A new Constitution for California?

[Cleita]

I think it's about time. May I suggest a parliamentary system of multiple parties in the state only, of course. The elected Governor would have little more than ceremonial power. The real power would be with the PM elected by a coalition of parties in parliament. If the PM doesn't do a good job, he can be fired at any time in his term and a new PM elected. A two party system fails us because we are far too diverse and with too many differing climates, topography, industries and ethnicities to be divided into just conservatives and liberals. Also, it would stop the practice of late of outside interests from other states and the RNC pouring tons of money to back one, single candidate. Since there will be as many candidates as there are parties, it would be a counterproductive move on their part.

[Cant trust em]

1. end the 2/3 majority to pass a budget

Make propositions more difficult to enact. Change the way senate/assembly districts are drawn.

Those are my big changes.

[Cleita]

2. Yes, turn back the Jarvis Amendment, that's where the 2/3 majority was

sneaked in. Also, raising property taxes will bring in needed revenue. However, I would be selective about the mega rich paying extra property taxes, not the working class single home owner or the retiree home owner. However, none of this is happening so I think we should just go back to the drawing board. It would oust Arnie too in the process. I think we need to start something new.

[Luminous Animal]

4. A big problem is having budgetary concerns tied

to our Constitution. I have not problem with the California Constitution mandating a balanced budget, I do have a problem budgetary procedures & restrictions being encoded within the constitution. These incremental changes have resulted in a tangled web.

[Luminous Animal]

3. I have been advocating a parliamentary system for CA for 25 years.

California is an ideal state for such a system.

So how can we move this idea forward?

Unfortunately, the Bay Area Council ("Strong economy, business environment & quality of life") are way ahead on the Constitutional Convention front. These people are not progressives.

[Luminous Animal]

5. This is the group that is at the forefront for a CA Constititional Convention.

http://www.repaircalifornia.org/index.php
They are specific in their intent to take the 2/3rds rule and Prop 13 off the table as clearly stated by "Repair California" supporter and member, Jim Wonderman in this OpEd for the SacBee.

http://www.sacbee.com/740/story/1981206.html

We have worked with the state's and nation's top constitutional law firms and experts, and know that we are on rock-solid legal footing to limit the convention to four areas: (1) new government oversight, (2) pushing money and authority back down to local government, (3) reforming our election system for initiatives and legislators, and (4) reforming the budget process. Social issues like prayer in school, abortion, and gay marriage are off the table, and in our current language, so are any tax increases or changes to the property tax rates set by Proposition 13 in 1978.

[Luminous Animal]

6. Check this out! Obama organizer filed two inititiates for a democratic

Constitutional Convention. He filed in response to the business-led, limited, and secretive Constitutional Convention campaign by the group "Repair California".

Here is in article about his initiatives in the SF Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/x-13450-Sacramento-Prison-Reform-Examiner~y2009m6d25-Constitutional-Convention-Initiative-Filed-Today

His initiatives can be read here:
http://internetalley.blogspot.com/

His California Constitutional Convention Facebook page is here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=206722385433

Our six basic principles:

1.) We claim our right to fair and open election of our Constitutional Convention Delegates.

2.) We claim our right to use fair and open publicly owned voting systems, which are open to public inspection by all, and do not use trade secret software.

3.) We claim our right to have our delegates campaign restricted to public-funded campaigns, so all can participate on a level playing field, free from collusion with, or knowledge of, and outside control by any private or special interests.

4.) We grant our elected delegates be bound only by their personal good conscience in all Convention votes on our behalf, for our common welfare, in all matters placed before our Constitutional Convention.

5.) We claim our right to open every component part of our California Constitution for review, evaluation, repair, and modification, so as to empower our elected Delegates to re-write our Constitution for the 21st Century and beyond.

6.) We claim our right to ratify the new finished California State Constitution.

We commit to all these six points. and pledge our support for our campaign and our efforts forward, as Citizens of the Golden State of California, to qualify and pass proposed Constitutional Articles 36 and 37.

[Kajsa]

7. Can't stress this enough!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=141x34471

Are we right in the middle of this 2/3 majority vote BS RIGHT NOW,PEOPLE?

Yes we are!

:(