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California is full of myths and legends, but its political system shouldn't be. In this refreshingly critical take, Edgar Kaskla brings an analysis of power-how it is distributed, how it is used, and to what end-to bear on the Golden State's political system and the many troubling issues it currently faces. Starting from the premise that California is in a deep political, economic, cultural, and environmental crisis, Kaskla traces the state's economic and political development as a process controlled by and for the elite, be they land barons, Hollywood glitterati, or Silicon Valley execs. Kaskla focuses on what he calls growth machine politics-elites and their land use as promoters of development and redevelopment-to show how the gap between rich and poor in California continues to widen. As minority communities grow, the cost of campaigning balloons, and the state's debt crisis mounts, the socioeconomic and cultural issues confronting California pose a real threat to democracy. While outlining how each of the state's institutions developed over time and currently are organized, Kaskla also shows how they are affected and, frankly, distorted by a host of serious economic and social inequalities. In the tradition of writers who dare to "speak truth to power," Kaskla is uncompromising, opinionated, irreverent, and even funny. This thought-provoking text is a far cry from the traditional staid depiction of California government and politics.
About the Author:
Edgar Kaskla, a native Californian, is a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at California State University, Long Beach
Product dimensions: 6.63 (w) x 8.93 (h) x 0.41 (d)
Table of Contents
Tables, Figures, and Map xi
Preface xiii
Introduction 1
The Imagined West and the Mythical California 8
Taking Stock 12
Questions for Discussion 13
Notes 13
Capitalism, Inequality, and the Limits of Democracy: California, in Theory 15
Democracy, Anyone? 15
The Power Elite and Development 17
Growth Machines 20
Taking Stock 28
Questions for Discussion 28
Notes 29
Elite Politics: Individuals and Organizations 31
Defining the Power Elite 31
Growth Machines and Urban Development 35
The Hubs of Growth Machines 38
Taking Stock 39
Questions for Discussion 40
Notes 40
The Historical Development of Elite Politics 42
From the Missions to the Ranchos (1770s-1840s) 43
The Gold Rush, Statehood, and the Power of the Railroads (1840s-1880s) 44
The Progressive Era (1890s-1910s) 47
Labor Unrest and the Great Depression (1910s-1930s) 48
World War II and Postwar Suburbanization(1940s-Present) 50
Power Politics and Progressivism 53
Taking Stock 53
Questions for Discussion 54
Notes 54
Gaining Political Access: Parties, Campaigns, and Elections 56
The Secret Life of the Two-Party System 56
Parties and Participation 57
Candidates, Media, and Getting Elected 64
Campaigns and Regulating Money 66
The Coopting of Direct Democracy 68
Securing Two-Party Dominance: A Second Look 70
Taking Stock 71
Questions for Discussion 72
Notes 72
The Legislative Process and the Role of Interest Groups: The Road to a Professional Legislature and Back Again 74
Interest Groups and Lobbying 77
Campaign Contributions 79
Lobbying 79
Public Relations, Advertising, Propaganda 80
Litigation 81
The Legislature: Lawmakers? 81
Power Politics, Insider Trading, and the Apathetic Public 85
Taking Stock 86
Questions for Discussion 87
Notes 87
California's Governor and Challenges to the Plural Executive System: Gubernatorial Competence and Political Personality 89
Formal and Informal Powers of the Governor 89
The Plural Executive System 94
Politics at the End of Reality 94
Taking Stock 103
Questions for Discussion 103
Notes 104
The Dual System of Justice: From Dual Justice to No Justice? 105
Criminal and Civil Law 107
The Three Tiers of California Courts 108
Problems and Controversies in California's Legal System 110
Taking Stock 114
Questions for Discussion 115
Notes 115
Local Governments and Obsessive Development 117
