Reader Response #1

       In reading "CALIFORNIA; Brown faces tough calls," by Michael J. Mishak from the Los Angeles Times, I hear facts of the man behind the bill to see the inside context of why he is striving for this change to California that is suppose to help repair the terrible schooling system in place in California. Proposition 30 proposed by California Governor Jerry Brown is his solution to restore our failing educational system, by leading a crusade to take money from the richest three percent of California population and give it to the poor school children, rescuing Governor Brown from his struggling reputation and posing himself as California's Robin Hood. Rob Stutzman, senior adviser to former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who criticizes "He's being consumed by the Sacramento political system instead of redefining it." Insinuating that he is not handling his new found power very efficiently, and hes doing worse at this point then our previous governor.
       Governor Brown has also claimed that the schools are the main focus of Proposition 30, arguing that "This is not about any other issues... It's not about parks." Yes, this will help many schools within California educational system, but how that money will be used effectively for the school system has yet to be seen. This has been a problem for many oppositions because they fear their money wont be seen by those poor school children once it goes through the governments tactics.Will every penny pinched out of the top 3% go to the schools like the Proposition's advertizements say, or will this be another failed attempt to save our schools distracted by the multiple interests of the governor.
      Proposition 30 includes:
 A 1/4 of a cent increase on all sale taxes.
An increase to the income tax by 0-1% for people making 250,001 to 300,000 dollars a year.
1-2% increase for  making 300,001 to 500,000 dollars a year.
2-3% increase for incomes of 500, 001 on up through 1, 000, 000 dollars a year.
      All of these changes would be effective for seven years, reportedly making over 50 billion dollars of the wealthy taxpayer's money. If Proposition 30 is for the schools, why does it need to force the schools into an ultimatum to choose between this solution proposed by Governor Brown, or choosing the destruction of the school system through budget cuts that will be carried out for not siding with Governor Brown. This proposition is being shown as the answer to our school system's deficit, when it is being forced down our throats as our only option. The deceptiveness of Governor Brown and his bill Proposition 30, as well as their advertisement tactics, is too much for me to see Proposition 30 as the solution to our problem.
        Maybe we need a new crusader to fight of the budget cuts and lead the battle out of our California's school debt, someone who has his cards all out on the table instead of up his sleeve. However Proposition 30 is a step in the right direction, if only lost slightly in its guidance and transparency. Even though this bill has a high likeability and seems like an easy and simple answer, it leaves too many questions unanswered and has the feel of a shepard herding his livestock, and the animals blindly following his lead. Just because he is our Governor does not mean that we as Californians need to vote for his bill, there may be better options for us.
        Possibly we will find Proposition 38 as a better option for California's school system since it requires the wealthy to use their tax money to donate directly to childhood development programs. First and foremost, our schools need to be saved from these budget cuts, soon there won't be be enough left to cut if we let them continue and we won't have a respectable school system in comparison to the other states, much less the rest of the world.
        I just wish voting yes on Proposition 30 was not my only way to refute the budget cuts, because it is not fair to use that tragedy  to sling shot Governor Brown tax increases to our number one priority, when the one who is really in need of our help is the schools.