It’s not just a rumor anymore. Not just partisan ranting from one side or another. Everyday there is a new headline, and not just on this column, talking about some other campaign promise Schwarzenegger is backing out of, or some campaign promise he has followed through on that will trash the state and the cities just a little bit more.
Whether or not these new developments have woken up the state’s voters, who were so easily swayed with promises of economic growth and getting rid of special interest groups, is unclear.
Since all along his game has been to point the finger at someone else, he seems to be in step with his campaign trail by telling cities and counties not to blame him for repealing the car tax and taking away $4 billion in lost revenue. Now cities throughout the state will be facing some tough choices about what programs, in already lean times, can be cut to make up for the lost funds.
It must be the late Arnold Schwarzenegger, since he promised that education cuts would be made only “over his dead body.” He looks pretty healthy for being a dead guy. He is not only going against his own campaign promises, but has proposed suspending the state’s educational funding formula.
So great, our already less than average educational system is going to get worse. Imagine that. But Arnie cares about the kids, remember that. What’s the point of an after school program for kids who don’t have an education?
Now some Latino activist groups are calling for a boycott of schools, stores and jobs in response to the repeal of the law that would have given immigrants the right to have a driver’s license. Whether or not the groups will be able to mobilize the immigrant masses does not negate the furor by a large percentage of the population.
We hate to say we told you so, so we won’t. Our whole state is in this mess together. Our bonds are just about to be considered junk bonds, and we’re out here wanting to borrow more money. Is there any hope for our golden state? We’ll just have to wait and see what kind of miracle cure Schwarzenegger stirs up next.
