good', is actually in a real position to win, is an excellent example.

So, (and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here by assuming you are *not* yet another deluded and/or self-serving jerk), how do you personally approach the whole problem that success in politics is largely based on manipulating like cattle the very voting public which it is the politician's job to respect and serve?

-FL

Experience

[spamchang]

Georgy,

I understand what you mean when you say that Bush and Davis show that political experience is overrated. But I think that's a ludicrous characterization of an obvious point: experience does not guarantee success, but can you have success without experience? What is your experience in the field of public speaking and policy analysis? As someone who has been involved with high school policy debate and still is involved with college parliamentary debate, I often feel there is a depth to issues that most ordinary people don't understand, a depth that usually comes through a careful, two-sided analysis of issues that is, more often than not, unique to some kind of analytical, political activity. Please provide evidence (or at least convince me) that you have this depth.

Cordially,
Samuel Chang

no confidence votes

[Von Rex]

There's one huge difference: after a no-confidence vote, there's a regular election. Not one with special rules like this California recall fiasco. That is, in a parliamentary system, after a vote of no-confidence Davis could run just like any other candidate and the winner would be declared using the same methods as a normal election.

No-confidence votes are also done by members of parliament, not through the collection of signatures on a petition.

PANT

[isorox]

*PANT PANT PANT*

Hot, sexy, female geek? This hasnt happened since Asia Carrera!

Re:no confidence votes

[Randolpho]

Er... I suppose I wasn't clear. You're right, of course. That's the reason I mentioned Germany's *constructive* vote of no confidence. In Germany, you essentially elect the new Chancellor as a part of the vote of no confidence. If no replacement can be found (by majority, IIRC), the current Chancellor stays.

1/2 the responses refer to you as male

[Arkhan]

Ms. Russell,

You are being positioned, at least in this community, as the "geek candidate". (I'll omit the quotes from now on, and hope you're not offended by the word geek.)

It seems to me that a female geek holds the best hope for getting a technologically-competent politician into an important office, because female geeks escape from many of the negative stereotypes that plague male geeks in the public perception.

How do you think being a female geek vs a male geek affects your chance to win the election? (Better? Worse? Non-issue?) Along the same lines, do you believe being female in general will make the election easier or more difficult for you?

The reason I asked this question is this -- over half of the replies to this interview post have referred to you as "he", "him", or otherwise as a male, when even the short article blurb clearly indicated you were a "she".

Affirmative Action

[stames]

What is your view on Affirmative Action?

As a college student in the UC system, but a politically rightist town (LA), I hear a lot of different views on the subject. I am also, however, a white guy that grew up in an upper-middle class neighborhood. Now, I'm all for diversity, but do you think affirmative action is really the right way to get diversity into schools? If so, why? If not, what do you propose? Would you try to do anything to solve racial diversity issues at a lower level than that of the university?

Age

[retro128]

It's very difficult to find a person holding a public office who isn't 40+. From your picture I judge you are well below that. For most people, age symbolic of maturity, wisdom, and life experience. Do you think your age might be a problem in appealing to the constituency?

The constituency aside, should you get voted governor, do you believe the older California lawmakers will take you seriously? How do you intend to gain their respect?

Re:Really what are you trying to prove?

[twilson650]

"faster then the captain of the cheerleading team takes off her prom dress" How could a person posting on slashdot possibly know how fast that is?

Do you have the time?

[Irvu]

As I understand it, the date of the election is still up in the air. Whenever that occurs, the winner will still face the general election in 2006. That gives the winner roughly two years (barring a second recall) in which to work before facing another election.

Is that really a sufficient amount of time to repair (or make a positive dent in) California's budget problems? If so, how do you plan on doing that?

CowboyNeal for Governor

[slackr]

Dear Georgy

Do you think there should be a CowboyNeal option in the CA Governor's race?

Or should I not complain about lack of options?

Re:CowboyNeal for Governor

[tadas]

Do you think there should be a CowboyNeal option in the CA Governor's race?

