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California Crackup

How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It

Mark Paul author Joe Mathews author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:University of California Press

Published:2nd Jul '10

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

California Crackup cover

Is California beyond repair? A sizable number of Golden State citizens have concluded that it is. Incessant budget crises plus a government paralyzed by partisan gridlock have led to demands for reform, even a constitutional convention. But what, exactly, is wrong and how can we fix it? In "California Crackup", Joe Mathews and Mark Paul provide clear and informed answers. Their fast-paced and often humorous narrative deftly exposes the constitutional origins of our current political and economic problems and furnishes a uniquely California fix: innovative solutions that allow Californians to debate their choices, settle on the best ones, hold elected officials accountable for results, and choose anew if something doesn't work.

"Both [California gubernatorial] candidates may want to read the book's diagnosis of the potentially terminal problems that one of them is certain to inherit." -- Troy Senik Wall Street Journal "A timely book with a lot of important things to say." Newsweek "Lucid analysis is spiked with wit and appealing turns of phrase that lift it above mere wonkery." San Francisco Magazine "Two of the shrewdest California-ologists now practicing ... Mathews and Paul provide the best explanation we've yet had of the scope and sources of the state's governmental dysfunctionality." -- Harold Meyerson American Prospect "An eminently readable treatise on our state's flailing government." -- Aaron Sankin SF Appeal "A compelling book." -- Michael Lewis Vanity Fair Magazine "A smart, good read." -- Jerry Roberts Santa Barbara Independent "If you are interested in improving government-you should read the book ... it reflects the spirit of innovation that was once part of the California story. This is what the campaign for governor should have been about." -- Bill Boyarsky Truthdig "A concise and lucid analysis." -- Byron Williams Oakland Tribune "Objective and at times humorous (if that's possible) analysis of how California grew dysfunctional and what will make it functional again. This new release is getting solid reviews from critics and readers alike." -- Jim Wood Marin Magazine "The authors do a great job of explaining what has been done to try to control the [budget] beast and how it became a depressing example of the law of unintended consequences." -- Royal Calkins Monterey County-Herald "A terrific book... Nice work, guys. Calbuzz sez: check it out." Calbuzz "An important new book." -- Harold Meyerson Los Angeles Times "This is a great book; everyone who wants to fix California needs to read it." -- Garrett Gruener California Journal Of Politics And Policy

ISBN: 9780520266568

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 18mm

Weight: 318g

240 pages