What's New In The News?

       I assume you've heard of California. It's that state taking up half of our west coast. Well, they've instituted some changes in the way they govern. Not that California making changes is unusual. They've been doing that for years. But this time it's a little more drastic and it's proving a little bit, or maybe a whole lot better.The first time in who knows how long that partisan gridlock is lessening.
       Are you listening Washington? California did a couple of things that has changed everything. This should even please my cousin who moved out of California because he was fed up with it. First they redrew all their electoral districts by a completely non-partisan commission. With no input from the state legislature. Now there will be very few completely safe districts for candidates.
       Next they changed primary elections to a completely non-partisan primary where the top two vote getters regardless of the candidates' party affiliations, move on to the general election. Yep, the two candidates that most people prefer go against each other in the general election. That way you will finally end up with the person most people want. Nobody can sneak in because of a fluke.
       Most Californians are quite happy with these changes. Of course there are some folks who are very unhappy with the changes. Mostly people who want stronger political parties and who prefer gridlock. Fortunately, in California, they're in the minority. Now you're beginning to see Republicans and Democrats working together to pass laws, or even to defeat legislation they would have forced through in the past in order to satisfy their party base.
       I suppose it's not perfect, very few things are but, boy oh boy, what a start. Can you imagine a federal government actually working together, for the good of the people, instead of the good of the party ideology? You don't suppose these kinds of changes would help Washington, do you? I wonder how many heart attacks we'd see by people like party bosses and party fundraisers? I know, I know, folks like the Tea Party would hate such changes because extreme rhetoric or policy would get you nowhere, unlike nowadays.