Do We Want A Governor, or An Underground Pawn, in Sacramento?

ALPERN AT LARGE - Let’s be honest—Steve Hilton wants Californians to learn more about what he proposes, and Xavier Becerra wants us to know as little as possible about any ideas he might (or might not) have to lead this state…just looking up their policy/website answers any questions as to how this state will be run (have each of us done this?).

Let’s be honest—If Xavier Becerra is elected Governor, the Legislature will absolutely continue to run this state into the ground without any Executive influence to balance its power; not so with Steve Hilton, who will push back whenever he deems it appropriate.

Let’s be honest—Steve Hilton keeps proclaiming he wants the first $150,000 tax free. Becerra will continue our current trend in allowing the Legislature to keep taxing the middle class into the ground (or force the middle class to keep fleeing the state).

Let’s be honest—everyone who’s worked for Becerra knows he hasn’t had hardly any original idea of his own in his entire political career; not so with Hilton, who keeps pushing forward with ideas Becerra has run away from with respect to response, alternative proposals, or even just talking to the people he wants to govern.

Let’s be honest—the more Becerra (and all the local City/County of L.A. politicians) keep blabbering the “Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump” line then the more it’s clear that he/they want to hide his/their agenda (if there is even a plan for California that Becerra wants to pursue).

Let’s be honest—Trump can be a horse’s ass on a daily basis, but is Becerra going to be any better for California than Hilton (AS IN, WHO REEEEEALLY WANTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CALIFORNIANS, HILTON OR BECERRA?).

Let’s be honest—Californians don’t like the failed boondoggle of the CA High-Speed Rail, but if Hilton gets elected he’ll put a stop to the corruption, waste, fraud, and abuse surrounding that project on Day One (or so he’s promised), while Becerra won’t do a damn thing because he’s “into” the fleecing of taxpayers we’ve gotten too used to.

Let’s be honest—Hilton wants to cut electricity/water bills and gas taxes and give Californians a break ASAP (regardless of the Trump/Iran War, Californians still pay about 50-100% more per gallon of gas than virtually all other Americans), while Becerra has only vague ideas endorsing “green” ideas that have long ago failed.

Let’s be honest—Hilton wants to cap government fees and regulatory costs for new homes, and to push for a housing boom unfettered by Sacramento. In contrast, Becerra has vague ideas that almost certainly won’t amount to ANYTHING.

Lets be honest—Hilton knows more economics in his little finger than Becerra has ever demonstrated in his entire political career…again, the Democratic-dominated Legislature will “own” Sacramento if Becerra is elected governor (had other Democratic gubernatorial candidates been chosen, this would NOT be the case).

Let’s be honest—Hilton wants to offer 12 weeks of paid family leave, keep smartphones out of school until the 8th grade, demand reading by the 3rd grade and skills training in every school, while Becerra has said pretty much nothing about what he wants (does he HAVE an actual plan or goals?) to improve education.

Let’s be honest—it comes down to this: Hilton wants to earn our votes, and Becerra presumes he’s going to get them no matter what…so long as he’s a stated Democrat with a pulse.

So ARE we better after eight years of Gavin Newsom? Your economic future happier, your standard of living better, your state of mind better?

Do we want four more years of the same?

(Kenneth S. Alpern, M.D, is a dermatologist who has served in clinics in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties, and is a proud husband and father. He was active for 20 years on the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC) as a Board Member focused on Planning and Transportation, and helped lead the grassroots efforts of the Expo Line as well as connecting LAX to MetroRail. His latest project is his fictional online book entitled The Unforgotten Tales of Middle-Earth, and can be reached at [email protected]. The views expressed in this article are solely those of Dr. Alpern.)