A good article, but it left-out a big factor in why the California legislature is so polarized: the modern redistricting process employs databases and high-tech mapping systems, which allow self-serving politicians to precisely draw voting district lines in ways that lock-in parties and incumbents. So you lose the moderates, because politicians no longer have to appeal to voters of all persuasions in order to be elected.

I remember that Gov. Arnold once backed an initiative which would have reformed the redistricting process in California, but it failed. That's too bad... it might have made a big difference.

Why can't we get enough signatures to vote this decrepit, piece of shit piece of legislation out of the books?

The numbers speak for themselves. It sounded good in 1976, worked well for a few years, and then the then-baby boomers started cashing in on its benefits.

Now, Grandpa Moneybags next door moves out to his mansion in the foothills with a $2,000 property tax, while Google Newmoney next door has to pay for Grandpa's fire/police/et. al. services.

Howard Jarvis: Go fuck yourself.

I've been living in San Diego for 20 years, but am now thinking about moving to Austin, TX.

When I first moved to the Golden State and voted, I thought to myself, "Propositions on everything. How cool is this!!!" But the people can be very short-sighted. Over the years I have seen so many initiatives for spending and bonds approved and then tax increases to fund them trounced. But I understand that. We pay some of the highest income taxes and sales tax in the country.

And, to those who say that we drink at the teat of the state government, that is bullshit. Because of our once strong economy, more federal tax money went out of California and to weaker states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

A good first step to get us out of this mess would be end the required 2/3 majority to approve a budget. But that would create a HUGE backlash among Republicans. The proposition initiatives have been hijacked by the right wing, the conservative rich, and special interests. A good case in point is Proposition 8 ... the conservatives outspent the liberals by something like 10-1 ... and most of the money came from Utah Mormons and Republicans who don't even live here.

to blame this on southern white republicans

From wikipedia:

"Under Proposition 13, the annual real estate tax on a parcel of property is limited to 1% of its assessed value. This "assessed value," however, may only be increased by a maximum of 2% per year, until and unless the property undergoes a change in ownership. At the time of the change in ownership the low assessed value may be reassessed to full current market value which will produce a new base year value for the property, but future assessments are likewise restricted to the 2% annual maximum increase of the new base year value.

"If the property's market value increases rapidly (values of many detached dwellings in California have appreciated at annual rates averaging more than 10% over the course of several years) or if inflation exceeds 2% (common), the differential between the owner's taxes and the taxes a new owner would have to pay can become quite large. If a property is reassessed to full market value, the increase in taxes can also be quite large."

Yeah, that's the way it works. My daughter is paying over $5000 on the house she bought in 2001 and her neighbor pays around $1500 on a very similar house that has had the same owner for 30 years.

A much better way to determine tax rates would be by basing them on a running average assessment, say 10 years. That is, your taxes would be determined by your average assessment over the last ten years. This would be enough time to smooth out bubbles and recessions. Yes, governments would have to plan better and inflationary times would be a problem because taxes would not go up as quickly as prices, but they would still go up some.

Too good an idea to ever be enacted.

It should have happened decades ago: One unwieldy, dysfunctional state becomes two manageable and prosperous ones. Welcome to the sovereign states of Northern and Southern California!

Thank you. A very nice explanation of the "hold property taxes down" portion of Prop. 13.

Of course the other, even more heinous part is the "and you can't change this without a 2/3 majority" that's tying the cement blocks to California's feet.

I was in CA when Prop. 13 was passed. [I'm a native California, though don't live there now.] The sentiments for passing Prop. 13 were those enunciated but the complainer you were responding to: don't tax ME.

One fact that causes me to have little sympathy for those homeowners who say "the value of my property keeps going up, and I can't pay the taxes on my fixed income" -- have you never heard of a reverse mortgage? They're sitting on a valuable asset, and they don't want to pay a fair tax on it.

At the time of Prop. 13, it was "don't tax seniors out of their homes," but selling one's home is not the only way to pay one's property tax. The bottom line is these greedy geezers don't want the lien of a reverse mortgage against the now-gigantic value of the house that they want to pass on to their kids -- so the rest of CA pays for this.

Also, if the state collected more income taxes, it wouldn't have to rely so heavily on the "regulated" [read "tamped down"]tax base of Prop. 13.

Also, as I recall, the "your taxes can only rise a certain %, unless you sell the property" applies to business real estate as well as homes. This takes a huge chunk out of the tax base.

Hey Gary, wake up and smell the $7.00 skinny latte....

Special interest government and union lobbyists on K-Street have been running CA into the ground for YEARS. The single-party rule in SAC (RINO governator notwithstanding) has led to profligate spending that that would make a drunken sailor on a three-day pass blush! CTA spends MILLIONS of dollars begging for more money, all the while complaining that they don't have enough. Nevermind that the CA school system has declining enrollment, and is overrun with undocumented aliens and bloated tenured salaries.

CUSHY LIFETIME GOVT benefit packages abound across the 'GOLDEN' state. (Check the LA City Council stipend and allowances for an example) We're being fleeced by the elected criminal class who gerrymander their districts into lifetime fifedoms.

ALL THE WHILE, investigative reporters who wouldn't know fact from spin drink the Kool-Aide and dutifully toe the line, espousing drivel and distraction, diverting attention from current and future problems to vilify the past. Why bother to INVESTIGATE the root cause of our SPENDING PROBLEM (Sacramento giveaways), when you can point to the 70's and cry foul? Write a conforming piece, and you'll get invited to another BHO scripted town hall meeting. Maybe the anointed one will call on you, and you too can have feel the thrill run up your leg ala Chris Matthews. PARDON ME while I vomit!

INVESTIGATIVE reporters used to be the bane of the powerful and wealthy.... now they are lapdogs to the limosine liberals, and attack dogs to decent and hardworking people who pay all those sinfully large govt salaries, and pay for frivolous follies like cap and trade. In times past Americans looked to reporters as superheroes, bringing truth and justice to light, and defending the American way of life.

WHAT WOULD SUPERMAN DO? Would he regurgitate a press release from Dem national HQ? I don't think so.....

The revolution has started, and there's going to be a bloody fight. Pitchfork peasants against an aging and bloated thieving thugocracy.