It’s interesting times these days here in California. We have a new governor (well, he’s more like a gently used governor as he’s been governor once before) and he is doing what he said he’d do when he was campaigning: try to fix what’s broken in California, i.e. the budget process (among other things). His first move has been a proposed budget that has left everybody gasping. No agency has been spared from budget cuts. As a librarian, I always take a special interest in what happens to them, and in this proposed budget library literacy programs take an especially big hit, which seems very sad.

Anyway, it occurs to me it’s time for some outside-the-box thinking as we move forward. While I absolutely believe that our state taxes need to be increased (equitably, of course), it also seems like a good time for us to think about adopting needy state, county or local agencies. For instance, aside from libraries, state parks are getting hit with big time cuts that could result in their closure/limited access. The thing about state parks and libraries is that neither one are income generators so when it comes time to cut stuff, they make easy targets. They only exist to improve the quality of all of our lives. Do we collectively feel that literacy programs that help adults learn to read are superfluous? Do we think that providing funds for our state parks and beaches are a waste of money? Should higher education only be available to kids whose parents can afford the tuition? And beyond that, given that our state legislators have proven themselves unwilling or unable to embrace solutions that entail raising taxes (which, of course, is the ultimate solution if we are honest with ourselves), what are we California residents to do?

I thought about the approach taken by the movie Dave (when an average guy presidential look alike accidentally becomes President and has his accountant friend come in and take a common sense approach to balancing the budget) but that was a movie. Okay, so what say we all take up the plate and donate to the state services that need our money to stay afloat? We vote twice a year (well, those of us who bother to actually cast our ballots do) so why not have checkboxes on the ballot with all of the endangered services, and we can all opt to donate $$ to help them out? If you could give $10, great, if you could give $100, super! I realize that there would need to be some oversight of this process so that the monies collected end up in the right place.

I know, I know, this is just me being a knee jerk liberal, you’re thinking. Whatever. I love California. I was born here. My parents were born here. I’ve lived here my whole life. I’m a product of our fabulous state school system that I could afford to put myself through without mortgaging my entire future. I’d like to think that the next generation will be able to do the same, and I’m willing to help make that happen – even if that means I pay higher taxes. I’m proud of the way we Californians think differently about stuff and aren’t afraid to take a different path from the rest of the country. Let’s do that now. let’s show the rest of the country just how cool a place california really is, and let’s start NOW!

At least that’s my $0.02.