Among the 135 candidates vying to replace Gov. Davis, only a few
stand out ““ and most of them for the wrong reasons. Peter
Camejo is a rare bright spot.
For his intelligence, passion and ability to offer serious
solutions to solve serious problems, the Daily Bruin endorses
Camejo on the ballot’s second question.
No matter how voters vote on the first part of the recall
ballot, not voting for a candidate on the second would be
equivalent to not voting in any normal gubernatorial election
““ and Camejo is the best choice if Gov. Davis is removed.
Camejo has a detailed plan to protect and dignify the living
standards of everyone in California, rich or poor. And though he
trails far behind in all polls, a vote for Peter Camejo is not a
protest vote ““ it is a principled vote.
Unlike other candidates, Camejo’s record is not spotted
with the shady “smokey-room” deals which often make
politicians seem like puppets on marionette strings.
As a member of the Green Party, Camejo’s economic plan is
unorthodox ““ but it is very reasonable. He notes that the
richest 1 percent of Californians only pay 8 percent of their
income in state taxes, while the poorest 20 percent pay almost 12
percent in income tax. To correct this inequity, Camejo wants to
increase the tax rates for people making over $200,000 a year. This
increase would add up to $14 billion per year to the state
coffers.
Camejo said most of this money would go toward closing budget
holes and funding education. In addition to increasing education
funding, Camejo supports a statewide living wage, a dramatic
increase in the use of renewable power, a repeal of the
three-strikes law and universal healthcare. He said he would
“tie the property tax to income,” protecting the
retired and unemployed, while increasing taxes for wealthy people
with expensive properties.
All of these ideas are well-founded and show Camejo’s
commitment to equality and fairness. Camejo cannot be accused of
being unprepared or unprincipled.
Still, Camejo himself knows he will not win the election. That
dubious honor, assuming the recall passes, will likely go to Arnold
Schwarzenegger. Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante has an outside chance.
Neither Schwarzenegger nor Bustamante have said explicitly what
cuts or changes they will make to alleviate the state deficit, or
exactly how they will solve the complex web of social problems
facing the state.
Schwarzenegger has experience terminating his enemies on screen
““ a feat which did not require financial or political
know-how. It is hard to see how his previous experience makes him a
good choice for governor.
Even if you ignore Schwarzenegger’s alleged humiliation
and groping of women, it is clear that he is not a scandal-free
champion who can ride in on a white horse of credibility. Nor has
he refused campaign donations from special interests, as people
hoped the rich actor would be able to do. Furthermore, if he is
elected, the democrat-controlled legislature will likely be able to
ignore him. Certainly, they will owe him no favors.
In contrast, Bustamante is a real politician ““ perhaps too
much so. He has released a budget plan that tries to compromise
between the various interests in the state. But it is hard to
believe that he will be free of special interest control ““
especially with all the money he has accepted, including millions
from American Indian tribes aiming to protect their gambling
profits. Bustamante, like Davis, is a weak leader. Both tend to
bend and sway according to the day’s wind. Why throw out a
governor to replace him with someone so similar?
Like Camejo, conservative republican Tom McClintock is a
scrupulous man offering straight-forward proposals. But McClintock
takes a very different view of the role of government. He staunchly
opposes taxes and governmental “excess.” His mantra is
cut, cut, cut ““ and it seems that many good programs, not to
mention jobs, would fall to his veto.
McClintock is not right for California in the long run. His tax
cutting plans and anti-immigrant ideas do not fit well with
California’s future ““ the state is growing and
immigrants are increasingly the bedrock of the economy.
Camejo would be better trusted to make fair and progressive
decisions. Californians, and especially public university students,
should vote for a candidate who cares about all people and is
willing to protect public programs.
Camejo, unlike other candidates, has a clear plan, humanist
values and freedom from outside influence.