Randy

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Archives for the ‘Good Government’ Category

What Governor Jerry Brown means for moral Californians

Monday, January 3, 2011, 6:25 pm |

I wanted to be too busy to watch the inauguration. But the hard truth was unavoidable. Democrat Jerry Brown has been sworn in as Governor…for the third time.

Although Brown swore to “support and defend…and…bear true faith and allegiance…to the Constitution of the State of California,” he didn’t mean the written Constitution. Indeed, he joked about his oath. When saying the part about taking “this obligation freely, without any mental reservation,” Brown said, “Really, no mental reservations!”, provoking the crowd to laughter.

It’s obvious to me that Brown sees his official oath as a mere formality, and views himself as the top authority who has done, is doing, and will do what he desires. Remember how Brown refused to defend Prop. 8 on man-woman marriage, despite his sworn duty to defend and represent the statutes and the Constitution of California? Like Arnold Schwarzenegger before him, Jerry Brown believes he is above the law. This is the very definition of tyranny.

What can the moral citizens of California expect for the next four years?

1. More immoral laws are coming: Jerry Brown is expected to sign every bill on his desk that advances the homosexual-bisexual-transsexual agenda and abortion and pornography, that promotes environmental wackiness, that coddles criminals, and that continues pouring obscene amounts of tax dollars into so-called “schools” that war against parents, moral virtues, and real academics.

2. Voters’ complaints can be leveled directly at the Democrats: The bright side is that the light will be shining directly on the Democrats. No longer can anything bad in California state government can be held against liberal Republicans, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger. The cloak has been lifted and the excuses have evaporated. All the public credit or blame will go directly to Brown and the Democrat-dominated Legislature. It’s time for people to connect the dots. The California Legislature has essentially been under the control of the Democrats virtually since 1957 in the state Senate and since 1959 in the state Assembly. In 2011, SaveCalifornia.com will be a strong voice of truth, especially reporting what the big media won’t.

3. Tax and fee hikes will depend on Republicans and voters: Jerry Brown and the Democrats want to raise taxes on just about everything. But they need voter approval to do it. Furthermore, they can’t place taxes and fees on the June ballot without a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, which would require all the Democrats plus two Republican sell-outs in both the state Senate and state Assembly. Please start telling your friends and neighbors to “Vote no on new taxes or fees, families can’t afford big government.”

4. There is a great need to fall back and regroup and repair our culture’s foundations: How did California get itself in this situation? Government is a symptom of the People’s values and what they believe and worship. Consider that the forces of evil have targeted young people for decades. They have successfully captured and damaged children’s hearts, minds, bodies, and souls in the daytime (through Godless, government-run schools) and in the afternoon and evening (through the Godless entertainment media). And most parents are untrained to raise virtuous children because most pastors won’t teach them how. Is it any surprise that sexual immorality and drug abuse are sky high among young people? It is high time for true Christians and all those who believe in moral virtues to give time, talent, and money toward teaching the practical benefits of God’s standards to the next generation. It’s like we need to take the Book of Proverbs mainstream to young people under 30, within and outside our immediate families. Society’s foundations are cracked and broken. With your help, SaveCalifornia.com will work to repair it with God’s beneficial glue and mortar.

5. Support SaveCalifornia.com’s campaign to reach young people: For quite some time it has been on my heart to teach moral truth to young people, to help them overcome the lies they believe. In 2011, SaveCalifornia.com will reach out to the next generation like never before. Young people are our future, and our future leaders too. They desperately need direction, inspiration, and purpose. They need to grasp and apply Judeo-Christian values in their own lives and in the public square. With your help, SaveCalifornia.com will connect with the under-30 crowd. We’ll activate them through creative technology, targeted ads, community projects, on-the-street activism, and more. It’s very exciting and very needful. So what do you say? Support our vision to reach the next generation. Please participate and invest in the future. Visit SaveCalifornia.com today and click “Donate” to give your tax-deductible gift. Thank you for standing with us as we stand strong for moral virtues for the common good. See my 2-1/2 minute video message and read about our 2011 strategy. Thank you.

Boldly in Christ’s grace and truth,

Randy Thomasson
Founder and President
SaveCalifornia.com

No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.
Samuel Adams, “Father of the American Revolution,” 1722-1803

Fair districts means better representatives

Monday, November 22, 2010, 3:44 pm |

If you believe in fairness and impartiality — and oppose theft and man-worship — as God Himself does, you’ll be happy about California’s new redistricting commission.

