Villaraigosa & the Battle of Los Angeles*
Years from now historians may see this as the turning point in the great debate about the role of government in our lives. Today our mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, announced that he would close non-necessary departments and have city employees take two furlough days off per week. The money saved might bring us part way through the crisis he caused with his reckless brinkmanship.
The great issue is not who governs Los Angeles, the elected representatives on the City Council or the appointed lackeys of the Department of Water and Power. The great question is not if DWP made a promise to give us our money (they did), or if they are blackmailing us. They are. Their motto seems to be: Après nous pas de deluge, in fact no water at all.
The real question, the real battle of Los Angeles is what catastrophe may befall us if we close down half of our government and cut back employee time by 20% and we are no worse off? Here is the petri dish that will determine who wins the great political argument of our time--liberals who believe in the efficacy of government or conservatives who want to "starve the beast." If we follow Villaraigosa's threat and it is a disaster, liberals win. If we muddle through at less than half-speed, the conservatives will be proven right.
One more question does trouble me. In closing down bureaus that are non-necessary, we must ask why they exist at all?
* Oh well, Antonio called off the big test and backed down. Now he's willing to keep LA open if the DWP would pretty please hand over 20 million of the 70 million they owe. And why is DWP stiffing us? Well, because we offered them a 6 cent increase instead of 7. Both DWP and mayor look very bad here. It takes a lot to make the city council look good, but between Villaraigosa and Freeman, the council is looking exemplary.
©2010 Jonathan Dobrer
www.Dobrer.com
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