California lacks the leadership Arizona hasBy Leslie Eastman,
Thursday, May 20, 2010Back when the last President was in office, there was a media phenomenon so pervasive that it earned its own moniker. ?Bush Derangement Syndrome? was a termed coined by pundit Charles Krauthammer for the extreme paranoia about, and vitriolic attacks on, President George W. Bush. Recently, I have noticed a related syndrome: California Derangement Syndrome (CDS).
As I review the comments section of the various websites I frequent, I have noticed that the jibes directed toward California posters have become more harsh and mean-spirited. Whereas before, folks would just jest that our state was the ?land of fruits and nuts,? recently the light chiding has taken a somewhat darker turn.
I have been a Californian since 1985, and I must admit that we have brought some of this on ourselves. Recently, the San Diego City Council passed a resolution that rebuked Arizona for passing SB1070, a legislative act that
merely reinforced federal immigration statutes and would not trigger a ?document review? unless there was probable cause. A Pew poll indicates over 70 percent of Americans approve of Arizona?s stance. Our City Council was also joined by our Board of Education in this action. Similar politically correct actions were taken by various politicos in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Any person with an ounce of common sense could have predicted the following outcome:
Arizonans are boycotting San Diego and other cities throughout California. Unlike California?s big city political elites, who do not normally vacation in the Great American Southwest, Arizonans have been known to frequent the greater San Diego area in some numbers. However, as common sense is in short supply with our elected officials, citizens in this region need to brace themselves for the economy-jeopardizing consequences. Through their formal declarations,
our councilmembers have deprived San Diego services of much needed tax revenue and the education boardmembers have put their students? parents out of work this summer. I hope everyone remembers their actions when complaints about ?budget cuts? abound this year. Personally, I wrote to my own Councilmember (Marti Emerald of District 7) and specifically warned her before the vote that rebuking Arizona would have consequences in the new citizen-action-oriented environment.
I will remember her stance the next time she is up for election.Arizonans are canceling hotel and travel reservations to this area in record numbers. The drop-off in visitors is so steep that the San Diego Visitors and Convention Bureau, in conjunction with many of local tourism businesses, are releasing an open letter to the media in the next few days. Essentially, the letter is asking Arizonans to overlook politics so that they may enjoy the hospitality and attractions offered by ?America?s Finest City.?
If the CDS comments I have recently seen are any indication, our business leaders? efforts will be as successful as placing a patch kit on the gaping hole left by the iceberg scraping the Titanic.
Our elected political and education leaders have clearly made their animosity known to potential Arizonan customers, who want nothing more than the already legal immigration laws enforced. When politicians demean a key client base, generally those clients don?t return to receive more hostile treatment. Sadly, I do not think that ?open letter? will work. I suspect that only formal apologies from San Diego?s business and educational entities will be required, as well as very public withdraws of the insulting declarations. Alternatively, removing all members of the San Diego Council and Education Board who supported the rebuke of Arizona, may also prove an acceptable solution to our client base.
San Diego isn?t the only city to be the object of retaliation, either. Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce wrote a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, noting that the city gets about 25 percent of its power from Arizona producers. Pierce is prepared to help Mayor Villaraigosa rework the contracts and divert Arizona?s power to areas not participating in a boycott.
Demeaning some of San Diego most reliable clientele during a period of economic crisis was unwise, especially for a state whose failing economy is routinely being likened to that of Greece. The Chief Executive?s annual survey of best and worst states for business
places California 51st in business climate. Instead of grandstanding and being sucked into media drama, it would be more helpful if California elected representatives displayed some of the leadership skilled showed by Arizona?s officials. Perhaps, then, California wouldn?t be scraping the bottom of the economic barrel. And, perhaps, there would also be less CDS and more mutual support by and for fellow Americans.
Yea, smart move that boycotting of AZ