Paradise Lost Essay -- essays research papers

Peter Schrag presents the ills of calcium?fs current politics in an angry and persuasive tone. He says California used to be ?gboth fashion model and magnet for the nationin its economic opportunities, its social outlook, and its high-quality public operate and institutes?h however, California started to fade after the passage of Proposition 13, the gap of tax limits (7). Schrag?fs work deceasely shows what is the problem in today?fs California, and it is low-cal to understand even for those who have little knowledge of politics. By focus on issues of ?gneopopulism?h which is easy to find in California?fs diversity, he succeeds in giving his readers the sense of crisis not only about California?fs politics, but in addition the national wide politics because California is the dress ?gwhere the new American society is first coming into full encounter?h (23). Schrag says, about California politics, that For nearly a generation, there has been increase focus among scholars, pol iticians, and journalists on the growing gaps in Californiaethic, social, economic amid those who exercise political power and the larger population, and particularly those who are the virtually immediate users of its public services. What has gotten little discussion is the dynamic of the plebiscitary process itself. patch it?fs ad hoc in natureeach pulsation is decided by voters on its own apparent merits without much reference to the wider contextit has a larger cumulative effect through which statewide majorities restrict the powers of topical anesthetic political majorities, which are often non white-hot. Almost by definition, it is also a device of impulse that tends to be only marginally respectful of minority rights or interests, and that lends itself to demagogic wedge campaigns designed to boost voter fishing tackle for other political purpose. (21) Schrag divides his project into five sections. The middle sections, ?gThe Spirit of 13,?h and ?gMarch of the Plebiscite s,?h in which he carefully discusses each important measure in the last two decades, show why so umteen issues rose. In the first section, ?gGolden Moment,?h Schrag describes ?gCalifornia?fs heyday of post-World War U optimism?h and how it crumbled. Citations from magazines prove that California was a really paradise even from the across the country view. Schrag also notices that the demographic change deeply relates to California?fs politics in the last t... ...comes clear in this chapter is that the plebiscitary process is problem in California. almost voters and a large portion of media pay attention not on the government and the social welfare, but on their individual benefits. Much summate of money was spent on each measure, and supporters and opponents vehemently argued by utilise the mass media. Schrag says that the state government of California became a ?gmedia-based?h government. It is clear that California had anti-immigrants climate by Schrag?fs selection of measur es. California politicians attacked programs for low-income Californians precisely at the time when California?fs demographic was changing rapidly. Politicians have been urging white voters to cut back on beneficial public services to received Californians. Finally, Schrag concludes his work with some suggestions for ?gthe possibilities for a new political integration and a revitalized social ethic in California?h part he describes ?gthe contrary forces pushing even further toward a market-based political ethic?h (20). His work gives us a good prospect for rethinking recent California and how voters, not only California?fs voters but also the others, should be.