The New Brown is Worse than the Old Brown

This is not the old Jerry Brown that takes the rein at the top spot in Sacramento that took the same spot three decades ago. It has nothing to do with his age, experience, personality, or temperament, or the state's radically changed political and economic circumstance. The new Brown is not the old Brown in philosophy. And frankly I'm not sure I like this new Brown's philosophy. He's not labor friendly. He's not spend on needed education and social services friendly. He's not minority friendly. And he's certainly not criminal justice reform compassionate friendly. At the end of the day, we're likely to see a Jerry Brown that will be more of a tough a law and order, budget tight fisted, corporate leaning, governor than the one that we mercifully just got rid of.

Even worse, the new Brown has given absolutely no sign that he'll push the desperately needed political reforms that his predecessor took a stab at. That includes breaking up the good ole boy and girl, cozy, chummy special interest, Democratic and GOP legislature and stacked districts that have choked off any semblance of citizen input, participation, and engagement. This has done more than anything else to fuel the intense public loath of any and everyone in Sacramento and that includes the man at the top. Don't expect the new Brown to change that.