Arnold as Governator

It's not often you hear good things about a political person, or party, so I figured I'd write a more balanced review from someone who actually lives in California. California a few years back was in SO much Debt it was going to sink into the ocean. Mainly because the former Governor, Grey Davis, was signing every single new budget increase that came across his desk.

The way it works is this: The government makes a certain amount of money, lets say $100. Then the State houses get together and figure out how to spend it. Then they hand that to the governor or the People to vote on. Well They were handing budgets that were $120-$150, but with the overages going to long term loans. The Debt was equal to almost double what the people were paying into the State. Many of the increases were long term loans. Well, that money has to come from somewhere. Their answer was always Increase Taxes. California now has the highest Taxes in the US.
Of course, if they told you just these facts people would be less likely to vote YES on them, but they promote them as increases for schools or healthcare, and very little of the money ever finds its way there.
Honestly, the amount of money they have is well over what they need. They just need to re-budget it. When a School Principal gives himself a $200k increases in Salary, and Senators are paying their wife or son $300k/year as consultants or paying a friend's corporation to run their ads well over the market value, then you know there is plenty to be chopped from the budgets.
Arnold actually tried to fix the system. One of his Ballet Measures was to redraw the lines of each district so it would be more competitive. Right now, no Senator can be overthrown unless their own party turns against them. The lines are drawn in such a way that Senator gets about 95% of the vote every election. People just walk in and vote for their party.
The other was to make it mandatory for the Unions to ask permission to use money in campaigns. Most workers want their Union money to go to healthcare, benefits, retirement, etc. But the Unions spend a great deal of their money on politics. President Clinton made it mandatory for the Union to display a notice that says any Union worker can option OUT of the political donations, but he didn't say it had to be easy. It's a nightmare. It takes forever, and you have to do it every year, and in some cases twice a year, and it's a lot of paperwork. Arnold wanted the Workers to already be opted OUT, and instead be able to opt IN. I'm sure the Unions would make that as easy as a check-mark on you pay-stub.
Anyway, I can go on and on about Arnold. But, Despite his apparent unwillingness to choose a side on any issue anymore (after being so soundly stomped on when he tried to make changes), he still has some value. So far, all he's been doing is VETOing every increase in the CA budget that rolls across his desk. He is our last barrier to CA going completely under.
I just wish he'd make a stand on something.