(Jerry Brown, pictured above showing a Democratic crowd in Bakersfield exactly how much he cares about the disabled, elderly and those in need of a good education...)Just days before the 2010 election, former California Attorney General, Jerry Brown gives a speech before a packed crowd in a pizza joint in downtown Bakersfield, next to the largest "head shop" in the city. (I'm not sure why that location other than a possible impending "bong tax")
This was election time, when Governor Brown, was making promises for change, though, we didn't know until this last week, that change for our Governor meant his own personal change.
At one time Brown came up with some dizzying ideas for change, such as removing personal taxes and replacing them with sales tax. How's that idea going? Oh, yes, no where.
During this particular election speech, (coming to Youtube soon) Brown remembered his days with Mother Theresa in India. He didn't clarify whether they just happened to be in the same country at the same time, or that he worked hand and hand, with the starving, sick and poor.
Whatever the case, he's now dropped away from his supporters in the unions, the clear need for expanded educational programs and his attitude has become one of a despot, as he has made it clear, he's the one in charge of California. (Oh, and he doesn't do dishes either)
Veto power
The democrats can't please him, the Republicans are up in arms due to threats of special elections which would only cost taxpayers more money as Brown wants the people of California to decide whether or not to tax themselves, or actually continue to tax themselves, as the "short term" tax hikes, are supposed to come to a halt this year.
What a good strategy
Instead of just saying it, "we need to continue these taxes" and getting eggs and tomatoes thrown at him, Governor Brown, has cleverly put the responsibility of continued taxes in the hands of the voters.
I suppose you could thank him for involving the people of the state in the budget, but then again, if we vote it out, he will have an excuse to cut more programs that keep some people alive, and give quality education to the children of California who will one day inherit this mess.
So, kudos Governor Brown, I say it's a brilliant plan.
Veto is so "neato"
The Governor threw out a budget that the state democrats scratched out quickly, but you and I all knew that's the plan.
Again, the pressure is on with a "budge-it" slowly coming into a political arena we may have never seen before.
This is a Governor who knows how to leverage, and the state controller is holding back the pay for the legislators until they "do their jobs."
Here is someone who is taking control of the state in a way that's not so pretty or nice even, but in a way that only Frank Sinatra could appreciate: he's doing it his way.
The veto is interesting as it allows a long time Democrat to block the move of both sides, the Republicans too. So, I predict we will see a few more vetoes before this budget is settled upon...by the Governor.
What if he can't do it
I'm old enough to remember Jerry Brown cutting out Summer School and my cousin, a young child, wrote to him and asked him to rescind the cuts as she enjoyed the program.
She recently told me the story and I asked if she ever got a response. "No, and that's why he will never get my vote." (Okay, she's almost 40 now, but she remembers, some of us do, Governor)
Now if Governor Brown had, as was his job as the state's Attorney General, really wanted to cut spending, he would have lifted another finger to look at the Kern River Valley's hospital. They are an example of failure and that is not always a bad thing.
We have to look at the failure of the Federal government, the state, and the county when it comes to imprudent spending if we are to survive this depression.
How can I trust that Governor Brown who had all the manpower of the state to cull out all the criminal and unethical activity in a small, rural, mountain hospital, which included misspending, actually squandering, but doesn't follow through?
I don't remember how many cell phones were turned off in California government offices recently, but Governor Brown can be proud that he made sure that happened.
Yet he could not handle a small hospital.
Bringing people and ideas together
One of our new Governor's promises I watch on my computer as we filmed it, is that he wanted, pre-election, of course, to bring people in to help tell him what needs to be done. People from all areas of the state were to come together so we could all assist our "superstar" in making effective changes.
Never happened. I think my name was first on the list, but I also think our "Retrocrat" was toying with us. Every move Governor Brown has made so far, is to allow one politician, himself, to usurp and monopolize the power of all the others.
He forgot KVHD
With the election behind him, and an economy that can't fill the tank so it can travel into the future, Brown missed out on opportunities to see just how a small hospital finds loopholes in it's finances, passes them out to the top tier, and ignores severe quality issues.
Simply avoiding a grievous mistake such as what our Governor did leaving a mountain community with a hospital on the brink of disaster, or just a disaster, by allowing another agency, the California Office of Statewide Planning and Development and their tumor, Cal Mtg., to financially take control seems a lot like, "collusion?"
The budget
Now, last I heard the state budget gap was around 9 billion, and I can tell you where to find some money: KVHD.
Apparently, the Kern Valley Healthcare District, had millions to spend over the past five years, and yet they are in a deep pit of denial.
In 2010, the CFO promised West America Bank that they would garner "millions" from the general obligation bond, "Measure G," and told debt insurer, Cal Mtg., that 80% of the community were supporting more taxes for the hospital.
Those overstatements lead to a line of credit which was initially said to pay off the August 2010 "old debt" payment of 800K dollars. That statement was quickly rescinded, (actually it took two months for them to come up with a ruse, but they forget they say it on video, hard to take back) and then they played dumb. (it comes easy)
This is what I don't understand
Politicians talk about doing all sorts of things, including telling the truth, but they don't follow through.
KVHD is an example of some of the most egregious financial miscalculations, fraud and abuse, so what does that make the people who are supposed to be overseeing them?
A) Criminals
B) graduates of the California educational system
C) Blind
D) inbred
E) all of the above
Answer: E
Come and get it
If there's one thing Jerry Brown said that I agree with and that is we will have reform or revolution, and the latter is looking more likely as our leaders aren't busting the "white collar gangs" rather they zero in on pot growers or certain "protestors" who not only don't parasitically drain community services, they are also part of the tax base.
White collar crime amounts to losses in billions each year, yet it has been only tepidly pursued?
I would agree with others who have tagged Brown as frugal, so how could he miss the imprudence with KVHD? This is what Brown is known for dragging out the spenders. Didn't it at least irritate his coupon clipping senses?
Where was he at KVHD when a certain CEO was being given train and plane rides, housing, along with the CFO and his long time, toll free, lair?
If Jerry Brown can reach a budget settlement that will both cut waste and promote future growth than we would have to assume he could have done that to this valley hospital. That does not bode well for any of us Californians as the hospital has been given more chances than a death row murderer...
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