Does anyone think if Sarah Palin were Governor of California that the state would be facing sure bankruptcy?  I think not.  Why?  Because Palin is practical, that’s why.

California has the worst bond rating in the country and it appears that the Fed (to its credit) is not going to bail the state out. Bravo! That means taxpayers in states across the country, living in states that run efficiently, aren’t going to bail the bums out; and why should we.  California voters kicked Gray Davis out and replaced him with the Governator Schwarzenegger . . . showing once and for all that things really can go from bad to worse.  Don’t ask states that know how to make tough choices to bail states that don’t.

The real kicker in all of this is that California has the tools at hand to bail itself out, but not the political will.  California has a $15.4 billion dollar shortfall and could benefit with revenues starting at $100 million from the off shore drilling.  Things are so bad in Cal- e-fornia that Governor Schwarzenegger has just proposed new drilling  and allowing one lease.   Believe this . . opening one lease is controversial!

As detailed in California’s Capital by Greg Lucus:

[...]

Awarding the (one) lease would nullify a January ruling by the three-person State Lands Commission, which regulates drilling in the first three miles off the California coast.

The commission rejected the lease sought by the Plains Exploration and Production Company to drill in Tranquillon Ridge, offshore from Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc on a 2 to 1 vote, despite support by environmental groups.

“I am concerned about setting a precedent in approving California’s first offshore oil lease in 40 years,” said State Controller John Chiang in defending his “no” vote on the commission, which has not approved an offshore oil lease since the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill.

The only “aye” vote came from Schwarzenegger’s representative on the commission.

The GOP governor reiterated his long-standing opposition to offshore drilling in June 2008, breaking with then-President Bush and U.S. Senator John McCain, who called for lifting the ban.

“California’s coastline is an international treasure,” Schwarzenegger said at the time. “I do not support lifting this moratorium on new drilling off our coast.”

The state could be benefiting from the jobs, revenue, and royalties from opening up these off shore leases.  The country could be benefiting from increased domestic oil production and less reliance on imported oil.   But no, California would rather release prisoners, furlough teachers, cut budgets for police and fire departments.

Make no mistake about this.  I care about the air we breathe and the water drink, etc.; but I am a pragmatic environmentalist not an esoteric one.  I write another blog called Say No to Plastic that is addressing the enormous impact that our unnecessary use of plastic is causing in our oceans and on a world wide level.  We are talking about a huge environmental disaster of our making.   I invite you to go to the site and look at the issues and support our efforts.

While you are there, review the page that talks about working with business.  This approach separates us from every other environmental group in the country. Here’s the reason why.  Environmental groups that seek to advance their agenda usually forget there is a financial component/solution that has to be looked at.  Actions have the net effect of job loss for someone in the community where you live will face mighty opposition. If groups refuse to address the economic impact of their efforts or they are not addressing collaborative ways to solve the issues, they are skirting success!

All of which brings us back to Sarah Palin, the governor of state that is rich in oil reserves, a governor that was able to refund taxpayers with check for $1,200.00 each.  Her policies have and improved the lives of  Alaska’s citizens by allowing drilling. It is often overlooked, but Sarah is a small business owner who understands what it means to make payroll, and suffer the consequences of a poorly managed company.

What this country needs is more small business owners in politics, people with common sense that know you can’t spend a country out a bad economy by adding more debt.  Here’s something else the country needs . . . the recognition that few things in live are either black or white . . . that balance is what we should be striving for in all things political.