Prop 77's Demise: No Biggie?

As I've said at least a couple times on this blog, even if Prop. 77, the Governator's redistricting reform initiative, did make it on the ballot and passed, not much would be accomplished. Seems Paul Turner and Steven Hill, who wrote this column in today's Sacramento Bee, agree with me. Am I great or what? They've done a better job of articulating their case, though.

About the only problem I have with their commentary is their reference to people wanting better government, and that we could get that better government by shuffling things around a bit and making a few reforms. In other words: Politicians are a bunch of bums so let's fix things by electing a different set of bums that operate a little differently. That seems to be the line of thinking nowadays amongst a great portion of the population.

I beg to differ, but realize my opinion is overly simplistic in the real world. The problem with government is that it does too much and involves itself too deeply in people's lives. That's unlikely to change by simply electing "moderates"- those willing to compromise- to government positions. The only way to do get the government back into a minimal role in our lives is to elect libertarians to office who appreciate the proper role of government in a free society. But, that's unlikely to happen, at least at the state or federal level, anytime in the foreseeable future.


"Given the low level of competence among politicians, every American should become a libertarian. The government that governs the least is certainly the best choice when fools, opportunists and grafters run it. When power is for sale, then government power should be severely limited. When power is abused, then the less power the better."- Charley Reese