Dude, this entire election *is* a CowboyNeal option...

Will more government really fix health care?

[ExoticMandibles]

In your issues statement, you say:

We need to strive towards a system of universal health care similar to Vermont's. We can't allow millions of children to remain without basic insurance, unable to get the most basic treatments.

Fifty years ago, health care in the United States was relatively unregulated, and we had the best health care in the world bar-none. Medical insurance was cheap and easily available, and the destitute had access to free charity medical care. But thirty years of intensive government meddling has left our health care system in shambles. In this article by Harry Browne, he quotes Dr. Jane Orient as saying:

When medical care was mostly paid for by patients, the hospital bill for an appendectomy was the equivalent of 10 days' wages for a common laborer ($149 in 1960). Now it's at least a couple months of take-home pay for a middle-income person (about $3,000). They still do the procedure the same way, and the patient is generally home faster.

Do you really think you can improve health care with more regulation, more bureaucracy, more goverment-institutionalized force?

The Chickens have come home to roost.

[mschuyler]

Here's what's happened. A long time ago the people of California, in their infinite wisdom, voted in something called "Proposition 13." Otherwise known as the "welcome, neighbor" law. This instantly created huge disparities in property taxes. For people wanting tax relief, it gave it in spades by freezing property taxes. For people moving to the fine state of California, "welcome, neighbor!" Your taxes are based on the price you paid, regardless that your neighbor in an indentical house pays 1/4th as much. (Bear in mind, please, that this fellow's net worth has increased dramatically. Sell your million dollar bungalow these days and move to Washington State waterfront with enough left over to retire.

It seemed like such a good idea at the time. But social services were cut. Libraries, for example, were decimated and whaddyaknow, the so-calledd "quality of life" began to deteriorate. (But hey! You lifers' property taxes are low, so to hell with your neighbors!)

So what did the government do? Began to rely on income tax. With the 90's boom the (state) government stayed afloat on dot-commers' riches for a few more years. Then the bust.

Now the chickens are home to roost. This has nothing to do with Davis. He inherited this mess caused by the voters when Proposition 13 was passed many years ago. But the *Voters* take no responsibility for the mess they created. They voted Prop 13 in; they vote Davis out. Somehow, they see no connection.

If elected, you will also inherit this mess. What will you do to educate voters to being citizens of the state instead of citizens of their own plot of land? How will you teach voters that word that is so hard to say, Responsibility?

Views on RIAA and SCO

[corgicorgi]

The two hottest political topics under public Slashdotters' eyes are the SCO and RIAA lawsuits. What are your views in each of them?

For the RIAA cases, most politicians would side with RIAA. Afterall, sharing copyright material is an infringement. But how do you view the methods being used to find these music sharers. Are they a threat to privacy rights? In another words, do the ends justify the means? Also, do you feel the fines, $10k+, are to severe for those convicted. Many of those who download and share musics are kids, from teenagers to college students. They seemed to be singled out for something they don't feel is any more illegal than jaywalking. I personally feel that the fine should be no more than $500.

As for the SCO case, do you support the actions taken by SCO? I suppose there's little a CA governor can do in this case. What are your views on the Open Source Software and GPL. What protection and their limits do you feel they should have?

I understand these cases are not bound within California, but many of those involved are in the state. How much can you influence these cases if you are elected governor, and what would you do?

Drugs and Taxes!

[watchful.babbler]

Okay, so I admit that it's not much of a campaign slogan, but here's the related questions:

1) You suggest that California should legalize marijuana use. However, federal pre-emption of drug legalization under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (AKA the Controlled Substances Act) takes precedence over any state decriminalization of drug use. How would you avoid what could be a particularly nasty battle between state and federal control?

2) Although you propose several major spending initiatives, including a "clean elections" law and a health-care system along the lines of Vermont's, you also state that balancing the budget is a priority. Obviously, the only way to reconcile these priorities is to raise taxes, as you acknowledge.

