Can anyone save California? Davis loses in 2002

Looking at California, and the mess it's in budget-wise and otherwise, I'm wondering if anyone could save it.

What would the POD have to be for California to be at least moderately well-run, without a ridiculous deficit, etc.? Is there anyone who could have beaten Gray Davis in 2002 and done this? he was hugely unpopular, but was the writing already on the wall as far as Calirfornia's decline?

When developing something with some friends I let a fictional character (born after the POD, so it was okay - if you're really curious you can read below the dotted line) win for the Republicans in 2002, and build a consensus.

But, was California already too far gone?

--------------------------------------------------------

The "Full House" Chronology" was originally developed to explain things in between scenes and episodes, and before and after the series. However, fans wanted to keep California running as smoothly as it was in the late '80s/early '90s, and an area that was, while not conservative, at least moderate. There was concern on the part of a number of fans that California grew so liberal, and freedoms such as homeschooling were being abrogated enough in some areas, that the moderate to conservative Tanners wouldn't like it there and might move to Nebraska otherwise. As an Australian friend wrote in a PM once, "The Tanners would be opposed to discrimination against anyone. That includes conservative views, as well as liberal.")

So, a guest on "Wake Up, San Francisco" was used - Bo McIntyre. Mentioned in an early 1990 episode as being 30, an ex-quarterback (for USC, we figured, in a national title year), and a neurosurgeon (could mean in residency) it was figured McIntyre would mention his desire to one day enter politics as a guest on the local talk show, and could, with a weakened field, be in the Governor's Mansion by 2002. he's pursue a moderate policy that stressed "common sense" and defeting the forces of political correctness, etc.. Since characters on "Full House" would be born before he was born, it is logical to presume that McIntyre could exist in the universe.

However, my question is in OTl, not a similr universe to OTL with a McIntyre character. :)
 
I would say that the best way to fix California's budget crisis would probably be to kill Proposition 13. Doing so would allow California to reaccess property values to their actual worth, rather than towards their value at time of purchase. This tax freeze is most pronounced in areas with extremely high priced real estate, that are kept disproportionately low. While this would have unfortunate consequences for people whose home values have increased beyond their ability to pay taxes, such is the price of progress.

Also another move that would save California billions would be to never pass its three strikes law. The effects on crime are negligible, but it has done much to inflate California's prison population and insure that those prisoners stay prisoned, regardless of their true threat to society. While both parties cater heavily to the prison industrial complex, it takes away tax dollars that could be better used elsewhere such as lower taxer, improved infrastructure, more money for schools etc.
 
The root of all that is wrong with California is the initiative process that allows any group that gets enough signatures to get any crazy measure on the ballot and it may pass without being properly discussed or examined in the Legislature. Many measures have passed and immediately been challenged in court - which costs money. Some of the worse are those that mandate a set percentage of the budget for one particular item. Currently a set percentage of the state budget is automatically earmarked for education - no matter how bad the state finances are.
 
Top