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Schwarzenegger Blew Chance for Real Reform

Would-be savior turns out to be just another lying politician

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted May 21, 2009 7:59 AM CDT

(Newser) – Arnold Schwarzenegger came into politics with an uncommon opportunity to tell Californians hard truths about taxes and governance, using his surprising mandate to press for reform. Instead, he became just another governor repeating "the same lies and the same nostrums," pretending citizens can have good public services without paying for them. "California is not ungovernable," writes Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times, "it's just been ungoverned."

Schwarzenegger and other state pols have peddled an "onerous lie" that California has the highest taxes in the nation; in fact, they're average, while infrastructure collapses and schools deteriorate. The state needs big changes, especially a revision of Prop 13, a property tax measure that has choked local government. "If Tuesday's election proves anything," writes Hiltzik, "it's that California's political sacred cows all need to be herded into the abattoir and dismembered, once and for all."

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gestures as he talks with legislative leaders at the start of their meeting concerning the state budget at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger talks with Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, right, before the start of his meeting with legislative leaders concerning the state budget at the Capitol in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger pauses during a news conference in San Jose, Calif., Monday, May 18, 2009, with teachers, public safety, fire and business leaders to promote Proposition 1A through 1F. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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It's a vicious circle—the more government is unable to do the things voters want it to do, the less faith the voters have in government and the less they're willing to spend on it.
- Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times

Considering the quality of the services and institutions state and local government provide, Californians aren't overtaxed but undertaxed— and the wealthy are the most undertaxed of all. - Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times columnist

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Schwarzenegger Blew Chance for Real Reform