If we conservatively assume that adding new and restoring existing funding for projects only reopens the budget gap to where it was prior to the May Revision, some $38.2 billion must be recovered to balance the state's budget. Almost all of this will have to come out of the three general fund taxes (personal, sales, and corporate).

To give an idea of the numbers we're talking about, if we rolled back the California tax cuts of the mid-1990s, we would recover only around $5 billion (estimated as the revenue loss for FY 1999-2000 due to the tax cuts).

Having said that, what kind of increase in the various tax rates are you contemplating (income rate increases, capital gains, tobacco, etc)? Are there any major program reductions you support? Do you propose to shift burdens onto local governments to help close the gap?

imigrants

[Master Controll Prog]

What about spelling? Will this subject be stressed in schools?

Do you have a boyfriend?

[gnovos]

If not, what's your number? Hell, gimmie your number, even if you do!

Re:What part of illegal don't you understand?

[kevin lyda]

why all this abuse at me? you're the one who wants to deny them medical help. you're the one who seems more interested in punishing the illegal immigrant then in punishing the people bringing them into the country and fining people/companies that employ illegal immigrants.

i find it odd that in california which seeks to legalise drug use, is so keen on beating down on illegal immigrants. well, no, it fits the self-absorbed attitude i see from most california politicians (left and right).

i'm still curious how a country that hypes free trade around the world seems unwilling to allow the free movement of labour into it.

Re:Which distro?

[WebMasterJoe]

How are we to start a proper flame war without knowing which distro this guy uses?

How are we gonna start a proper flame war without knowing "this guy"'s gender? See exhibit A.

Content vs. Tech

[stylee]

California is considered the capitol of the content industry (RIAA, MPAA) and the technology industry (Silicon Valley). These two industries are at odds with each other over intellectual propery rights issues. They are probably also a large chunk of California's huge economy. Do you think you can balance the needs/wants of both lobbying groups in a manner that will be beneficial to both industries?

If so how?

I realize that this is mostly a federal matter as far as the law and politics go but there are many that believe that California kind of sets the standard for the rest of the nation to follow(at least economically and politically) so I am intersted in your ideas on this matter.

Re:Experience [Addendum]

[spamchang]

On reading your website's issues page:

Clean elections--
Do you honestly believe that money needs to be removed from the elections equation? How will this ensure an efficient solution if no one is allowed to contribute to a candidate s/he endorses, and how will this ensure that majority candidates will not be swamped by the radicals that flood out of the woodwork by a more equitable playing field? How much money would each candidate get out of the public funding pool? What happens if too many candidates run and not enough money is available?

Justice System--
While I agree in principle that the death penalty is bad policy, please offer a concrete solution to take care of the the problems that arise with letting more convicted felons into already overcrowded prisons. If I read your website right, you seem to advocate loosening sentences for as-yet-not-elaborated-on cases. Do give something substantial here.

Budget Woes--
Please, please, please tell us what you will do to *solve* the budget problems, other than "make courageous decisions."

Health Care--
Please elaborate on how Vermont's health care system, which serves a population of 613,090 (probably less than LA's population even), will scale up to serve California's population of 34,501,130.

Legalization of Marijuana--
Although I may be in the minority on this issue, do you think that allowing another mind-altering, functionally-impairing substance on the market is a good thing? Is burning paper and plant leaves good for the environment? What about secondhand smoke? What about commercialization of marjiuana, which will inevitably put additives in to make it smoother and more carcinogenic?

Economic Prosperity--
Please, once again, tell us what you will do about this, other than "take a page from President Clinton."

Overall, I think you introduce many ideas which are great but will be extremely costly to California. Given your repeated use of the words "fiscal discipline," I am less convinced that you have a consistent theme running throughout your platform. California cannot afford to partially fund every political candidate, provide universal health care, and achieve fiscal solvency. This does not include the costs of regulating marijuana and investing in clean energy technologies, which will add to the burden. As you would have Arnold do, please clearly elaborate on what policy initiatives you will undertake, how you would fund them, why they will work, and not what things are like.