How Local Governments Are Organized 117
The Fiscalization of Land Use and the Legacy of Proposition 13 119
Taking Stock 126
Questions for Discussion 126
Notes 127
"The Chronic": California's Permanent Budget Crisis 128
The Addiction Redefined 128
The Budget Process, Revenues, and Spending 128
Budgetary Constraints: Micromanagement as an Antitax Strategy 133
The Disintegrating Federal System and Effects on the States 136
Taking Stock 138
Questions for Discussion 138
Notes 139
Conclusions: The Limits to Democracy and the Limits to Government 141
California in a Global Context 142
A Final Note of Optimism 145
Taking Stock 145
Questions for Discussion 146
Notes 146
For Further Research 149
Glossary 155
Index 161
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More About This Textbook
Overview
About the Author:
Edgar Kaskla, a native Californian, is a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at California State University, Long Beach
Product Details
Table of Contents
Tables, Figures, and Map xi
Preface xiii
Introduction 1
The Imagined West and the Mythical California 8
Taking Stock 12
Questions for Discussion 13
Notes 13
Capitalism, Inequality, and the Limits of Democracy: California, in Theory 15
Democracy, Anyone? 15
The Power Elite and Development 17
Growth Machines 20
Taking Stock 28
Questions for Discussion 28
Notes 29
Elite Politics: Individuals and Organizations 31
Defining the Power Elite 31
Growth Machines and Urban Development 35
The Hubs of Growth Machines 38
Taking Stock 39
Questions for Discussion 40
Notes 40
The Historical Development of Elite Politics 42
From the Missions to the Ranchos (1770s-1840s) 43
The Gold Rush, Statehood, and the Power of the Railroads (1840s-1880s) 44
The Progressive Era (1890s-1910s) 47
Labor Unrest and the Great Depression (1910s-1930s) 48
World War II and Postwar Suburbanization(1940s-Present) 50
Power Politics and Progressivism 53
Taking Stock 53
Questions for Discussion 54
Notes 54
Gaining Political Access: Parties, Campaigns, and Elections 56
The Secret Life of the Two-Party System 56
Parties and Participation 57
Candidates, Media, and Getting Elected 64
Campaigns and Regulating Money 66
The Coopting of Direct Democracy 68
Securing Two-Party Dominance: A Second Look 70
Taking Stock 71
Questions for Discussion 72
Notes 72
The Legislative Process and the Role of Interest Groups: The Road to a Professional Legislature and Back Again 74
Interest Groups and Lobbying 77
Campaign Contributions 79
Lobbying 79
Public Relations, Advertising, Propaganda 80
Litigation 81
The Legislature: Lawmakers? 81
Power Politics, Insider Trading, and the Apathetic Public 85
Taking Stock 86
Questions for Discussion 87
Notes 87
California's Governor and Challenges to the Plural Executive System: Gubernatorial Competence and Political Personality 89
Formal and Informal Powers of the Governor 89
The Plural Executive System 94
Politics at the End of Reality 94
Taking Stock 103
Questions for Discussion 103
Notes 104
The Dual System of Justice: From Dual Justice to No Justice? 105
Criminal and Civil Law 107
The Three Tiers of California Courts 108
Problems and Controversies in California's Legal System 110
Taking Stock 114
Questions for Discussion 115
Notes 115
Local Governments and Obsessive Development 117
How Local Governments Are Organized 117
The Fiscalization of Land Use and the Legacy of Proposition 13 119
Taking Stock 126
Questions for Discussion 126
Notes 127
"The Chronic": California's Permanent Budget Crisis 128
The Addiction Redefined 128
The Budget Process, Revenues, and Spending 128
Budgetary Constraints: Micromanagement as an Antitax Strategy 133
The Disintegrating Federal System and Effects on the States 136
Taking Stock 138
Questions for Discussion 138
Notes 139
Conclusions: The Limits to Democracy and the Limits to Government 141
California in a Global Context 142
A Final Note of Optimism 145
Taking Stock 145
Questions for Discussion 146
Notes 146
For Further Research 149
Glossary 155
Index 161