As a product of California’s higher education systems from the pre-Prop. 13 days, I am both beneficiary of and advocate for what excellence can be.
California once worked for all people. We may have disagreed, but we had a sense of the common good that kept us united in offering programs and policies that worked.
Distrust of government today comes largely from the “solutions” we keep imposing that make things worse, not better. Today we have poor performance in almost every realm, in part from hobbling the people and programs that could make things better.
By listening to young and old, to liberals and conservatives, to all people from all walks of life, California Forward has found common-ground measures that can restore us to sanity. Out of these numerous statewide discussions comes the Government Performance and Accountability Act (GPAA) that reflects both the concerns and solutions that engage our citizens.
The GPAA addresses the need for long term perspectives, for real fiscal responsibility not just cuts to programs for those in need, for improved local control through community strategies, and accountability that is more than a buzzword.
When citizens find solutions that reflect their honest understanding of the crises and real alternatives, it increases participation and helps avert the cynicism that threatens our stability. GPAA is good policy because it was borne of true and excellent democracy. We at California Church IMPACT applaud the result.
Elizabeth Sholes is public policy director of the California Council of Churches/California Church Impact
