PLSI 373 Chapter 1 questions (1)
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Political Science
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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CHAPTER 1 QUESTIONS:
1). What does the California Dream mean to you? Do you think it is achievable for you?
I would like to make the premise that I resided for most of my life outside of the United States.
That being said, as a European who came to California for better educational and financial
possibilities, I have been long exposed to the idealization of the American dream. Similarly, the
California Dream is intended to represent the possibility of living both physically and financially
“comfortably” within the state's already esteemed landscape and weather. To me the dream
would be the possibility to be employed in the career I am pursuing while also being able to
successfully support my expenses. To me the achievable goal is ultimately the ability to live a
lifestyle where my employment comes with a salary that will successfully support my finances
without doubt, avoiding what is called living “paycheck to paycheck”. Personally, I believe the
dream is achievable to me to a certain extent. My parents decided to leave Italy due to the
country's lack of employment and overall financial situation. After seven years of residing in the
United States, California specifically, I have to attest that there are many more employment
opportunities. That being said, as someone who has lived on their own for about three years
now, I learned that to be able to achieve this dream I will have to plan to employ myself in a
career I know will unquestionably reward me wages higher than the average minimum wage
living cost of where I will be residing. As a new graduate, I will most likely not be able to achieve
the dream so quickly given my experience will be entry level, although later on in my life as I
build experience and further in my career, I will be able to find employment opportunities that will
reward me higher wages.
2). What does political power mean to you?
Having resided in another country I can also attest that it is a privilege to be able to have any
form of political power. Living under two different forms of governments I have observed
differences and have learned that it is imperative that individuals take part in the political
debates being made if given the chance to participate in the ultimate decision. I define political
power to be my ability to fully participate as a citizen in my state's government and personally
take part in the political decisions that will ultimately affect my everyday life. Citizens coming
together by using their political power will unitedly shape and adapt the policies of their
community to best suit its needs. The power intended is the right to vote and have the capability
to make your own decision, as a citizen, without any form of higher political authority to make it
for you.
3). In California, who governs and to what ends?
On page 29 (my book pdf), the book states that California is one of the only states that relies
more on the measurements of direct democracy. In a majoritarian government there is the
utilization of public opinionated polls as well as the initiative, the referendum and the recall
whereas a republican government will depend on elected representatives to make the decisions
in the citizens place. Most states utilize the majority rule although with a majoritarian
government the public is allowed to hold its political power and have direct involvement in the
decisions being made. Ultimately in California, citizens are allowed to vote and make the
ultimate decision of a policy rather than elected representatives, giving them more political
power than most states.
4). How are demographic changes in California affecting public policy in the Golden State?
Initially it speaks of education and a recorded drop of highschool graduates between the years
of 2014 and 2018 across the United States that is expected to cause a shortage of
college-educated workers. By 2030 analysts have predicted that about 38% of all employment
will require some form of college education although only about 33% of workers will have
college education, leaving the remaining vacancies to be filled by employees with lower
qualifications. Following, it speaks of financial demographics and the state’s rising estimated
median household income alongside its estimated poverty rate. It is reported that from
2014-2018 California’s annual income was about ten thousand dollars more than the national
figure as well as its poverty rate to be about 1.1% higher. It was found that pre tax incomes of
top earners have risen 40 percent since the 1980s versus middle incomes being 5 percent
higher and low incomes 19 percent lower, causing the state's increase of income inequality.
California’s population growth, although decelerating, is expected to continue throughout the
decades and is projected to cause various difficulties. Reported increases in housing prices and
rents are leading to middle and low class individuals to gradually move outside of downtown
central neighborhoods and to reside in further areas surrounding. The increase in population of
determined areas that had a lower density, create a difficulty to local transportation services as
they have to adapt to the growth. Alongside transportation, educational institutions are also
seeing a rise in “population density” as the student body is increasing and therefore rising the
number of needed instructors across the state. Due to the decrease of college graduates
mentioned above, teachers and educators are one of the professions that California is currently
lacking and in need of. Alongside the growth of California's population it also speaks of its
movement within different areas within the state. As mentioned before, the increase in living
cost and inequality of wages caused a large amount of the population to shift to more inland
areas. It is reported that over the last forty years: coastal regions have become more
significantly Liberal, such as Del Norte and Los Angeles counties, the inland regions becoming
more Conservative and the Central Valley, Orange and San Diego county being
“disproportionately” Republican. This movement isn’t specified how exactly it is an underlying
issue although it hints the change or shift of political view in one determined area of the state
changes the states overall political dynamic.
5). What are the major crises affecting Californians' quality of life listed in Chapter 1?
The Chapter described the first factor of crises within California to be the “ease” in which the
state passes its initiatives, specifically regarding special interest. Although the initiative was
added as a way to promote the involvement of citizens in public policy, the book states it has not
been able to successfully serve its initial purpose. Rather, it is a possibility for corporations to
utilize the lack of political interest of voters and be able to establish policies that benefit
determined interest rather than the actual community itself. The suggested solution by the book
was the reduction of flexibility of legislators on the state's budget and how it should be used.
Secondly, the Term Limit was implemented for mainly the purpose of ensuring that Legislators
are efficiently and successfully maintaining their responsibilities. Although this methodology had
not been carried out to be as sufficient as planned, it raised the issue of inexperience as
representatives built most of their expertise near the end of their term and can no longer apply
them. This policy was changed in June 2012 with the approval of Proposition 28, giving
Legislators the possibility to serve up to twelve years as long as they are in the same house.
Up until the passing of Proposition 25, California was one of the three states requiring the
Two-Thirds vote in each house of the legislature to pass the state's budget. After the passing of
the proposition the vote was lowered to fifty percent plus one. Although the book explains that
this creates issues when one party, such as the Republican party, refuses to support tax
increases and the burden of balancing the state budget falls on low and middle income citizens
who benefit from state programs being consequently cut. Lastly, the book mentioned lack of
consensus, or the lack of agreement of legislators when having to make a unanimous decision.
The book addresses how California has had a long history of non agreements within its state
and local governments and throughout various resolutions there have been arising questions as
to what extent can a state refuse to cooperate with the federal government and to local cities
and counties to comply with state law. A given example in the text is the declaration of California
as a sanctuary state, allowing the state to limit cooperations with the federal government in
accelerating deportations for violations of immigration laws. The Senate Bill 54, the Assembly
Bill 450 and AB 103, all in regards to limitations of state and local law enforcement in aiding the
federal government enforce immigration, have all been opposed by at least six counties and
thirteen cities of California.
6). What other major issues impact our quality of life in the Golden State not listed explicitly in
Chapter 1 like the environment, the increase of wildfires in our state, the housing crisis, etc?
The chapter spoke of the growth of population and the necessity of more public transport,
although it does not speak in detail about the amount of citizens who are choosing to drive
farther to work and utilizing more gas which is raising overall pollution levels. The chapter does
not mention much of the environment and although the most notorious concerns regarding the
state are wildfires and overall lack of water, rising sea levels and its corrosion of coastal rocks
are also causing concern, especially for communities living alongside on their future safety.
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