I know California is in a deep financial crisis, but the solution will only be found by smart public voters who recognize the real problems and elect people who will honestly serve in a bipartisan way. Our elected representatives have to do what is best for California. Not the other way around. Itās time to stop the minority from dictating what the majority wants.
We need to elect a governor who will lead us out of the quagmire weāre in, and I donāt see that savior in any of the conservatives who have tossed their hats into the ring. Arnold was a big failure. He touted that his expertise and business successes were going to guide our fair state into solvencyāwhat a laugh. Now we have another ex CEO claiming to be that person. All I can say about Meg Whitman is that any person who failed to register to vote and didnāt vote is in no position to run the state. If it wasnāt important enough to be part of the governing process by casting a vote, then who is she to now say she knows what is best for California? She abnegated her right to run for office and should pack her ācarpet bagā and leave California. Unless you vote, you have no say.
I donāt claim to know all the right answers, but Iāve always strived to be well informed. Iām also very proud to say that Iāve never failed to vote in any election since I was 21. That included voting while I was in the service during the Korean War.
My advice to all Californians is to be informed, vote intelligently, or shut up!
This article appears in Jan 21-28, 2010.