Cordially,
Samuel Chang

THANK YOU CHEEZEDAWG

[Militant Libertarian]

I agree with this guy in full. California's capital flight is a direct result of their "oh damn those rich people" attitude.

Think about it, why do we tax the rich? Is it about punishing them for being rich, or trying to get whatever out of them they're willing to pay? Because if it's the ladder, California should really reexamine their tax system.

Over taxation leads to less revenue and hindered economies. It's a lose lose situation, unless you just really hate the rich.

Great leaders have great advisors...

[Sontas]

You are 26. I am a couple weeks short of being 26. Most of my friends are about the same age as you and I. What in your 26 years of life makes you think you are qualified to be the governor of the State of California? I can only assume you have never held any elected or appointed office in any segment of government since I didn't see it listed in my reading of your website.

Given your presumed lack of experience and ability to hold the office you are seeking, who will you be appointing as your advisors upon becoming governor and what are their qualifications?

Education

[tpengster]

I noticed your web site says little about education issues. What proposals do you have for improving the quality of public schools, and how do you plan on financing these programs? Do you support or oppose affirmative action, and what proposals (if any) do you have for attracting minority students to california universities? What priority does education have on your agenda and what impact will this have on your budget?

Voter apathy

[SmallFurryCreature]

First of I am not an american. I am dutch. The reason I still care is that because no matter how stupid, idiotic, moronic, braindead and anal americans attempt to be. Give us 10 years and we will improve on it. Calefornia privatised the electricity and now got brownouts? Ha, we did that in 2 yrs time. I have had more brownouts in this year then in the entire rest of my life and I am old.

Okay given that, a big reason for voter apathy is often that people can't see any difference between the candidates. In holland we got about a dozen parties withabout half of them big enough to make a difference. In america it is only 2. However in this election you have a couple of dozen candidates and not even the greatest cynic can claim they are spouting the same old lines.

Also a cause for voter apathy is said to be that the voter can't see what the goverment is doing. Well with all the brownouts and the enron/worldcom trouble I should this could have woken the voter up that they need a good goverment to represent them.

Nonetheless on youre weblog you say that you expect the turnout to be oven lower then when gray davis was elected. If all this can't get the voter intrested then what can? You now got superstars, nutcases, pornstars and (sorry about this) you and yet you expect even fewer people to give a damn. Is democarcy ultimatly always going to go down to a minority voting or is it perhaps time to introduce mandatory voting?

Is CA really controlled by businessmen?

[geekee]

"We deserve better than rich businessmen and career politicians trading money for power and power for money. Successful leadership is founded on trust. The time has come to restore that trust, and work together to repair this government! "

Your quote implies leigislation is largely bought by businessmen. However, Davis has been accused of being a puppet of labor unions, enacting anti-business legislation that is driving business away from California. Do you intend to continue this trend, and if so, how will this affect the budget as more businesses leave California, reducing tax revenue?

How can you make this work?

[metachimp]

The biggest problem, as I see it, for anyone who may win this recall, is how on earth do you plan to get the state house, which is dominated handily by Democrats, to play ball with you in Sacramento after you defeated their guy in the executive branch?

This is one thing that most people aren't talking about. It's one thing to offer slogans and platitudes, but when it comes down to business, how are you going to get the Democratic leadership in the state assembly to give you one minute of their time? I see Arnold winning, and then getting *nothing* done, because hey, if I was a Democratic member of the state house, I wouldn't want to work with you or any of the other usurpers. I'd be more than happy to watch you twist in the wind, unable to build any consensus, totally ineffective because what you did was wrong.

As a life long resident of the Golden State, this whole thing is a travesty. Too bad we didn't recall Pete Wilson, the father of this entire mess, when we had the chance.

whoah!! holy hot chick

[BobRooney]

Can I donate to the "See the hot chick on his site naked" campaign fund?

