A Jesuit seminarian, a former governor, and a humanitarian ambassador all walk into a bar to discuss solving California’s problems.  A student of Zen Buddhism, a former mayor, and an attorney general join them.  Each of them is asked to introduce themselves.  They all have the same name – Jerry Brown. Brown has worn a lot of different hats in his lifetime.  His history and range of public service is unparalleled by most political candidates in any race, at any… Read more

Yes on Proposition 25: Yuliana Miranda The time to cast votes has arrived. Among the propositions Californians will be voting on Nov. 2 is one that will help the California economy. If Proposition 25, Majority Vote for Legislature to Pass the Budget, passes, then a legislative vote of a simple majority will be required to approve the budget, instead of the current two-thirds supermajority vote. Citizens should vote “yes” on Proposition 25. Our current 66 percent vote requirement to pass the… Read more

As the American public continues to voice their frustration with Washington, there is a temptation to channel that discontent into voting out incumbents, the people perceived to have created the burdens we currently carry as a country. This idea that we can just “clean house” and elect a bunch of people who will walk into Congress and immediately fix everything is a dangerous one, and voting out incumbent Democratic senator Barbara Boxer in order to send a message would be… Read more

The incumbent secretary of state of California Debra Bowen is running for re-election. Prior to holding this office she was a state assemblywoman and a state senator representing communities in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. As secretary of state, Bowen’s office is responsible for overseeing elections, supervising all electioneering and lobbyists in the state, and maintaining business records and the state archives. One of the most important jobs Bowen did when she took office in 2007 was… Read more

One of the most important elected positions in state government is the office of the state controller. The state controller is responsible for managing taxpayer dollars collected by the state. The controller’s office oversees the accuracy of the state payroll, performs audits of all state programs and offices as needed, and manages the state’s income in many other ways. The controller is, ideally, the taxpayer’s watchdog. This person is basically the accountant for the people. I endorse the incumbent, John… Read more

In 2008, Proposition 11 stripped the power to draw redistricting lines from the State Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization and gave it to a separate board of 14 commissioners chosen by government auditors consisting of five Democrats, five Republicans and four of neither party. Proposition 20 extends that authority to the congressional districts as well, leaving no room for any part of the legislature to tamper with political boundaries for their advantage. Redistricting is an initiative set in attempt… Read more

Vote no on Proposition 19 Legalizing marijuana is not a good idea because everything that Proposition 19 says about saving millions of dollars and allowing police to concentrate more on other crimes is not realistic. Legalizing marijuana could possibly have many bad effects on people. For example, many people might start using marijuana because it’s legal. Robert Lindsey, president of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence said, “…legalizing marijuana will increase availability, especially for young people, and will… Read more

In order to maintain our ideals without breaking our state, Californians must vote yes on Proposition 26 this November. Proposition 26 will help balance idealism with fiscal responsibility by closing loopholes that allow new taxes disguised as fees to be passed by a simple majority vote. The new measure will require that these fees be approved by the same supermajority vote from the legislature as stated in Proposition 13. The problem is Californians have been notorious suckers for cuddly new… Read more

On Feb. 11, 2010, a police SWAT team raided the home of Missouri resident Jonathon Whitworth. Narcotics investigators received a search warrant to scour Whitworth’s home after being informed that the Columbia resident stood in possession of large quantities of top-grade marijuana. Descending upon the Whitworth residence in the middle of the night, the SWAT officers charged through the front door, tackling Whitworth to the ground and aiming assault weapons at his wife and 7-year old son. They shot Jonathon’s… Read more