Description
Book SynopsisExposes the constitutional origins of our political and economic problems and furnishes a California fix: innovative solutions that allow Californians to debate their choices, settle on the best ones, hold elected officials accountable for results, and choose anew if something doesn't work.
Trade Review"Both [California gubernatorial] candidates may want to read the book's diagnosis of the potentially terminal problems that one of them is certain to inherit." -- Troy Senik Wall Street Journal "A timely book with a lot of important things to say." Newsweek "Lucid analysis is spiked with wit and appealing turns of phrase that lift it above mere wonkery." San Francisco Magazine "Two of the shrewdest California-ologists now practicing ... Mathews and Paul provide the best explanation we've yet had of the scope and sources of the state's governmental dysfunctionality." -- Harold Meyerson American Prospect "An eminently readable treatise on our state's flailing government." -- Aaron Sankin SF Appeal "A compelling book." -- Michael Lewis Vanity Fair Magazine "A smart, good read." -- Jerry Roberts Santa Barbara Independent "If you are interested in improving government-you should read the book ... it reflects the spirit of innovation that was once part of the California story. This is what the campaign for governor should have been about." -- Bill Boyarsky Truthdig "A concise and lucid analysis." -- Byron Williams Oakland Tribune "Objective and at times humorous (if that's possible) analysis of how California grew dysfunctional and what will make it functional again. This new release is getting solid reviews from critics and readers alike." -- Jim Wood Marin Magazine "The authors do a great job of explaining what has been done to try to control the [budget] beast and how it became a depressing example of the law of unintended consequences." -- Royal Calkins Monterey County-Herald "A terrific book... Nice work, guys. Calbuzz sez: check it out." Calbuzz "An important new book." -- Harold Meyerson Los Angeles Times "This is a great book; everyone who wants to fix California needs to read it." -- Garrett Gruener California Journal Of Politics And Policy
Table of ContentsList of Figures
Prologue. Out of Luck
Part I
Building and Breaking California
1. Crisis without Exit
2. History and the Constitution
3. Empowering and Shackling Sacramento
4. From Teachers to Janitors:
Direct Democracy Demotes the Legislature
Part II
The California Fix
5. Budgeting without Shackles
6. The Architecture of Political Frustration
7. Remaking Elections and the Legislature
8. Government from the Bottom Up
9. A More Direct Democracy
Epilogue. Good Rules to Match Its Mountains
Notes
Acknowledgments
Index