Polls consistently show that California voters correctly agree that the Democrat-run California Legislature is corrupt. But, at election time, most voters go into denial and keep electing these same Democrat legislators.

Nevertheless, the voters’ anti-corruption sentiment resulted in the passage of Prop. 11 in 2008 and Prop. 20 this November to remove from the self-interested Legislature the power to draw state legislative and congressional districts. That’s a good thing!

The first 8 commissioners for the new Citizens Redistricting Commission were chosen on Nov. 18. Six more will be selected by Dec. 31. This working commission is a bold step of reform with standards that are likely to end a number of “safe seats” in California, mostly for Democrats, in both the Legislature and in Congress. 

You can see the problem by looking at unnatural, gerrymandered districts like this and this. The Democrats who control the California Legislature have largely been in control of drawing boundaries for state Assembly, state Senate, and Congress for the last 40 years. They created safe seats for incumbents by stuffing Democrat voters into certain districts. Then in 2001, when Republican legislators made a deal to create safe seats for themselves, the problem got worse.

Now the 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission will focus on a solution that has more standards, more accountability, a clear vision, and much less corruption. Consider that:

1. Before, legislative districts were drawn by self-interested, self-worshipping state legislators who would directly benefit from the outcome. Now, the district lines will be drawn by people who have not worked for, are not related to, and are not big donors to state legislators, in the last 10 years.

2. Before, legislative districts were created by the Legislature and Governor. Now, the district lines won’t be approved unless nine commissioners agree, including three Democrats, three Republicans, and three from neither party.

3. Before, there were no standards for drawing districts. Now, the standards in the California Constitution require that new districts shall “be geographically contiguous,” shall respect the “geographic integrity” of cities, counties, neighborhoods and communities, shall “encourage geographical compactness such that nearby areas of population are not bypassed for more distant population,” etc. Read more

4. Before, there was no accountability. Now, we have standards written into the California Constitution. And if the commission doesn’t abide by them, there’s an expedited complaint process to the California Supreme Court to enforce these standards. The state high court was good on this issue back in 1991 and is expected to be much better than the Legislature as a final arbiter.

So, be glad. California is in a civil war with liberal candidates mostly winning but liberal ballot measures mostly losing. Most Californians are against higher taxes and fees and in favor of fair legislative districts.

The bottom line: If it performs according to its purpose and rules, the Citizens Redistricting Commission probably means fewer “safe seats” for Democrats. This voter-created, powerful commission is what thieving, self-worshipping politicians hate. That’s why friends of the Democrat state legislators put Prop. 27 on the November ballot to eliminate the Citizens Redistricting Commission and restore power for redrawing all districts to the self-interested California Legislature. Fortunately, Prop. 27 lost and the goal of fair districts won. Therefore, in 2012, there may be more competitive districts open for good candidates who have renewed hope and opportunity to win and serve for God and family.

Lower chance of higher taxes and fees

Monday, November 22, 2010, 2:44 pm |

One of SaveCalifornia.com’s core principles is “financial freedom.” That’s
why I’m happy to report 3 pieces of good news in the aftermath of
California’s Nov. 2 election — news that has tax-and-spend Democrats at the
State Capitol all shook up:

1. Due to a published court ruling that is respectful of Prop. 13 in the
California Constitution, there is a very low chance of new tax hikes from
Sacramento.

2. Because California voters have just approved Prop. 26, new general fee
hikes are also very unlikely. (In case you’re wondering, the 2009 tax and
fee increases (sales tax, income tax, car tax and “child tax”) — will
expire in July and December next year.)

3. Because of what you’ve just read, and since California voters have also
approved Prop. 22 to prohibit state raids of local government funding
streams, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gov.-Elect Jerry Brown and California’s
Democrat legislative leaders are only talking about budget cuts — not
tax hikes, fee hikes or borrowing like before.

The reality is, they must cut billions in wasteful programs, in light of the
$25.4 BILLION state budget deficit projected for next year. California
voters, in the elections of 1978 (passage of Prop. 13), May 2009 (rejection
of tax and fee extensions), and November 2010, have boxed in the
Democrat-controlled California Legislature, providing much-needed financial
accountability.

See for yourself in these news stories from Nov. 12: