MODERN DAY REFLECTIONS ON REAGAN – LESSONS FROM HIS ECONOMIC LEGACY FOR CALIFORNIA
This past weekend marked the 99th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birthday. Some say that it’s past Reagan’s time and that his lessons are worn out.
I remember Reagan’s legacy as a time not so long ago when character was king and your word was your bond.
Many college students and young adults don’t have a living memory of Ronald Reagan – nor do they understand the positive impact he had on jobs and the economy. During his eight years as president, inflation and interest rates fell and the nation’s economy grew by a third.
Reagan saw California as a big ranch. He, as governor, had been hired on as ranch manager for 4 years.
If you think about it, we elect our state leaders for a limited term to manage the ranch we call California and we expect them to be accountable.
But accountability doesn’t seem to be something our legislators find appealing.
Today, our state faces an economic crisis of extraordinary proportions – out of control budgets, structural deficits, more regulation and more government hand-outs. Just last week, our state legislators voted through a single-payer government-run health care proposal that would cost hard-working Californians another $200 billion.
That kind of thinking reminds me of what Reagan once said:
“Our problems are both acute and chronic, yet all we hear from those in positions of leadership are the same tired proposals for more government tinkering, more meddling and more control—all of which led us to this state in the first place.”
No wonder Californians lack confidence in their government leaders – only 12% of Californians think their legislature is doing a good job. That’s precisely why I’m running for State Assembly.
I believe I can make a difference in creating jobs – as I have done as mayor of San Ramon.
I believe the best solutions come from entrepreneurs – not more bloated government bureaucracy.
I believe that investing in knowledge and innovation will get our state back on track.
I believe that California – once a shining city on the hill – can become an economic powerhouse once again.
I believe that we must challenge the regulatory burden placed on job creators and create a new climate – one that shows those who want to bring jobs to California that our state is open for business once again.
If you think things are great the way they are, then I am not your man.
But if you believe like I do – that we can only change government by demanding accountability, honesty and transparency from our legislators – then I hope you’ll take a serious look at my candidacy and help elect me to the state legislature. Given the chance, I believe I can help reform the way Sacramento does business and provide fiscal sanity to a broken government system. Join me at www.WilsonforAssembly2010.com.
Reagan believed in people and their ability to recreate the world. I believe that working together we can recreate a better California – one our kids will be proud to call home.
By Abram Wilson, Mayor, City of San Ramon, and Republican Candidate, 15th Assembly District.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
At one time I thought Mr. Wilson was a good candidate. I supported him and even recorded a robo-call message for him. I changed my mind when he supported the illegal seating of a non-elected Chairman to head the Contra Costa Republican Central Committee.
When we appealed the illegal action to the state Republican Party’s Credentials Committee at the convention in Sacramento, Mr. Wilson once more appeared in support of this illegal action.
I cannot in good faith support any candidate who is willing to ignore the party by-laws and support illegal action. I will work to see that he is not elected.
I agree completely with Mayor Wilson. The California Legislature is out of control and has done more harm than good for years.
They have promoted bigger government (to appease their large and powerful governement union constituency).
They have promoted extremist enviromental policy (tearing down dams instead of building them, regulating businesses out of business).
They have been engaged in social engineering (gay marriage, drug legalization) instead of maintaining our infrastructure and building our economy.
The legislature needs people like Mayor Wilson to bring some common sense to Sacramento.
You forget that Reagan exploded the national debt and increased the number of government employees.
Our problems in this state are not because of over control or regulations, it was because we did NOT regular properly and did not control the excess of the financial and real estate markets. We shifted financial burden from the corporate commercial side which use to pay the majority of the property tax to the residential side. We gave tax breaks to the corporations and threw the state into dependence on volatile funding sources. When the residential real estate bubble bust and the income tax fell out revenues fell. Poor borrowing as a solution for the last 8 years did not address the problems structurally.
Wilson says he wants to invest in knowledge and innovation, that is why his party is the champion of the destruction of the public education funding and why the budget for prisons has gone up and up and the amount spent on schools has been cut.
When has Wilson ever supported the full funding of schools.