RCG: California Forums for Reform



I greatly enjoyed seeing Dan Walters speak on California Politics at the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce. The key insight he shared is that political change comes from civic institutions, not politicians. Alas, he is not aware of any statewide organizations pursuing such change, apart from a few largely academic efforts.

So, as part of my effort to Reengineer California Governance, I've started identifying groups that might be interested in supporting such an effort. My hypothesis is that what is needed is a clear vision of reform, which other groups can recognize as the optimal route for achieving their particular goals. The sequence would thus be "ideas -> money -> people" (the three prerequisites of any organized effort).

Arguably the linchpin of any reform in California is the Irvine Foundation, which appears to be trying to catalyze such efforts through their California Perspectives program. They also have a marvelous definition of governance as:

the use of governing authority to promote the will of the governed in a fair, accountable, responsive and efficient manner

Interestingly, they've partnered with the radical-centrist New America Foundation on a California Fellows program in support of these goals. Perhaps someday I will apply for one, so I can do this full time. :-)

California Forums for Reform
Draft 1, 8/31/2004

Powerful

Irvine Foundation - California Perspectives program, including:

New America Foundation
$750,000 over 1 year
To establish a California-based Fellows Program that supports a new generation of public policy writers and thinkers to help create solutions to California's most pressing problems.

Foundation for Education Reform

State Lobbyist Reform Office


Centrist

California Policy Reform Network

California Governance Consensus Project

Commonwealth Club - Governance Conference and Voices of Reform

California Center for Regional Leadership

PolicyLink - California Infrastructure

Activist

Reform Party of California (plus retired president and silicon valley office)

Californians for Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)
Californians for Electoral Reform (part of Center for Voting and Democracy)
American Reform Party of California
Hopefully they'll support more general (and better) Ranked-Choice Voting options

California Law Revision Commission (Tort Reform)

California Tax Reform Association

California Coalition for Authentic Reform in Education (anti-testing)

Posted: Tue - August 31, 2004 at 12:09 PM        

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