Imigration

[tenchiken]

Today there is a large class of people who are litterally willing to risk their life to try to come to America to work. Sadly, under the immegration policies forced by both parties these people. When those people do make it here, they end up getting "pseudo-citizinship" in the form of Green Cards which prevents their influnce on America and threatens to make us as cultuarlly stagnant as the Europeans:

Are you in favor of making borders more accessable?

Are you in favor of eliminating Green Cards in favor of blanket Citizinship?

Re:no confidence votes

[rainer_d]

If no replacement can be found (by majority, IIRC), the current Chancellor stays.

Good. I'm impressed of your knowledge of German constitutional affairs, which most Germans would have problems to explain ;-)
But your assumption is not 100% correct: If the constructive vote of no confidence fails, a new parliament has to be elected (re-elections).
In 1982, Chancellor Helmut Kohl pulled this trick (his own party voted against him) to get into office and subsequently, the German supreme-court made it clear that you can pull this trick only once ;-)

cheers, Rainer

Why should Slashdot readers vote for you?

[maroberts]

Since you read Slashdot, you're aware of the general interests of most of its readers. Where do you stand on issues of particular interest to any California resident Slashdot voters e.g. Microsoft, copyright, SCO, censorship v freedom of speech etc.

You may make your answer to this question as long as you wish... :-)

What we really want to know.

[JustAnotherReader]

As a Californian who signed the recall petition I'd like to start by saying that we know why Davis is a bad governor.

• The Oracle fiasco cost the state millions of dollars.
• Davis said in his "State of the State" address that if he found that the electric companies were ripping us off by shutting down power stations to artificially raise prices then he'd take over the stations via emminent domain. Sure enough, the electric companies were found to be manipulating the prices. Rather than fullfilling his promise he formed a 5 year plan to buy electricity at a high rate and to pay for it from the general fund thereby bankrupting the state. That plan cost us billions of dollars.
• On top of all that he increased spending by (depending which source you cite) 30% to 48%. Government spending increased roughly twice the rate of the population increase. And now he tells us the only way we can get out of this mess is to cut police, fire, and school budgets.
• Because of all this our bonds have been downgraded to one level above "junk".

So we know why he's a bad governor. What we want to know, what we need to know, is how do you propose to fix this mess? Don't tell me how other people have failed, don't give me some generic line about how "special interest is running this state". Give me specific points of your plan to fix our financial problems.

diff you electorate /dev/null

[ElectricRook]

How do you plan to govern a people whose beliefs (based on past initiative success) strongly differ from yours on "the death penalty", and "de-criminalization of drug use".

Qualifications?

[Fastball]

Why does running Linux, wearing ThinkGeek gear, and anything else computer related qualify you for governor of California or any other political office?

<PERSONAL OPINION>
Like William F. Buckley, I'd rather be ruled or governed by the Everyman than I would by an increasing number of deep pocketed haves. That said, I'm not giving anybody a free pass, because they play the part of the geek or legit geeks. I want candidates to put forward a comprehensive platform. Programs they will execute. Priorities for their budgets. Don't placate me by "feeling my pain" or reciting the terms of the GPL.
<SUBOPINION ON CALIFORNIA>
If the marijuana legalization and gay marriage are the acid tests for your gubernatorial candidates, then you have a serious problem. These are journalistic issues, issues that sell papers and give the cable news talking heads something to babble about. In reality, these issues (in addition to file sharing, the RIAA, and IP infringement) affect minor assortments of people. They do not belong in the realm of public policy making where budget crises, transportation gridlock, and energy shortages will determine California's future. These affect homosexuals and heterosexuals, virgin lungs and potheads, and Windows neophytes and Linux zealots with no prejudice.
</SUBOPINION ON CALIFORNIA>
</POLITICAL OPINION>

How to balance the budget

[El]

Half the people in the US are in jail on drug-related charges. How much money could California save by releasing all persons convicted of non-violent drug offenses (e.g. possession)? Enough to balance the budget? The governor has the power to pardon any convict; does she also have the power to declare a blanket amnesty?

Tax the rich even more is your answer?

