Are We on the Verge of a New Era of Political Reform?
Americans are deeply frustrated with how democracy is working in the United States and that could lead to a change in the status quo.
Political Reform
Viewfinder: Supporters of the Zimbabwe Opposition Party Movement for Democratic Change
Supporters of the Zimbabwe opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, listen and cheer as the party's acting president addresses the crowd gathered outside the party headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Wait, Did California Fix Political Polarization?
Other states are moving quickly to adopt reforms passed by California voters in 2010, but there may be unintended consequences.
Should the U.S. Switch to a Parliamentary System?
Efforts to curb legislative partisanship have weak track records, so maybe we should consider changing the other side of the equation in order to establish a government that can actually get things done.
The Corrections
In 1896, William Randolph Hearst unleashed his pit-bull ace reporter, Ambrose Bierce, in the nation’s capital to expose the Railroad robber baron's grip on California’s Legislature. Reforms happened. The state was returned to its people. Trouble is, some of those fixes are bringing California to its knees.
Local Governance: Unlocking Realignment
Efforts to reform California’s governing system often focus on one or two ideas that can be turned into ballot initiatives. Billionaire Nicolas Berggruen’s Think Long Committee was different. Members agreed on a broader approach – offering a series of integrated proposals in seven major areas with the goal of designing a new governing system. Here are highlights of those recommendations, and how they fell a little short of hopes in squaring Sacramento's needs with those of local governments.
Citizens Council: The Third-and-a-half Branch of Government
Efforts to reform California’s governing system often focus on one or two ideas that can be turned into ballot initiatives. Billionaire Nicolas Berggruen’s Think Long Committee was different. Members agreed on a broader approach – offering a series of integrated proposals in seven major areas with the goal of designing a new governing system. Here are highlights of those recommendations, and how they reached them, in calling for the creation of a sitting citizens' council to help run the state.
Jobs: Addressing All the Variables
Efforts to reform California’s governing system often focus on one or two ideas that can be turned into ballot initiatives. Billionaire Nicolas Berggruen’s Think Long Committee was different. Members agreed on a broader approach – offering a series of integrated proposals in seven major areas with the goal of designing a new governing system. Here are highlights of those recommendations for taking a holistic approach to creating and retaining jobs
State Budget: Fixing the Maintenance Factor
Efforts to reform California’s governing system often focus on one or two ideas that can be turned into ballot initiatives. Billionaire Nicolas Berggruen’s Think Long Committee was different. Members agreed on a broader approach – offering a series of integrated proposals in seven major areas with the goal of designing a new governing system. Here are highlights of those recommendations dealing with the state budget, the most bipolar of California's maladies.
Voter Initiatives: Reforming the Ultimate Reform
Efforts to reform California’s governing system often focus on one or two ideas that can be turned into ballot initiatives. Billionaire Nicolas Berggruen’s Think Long Committee was different. Members agreed on a broader approach – offering a series of integrated proposals in seven major areas with the goal of designing a new governing system. Here are highlights of those recommendations, and how they reached them, on reining in the state's public initiative process.
Taxes: Prop 13's Eternal Shadow
Efforts to reform California’s governing system often focus on one or two ideas that can be turned into ballot initiatives. Billionaire Nicolas Berggruen’s Think Long Committee was different. Members agreed on a broader approach – offering a series of integrated proposals in seven major areas with the goal of designing a new governing system. Here are highlights of those recommendations, and how they reached them, in the contentious area of taxation.
The Freethinking Homeless Billionaire and the Flat-Broke State
A long list of politicians and a whole industry of fix-it professionals have failed to restore California to its former glory. Did Nicolas Berggruen—Paris-born, art collector, global investor—and his Think Long committee, know how to rebuild the Golden State? And if so, Why didn’t anyone listen?
Education: Heart of the Crisis
Efforts to reform California’s governing system often focus on one or two ideas that can be turned into ballot initiatives. Billionaire Nicolas Berggruen’s Think Long Committee was different. Members agreed on a broader approach – offering a series of integrated proposals in seven major areas with the goal of designing a new governing system. Here are highlights of those recommendations as they apply to public and higher education--once the state's acme, now its Achilles heel.