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Fall/Winter 2003
General Winery News 2003 Harvest Report Uncorked! Awards and Reviews |
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California Politics: Confounding
By Tom SheltonPerhaps California's recent dark night of the political soul is best described as entertainment. With the world's sixth largest economy sinking under the weight of a crushing 40 billion dollar deficit, our potpourri of potential leaders took political discourse to the level of a Jerry Springer interview; and they made us laugh long enough to distract California from the painful choices that lie ahead. Given a campaign devoid of a single innovative idea it is no surprise that voters turned to an action hero to do something (to do anything, or, at the very least, to simply keep us entertained). Starved for real food, the electorate took a roadside exit on the way to Sacramento and ordered up a super-sized snack with fries on the side. But let's not be cynical. Since the beginning of term limits Sacramento has become a confounding and inhospitable place. With the general election of our representatives relegated to a minor curiosity, the real stage has moved to primary elections where extreme views are rewarded. Consequently, the legislature has become a center-less snake pit of centrifugal energy that is better quarantined than unleashed upon an unsuspecting public. In the current context, only Harrison Ford may have been a better choice to tame the vipers than Governor Arnold. A ship of state floundering in a dangerous current requires a strong hand and a reliable crew. Hopefully, the new governor will use his Hollywood-honed skills to persuade the representatives of a divided electorate that representative democracy is all about subrogating narrowly defined political expectations to the general welfare of the electorate. This is a tall order, indeed, in a state where "what's yours is mine and what's mine is mine" rises to the stature of political anthem. Regardless, I am hopeful! After all, it is always darkest before the dawn, and Governor, we'll leave the light on for you, because this is one great industry that has nowhere else to go. |
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