[geekee]

"The truth is, even with the billions in painful cuts already made, California is unable to make the cuts necessary to truly balance the budget. This situation is not new; Republican Governor Pete Wilson faced similarly staggering budget problems when he took office over a decade ago. His solution was to not only cut spending, but to increase revenues by raising rates on the top tax bracket by about one percent. Like Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr., Wilson raised rates on top brackets and the economy soared. He recognized what an impediment to economic recovery the budget crisis was, and stayed honest with Californians about the decisions that had to be made."

Currently, the wealthies people pay the highest percentage of their income in taxes. Yet your solution to the budget crisis seems to be to tax these people even more? Why do you feel it is ethical to unfairly tax the most productive members of Califoria society, to solve California's budget problems, but are unwilling to make the average person take some responsibility for providing tax revenue for service rendered by California govt. for all Californians? As a practical matter, do you think this solution will drive these people away from California, and create an even greater budget problem, rather than solving it?

Umm...

[Paulrothrock]

Is "Damn you fine!" a question? :D

DOESN'T ANYONE HAVE ANY FREAKIN' QUESTIONS!!!??

[garyrich]

The 1st 200 or so posts on this are various whines about Davis or the Recall process. Computer people should at least understand that the rules is the rules. Complaining about the "fairness" of the process makes as much sense at this point as complaining about the "fairness" of using using { and } as 'begin' and 'end' placeholders in C. The rules are laid out, now the game is to win.

Given that - what game are you trying to win? You know you aren't going to be elected Governor. Are you just hoping to get your issues addressed? Looking for a book deal? Did someone double dog dare you? Do you, perhaps, actually want to run for Governor 15 years years from now and are just laying a little very early groundwork? Do you just have an excess of zeal?

I can understand why most of the runners are in it. for the has been actors and such - $3500 is a chump change investment for the amoun of PR they generated. Some (Arianna) are obviously looking at writing a book. Arnold thinks he can actually win. Flynt probably sees it as paying $3500 to fart loudly and publicly at The Establisment.

Whay are you in this race?

not complicated

[GunFodder]

The best reasons to tax the rich are that they can afford it and they receive the most benefit from government services.

The first item doesn't sound fair but it is a basic tenet of capitalism - what the market will bear. If I make $100,000 a year and spend 40% of that on taxes I am still gonna have a lot more money than someone who makes $40000 a year and only spends 20% on taxes.

Many people will claim that poor people cost more to society than rich people, but this is untrue. Poor people may incur more direct costs, like welfare, subsidized housing, medicare, etc. But this is just enough money to survive. Rich people need the services of the police to protect their numerous belongings. They need the fire department to keep their large homes and office buildings from burning down. They need a military to protect their foreign investments. They need special legislation to protect their business interests. They need bailouts after stealing from their own companies. The government provides these services, and they cost a lot.

What do you look for?

[Ken Broadfoot]

What are you looking for in a "First Husband" for California?

--ken

Legalize It?

[Djanossy II]

I see you are pro-legalization when it comes to marijuana. While I agree that this step would eliminate a seedy underground (pun intended), what very real impact do you think it would have on the economy of California? True, if it were available at the drug store, young college kids wouldn't have to be exposed to a subcultural underground bent on toppling Western Civilization to get their pot. Of all the states, Arizona, Nevada, and California seem most ripe for such a change. However, consider the hit to their economies - all of a sudden you have many, many underground drug dealers out of work. If they're not out of work, their supply chain has definitely been mangled. Where will they turn when the recession hits? Will they try to push other drugs? Shouldn't we just legalize them all? Also, what of the enforcement officials, DEA and the like, who not only have salaries but also buy technology in droves to help track down the big-time dealers? Where will these people be re-inserted into your economic vision? There is a very real, if not shaky, and illegal, economy that supports the weed habit of California these days. There is also an economy that fights it. Where or what do you see these economies dissapating into if you are successful with your "common sense" legalization of marijuana? And, how is your personal consumption of marijuana? Was the thong an idea conceived of under or not under the influence?