The FlashReport has learned that tomorrow, in a featured oped in the Sacramento Bee, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will articulate to the public why he is coming out against Proposition 90, the Save Our Homes Initiative.
Of course this is a horrible decision by the Governor.
Proposition 90 is one of the most important issues that should be passed by the voters that appears on the November ballot. Why? Because it goes to one of the most fundamental rights that we enjoy as Americans, and as Californians — the right to private property.
Peeling away all of the rhetoric that gets thrown about during a heated campaign where the primary mode of communication is the ‘soundbite’ — those who support Proposition 90 seek to give the owners of property, in many cases, the voter themselves, significantly increased protections against an unfair action by the government to infringe on their property rights and in some cases take their property from them!
While there have been some specific, high profile, instances of abuse of the taking of a private property owner’s holdings by the government (referred to as eminent domain) — the reality is that this happens a lot more than you would think.
Proposition 90 makes it much harder for government to do that. Period. It means that in the balance of things, here in the Golden State, the scales will be tipped towards the private citizens.
Will it mean that it may cost government more money both in their attempts to take property, and in what it will take to properly compensate a private property owner? YES. Will it mean that if a government entity wants to take YOUR property, they might actually have to go to court (and incur those costs) in order to do it? YES.
The current laws that surround property rights and the ability of government agencies to ‘declare’ that a property owner should have to relinquish theirs — and many times at a price set by the government — are just unfair.
There is an unfortunate alliance out there between government agencies and big business interests that use this excessive government power for their interests, to try and stop the passage of the Save Our Homes Iniaitive.
It is very, very unfortunate that these forces might have conscripted Governor Schwarzenegger into their plans. It also makes me worry about his commitment to individual property rights — which, is also the moral and intellectual basis for opposing tax increases.
Governor, PLEASE change your mind. Rather than opposing Proposition 90, you should support it! Or at the minimum, for the sake of those many supporters of yours (like me) are passionate about this issue, out of respect for us, stay out of this battle. Remember, not only does the California Republican Party support 90, but virtually every GOP legislator does (I am not aware of a GOP legislator who opposes it).
NOTHING would make me happier than to eat crow on this post. But the rule is at play here, so I am pretty sure of my facts.