When the governor announced the appointees to the Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission, he correctly outlined the seriousness of the problem they must address by saying that soaring state-worker pension obligations are putting other important programs in jeopardy, and solutions must be found that do not harm taxpayers or saddle future generations.

Given his framing of the issue, the new makeup of the commission is cause for concern.  Read more >>

Not surprisingly, Assemblywoman "Spankin'" Sally Lieber has withdrawn her bill to criminalize the paddling of young children. Apparently, in addition to the heaps of ridicule generated by the press, her colleagues pleaded with her to back off. Lawmakers are anxious to appear at least marginally rational now that an initiative petition to extend their terms in office has been filed.  Read more >>

When thinking of grandiose monuments to self, names like Kufu and Ramses the Great come to mind. Rulers like these would forcibly direct their empire's productivity into building the most expensive temples, statuary and mausoleums that their subjects could afford.

Two recent developments show that when it comes to the actions of leaders with unhindered power, human nature has changed little in 3,500 years.  Read more >>

Most everyone has heard about the fried rodent found in an order of chicken from a national fast-food chain. And what about the scuba diver who was picked up by a firefighting aircraft when it swooped down on the ocean for a load of water?

These stories, and others like them, are repeated so often that, despite absolutely no evidence that they actually occurred, they are referred to as urban myths.  Read more >>

Our elected leaders are generating a great deal of buzz now in the Capitol -- but very little of it has to do with issues that concern ordinary Californians. Throughout the shallow (whoops, I meant hallowed) halls of the statehouse, whispers and political jockeying are abounding on three issues relating to raw political power: Term limits, the early presidential primary and reapportionment.  Read more >>