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?

[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?

[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?

[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)

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.

[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.

[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.

Economy

[BgJonson79]

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

* ABC News last night

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?

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).

the most important question

[Mothra the III]

Boxers or briefs?

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?

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?

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

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?

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?

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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

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.