Our political parties are hogtied by blind adherence to slogans and "lines-in-the-sand" that have turned to petrified stone --- no matter how insubstantial they were to start.
Budget deficits plague the Golden State like wildfires, yet no political will to change a clearly dysfunctional system has materialized.
Why do we let this situation continue?
The typical pattern, established over the past few decades, is being followed again this year:
The Legislature holds hearings on the Governor's budget --- released in January --- but doesn't get serious until after fiscal figures are revised in May. Lawmakers pass Democrats' proposals, ignore Republicans'.
Legislators don't even come close to the June 15 constitutional deadline, but since no one suffers consequences at that time, nobody seems to care.
After weeks, or months of faux-action or no action at all, the leadership reaches a compromise when everyone is too tired to fight anymore.
Current speculation in the Capitol is that Republicans will "allow" the Governor to place an initiative on the November ballot for voters to decide between a new California Lottery or a one cent increase in the sales tax, but only if there is a spending cap placed on state expenditures.
Again, more of the same --- a short-term and incomplete "solution" geared to the next election.
Few voters understand the intricacies of state budgeting. Nor should we need to. That's why we elect representatives.
Since the legislature doesn't handle problems --- such as expenditures outpacing revenues --- once a situation does come to the forefront --- through underperforming schools, out of control property taxes or crazy energy prices --- a "solution" often emerges through voter-approved initiatives.
The initiatives are not crafted as carefully as a fully vetted bill would be, and once locked in by the voters they can be nearly impossible to change, except by another initiative.
Many of us also see California's budget process as an unchanging fact of life --- something we have to live with like earthquakes or high housing costs (or now high foreclosure rates.)
While we have no control over forces of nature, we can reduce the risk by making our buildings safer. Similarly, we can withstand --- or at least minimize --- economic forces that lead to deficits through wise governing.
What Californians deserve ---instead of platitudes and pledges that appeal to one segment or another --- is real dialogue between the parties leading to working plans and good bi-partisan solutions.
Another reason no political will for change happens in the Capitol is because the two major political parties have gerrymandered districts. It's one of the few things the parties have cooperated on consistently --- maintaining the status quo for themselves.
If the legislature does not work to fix California's perpetual budget disaster --- if voters do not demand a change --- we will continue this ridiculous, archaic and unjust system in what is supposed to be one of the leading states in the union.
And there is plenty of blame to go around.
Democrats propose more than $11 billion in new taxes, without so much as a public hearing on the matter. Republicans insist on the sales tax exemption for yacht owners while demanding cuts to social service programs.
The Governor's proposed borrowing against the potential future profit of a new and improved California Lottery is full of assumptions, some of which are dubious, says the Legislative Analyst's Office.
But other solutions, starting with demanding that our representatives work with each other, taking a long-term budgeting approach, or take the wishful thinking and political dogma out of negotiations, would promote a more just and healthy state.
Party loyalty is one thing; blindly following someone like lemmings into the abyss is another.
Use the Catholic Legislative Network (www.cacatholic.org) --- a partnership of California dioceses --- to communicate with your legislator that enough is enough on this budget charade. Tell them to work together or we will elect somebody who will.
If the world of politics is the art of compromise, it is a dying art unless we as voters revive it. Steve Pehanich is director of Advocacy and Education for the California Catholic Conference.
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