Arnold Schwarzenegger: Compassionless Conservatism

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, amidst the worst economic depression in seventy years, demands that the state legislature dismantle what he calls the state's "luxury model" social programs. To justify his budget cutting zeal he has repeatedly sounded the alarm that we're in the midst of an economic catastrophe. But nothing will shake his religious belief, even with all the evidence of failure around him, that the private sector can do no wrong. He claims to understand that Californians are experiencing record home foreclosures, and an unemployment rate nearing 12 percent with the number of laid-off people rising each day. But he also believes, contrary to common sense and basic human decency, that it's a perfect time to shred the social safety net.

Regarding the CalWORKS system of relief to the ever-growing number of poverty-stricken Californians, Schwarzenegger argues for changes that will goad these women, children, disabled and elderly people to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. "What we're doing now with those reforms we're trying to implement so that people have to go...through interviews, go and call their social workers every month, go and have twice a year interviews and talk about the progress and what did they do in order to go out and get a job," Schwarzenegger said. "I think ultimately I think that's what people want. They want to participate, they want to make money, they want to provide for their families -- they don't want to be stuck at home with just, you know, a little amount of money that they get from government, so but we have to motivate the people -- and California's done a lousy job in motivating people."

To justify his calls for gutting the In-Home Supportive Services (IHHS) program, Schwarzenegger claimed, but couldn't back up, that there was a "25 percent" fraud rate. The IHHS program provides small amounts of aid to low-income elderly and disabled people so they can stay in their homes instead of being shipped off to even more costly convalescent hospitals. The 440,000 people who depend on IHHS are to Schwarzenegger, like state workers, just pawns in his budget standoff with the Legislature. The governor's office has used the 25 percent figure in official documents leading Schwarzenegger to call for finger-printing people and other authoritarian fixes supposedly to weed out the alleged fraud. The Sacramento Bee recently quoted Frank Mecca, executive director of the County Welfare Directors Association, who said: "We don't know anyone who thinks there is a 25 percent fraud rate in this program. It's hard to have a rational discussion on this in an environment so flush with demagoguery." Schwarzenegger scrambled to find data to back up his claim but came up empty. His office issued a pathetic press release saying that after having a few conversations with district attorneys they concluded that fraud "could range up to 25 percent." The governor's spokesman all but admitted they were lying.

What Schwarzenegger seems not to understand is that there are real human beings on the other end of his budget axe. One an email I received recently illustrates this point: "I am a disabled man who is confined to my home. I face the imminent cutoff of my In Home Supportive Services and much of my Medi-Cal coverage for different types of services. It hasn't all hit the fan completely as yet, but it will. I don't know what I will do when it does. Moving to a convalescent home is very frightening to me and I may have to if I am unable to care for my needs in the apartment where I am able to live independently at the moment due to the IHSS help I receive."

Schwarzenegger's heartlessness towards the state's most vulnerable citizens in a time of economic collapse renders absurd the Republicans' attempts in recent years to paint their party as "kinder and gentler" or "compassionate." Schwarzenegger, in his lame duck period, is showing us the true colors of the modern GOP. Come election time, when Republican candidates traipse around the districts pretending to care about working people and education, I hope voters remember this gleeful Republican assault on the poor and public sector workers.

Schwarzenegger doesn't get the human costs of his actions. He seems to enjoy the attention he's getting as well as playing on right-wing "populist" anger. He's satisfying his Tea Bagger constituency by beating up on Californians who happen to be poor or work in the public sector. He denounces them as "special interests," while serving the "very special interests" of the richest and most powerful corporations and industry trade groups in the state. I guess we can call it "conservatism without the compassion."

Comments

[VJKramer]

Joe,

Couldn't have said it better. Thanks for your efforts. BTW, it's IHSS not IHHS.

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

Big Rally Today (Wed July 15) at the Capitol to protest the budget cuts -- yes, those evil labor unions are involved -- which reminds me about the silly argument corporations make that any new tax on Paris Hilton or Michael Jackson's estate (why do all these super rich people live in a state that's so terrible?) - -Anyway, corporations and their mouthpieces, i.e. Republicans, claim that any new tax on oil or rich people will be a "job killer" -- this makes it sound like they give a damn about people's "jobs" -- with all the outsourcing and H1B visas and the exploitation of workers -- and now failure and layoffs (that had nothing to do with "taxes") -- they shed crocodile tears about the loss of "jobs?" Give me a break. It's just another way of sounding like they care about ordinary people, talking about "jobs" and stuff -- when in reality they're not going to relocate to Mississippi because the state of CA raises their taxes a little.

[HST]

Arnold = worst governor EVER. The Bush of governors. Too bad for us here in California. There is no budget problem that can't be fixed by cutting education and healthcare.

[marinara]

Congrats Joe! Another Good post on terrible politics.

[itsjustanillusion]

Look there is a method to the GOPs madness. They want the poor, disabled and elderly to fail in trying to gain some balance in their lives. The direct result of this will be a community of criminals fighting to feed themselves and their families. This in turn will compel the CA GOP to to justify build new prisons as this will be an automatic revenue builder and an easy way to get CA back on its feet.

If you don't own a mansion and a yacht you are toast in CA.

[myhomeo]

Disabled and elderly criminals?

[itsjustanillusion]

The republicans don't give a damn how old you are. There is no age limit on being a criminal or any type of physical handicap that can stop you from becoming one. By cutting services for "any" citizen there is the capacity to create criminals no matter what age or physical condition. People have to eat. This is my point. Dang!

[laocoon]

trying to sleep somewhere you dont own or rent can make you a criminal. using the bathroom behind a tree in the park because you are homeless can make you a criminal. we play a game of musical chairs in this country and if you dont get a chair you are a criminal.

[lilguy]

CA, has been in freefall every since prop 13. The social services program have been cut time and time again, since then. It seems the more they cut the worst things get for the state. CA was at one time a liberal,activist state. We felt that together we could make a change. We were tricked into voting for prop 13, and the two-third majority. The government has been operating on the backs of poor people every since. Poor people know that they dont count in Ca. There was talk going around in the 80's that there would be no poor people in CA. There would only be the rich and the middle class,so poor people had better get their act together. The middle class did not realize that they would be the new poor. All services at the DMV have been raised. All community services(schools, police departments,fire departments etc.) budgets have been slashed. Rents are sky-high. There is a saying that as CA goes,so goes the nation. So, all people who are suffering from the recession, look to CA!

[Athena123]

All these poor people whining about how they're going to lose everything. Vulnerable, shmulnerable. There's a very simple way these poor folks can win over Schwarzenneggar. All they have to do is contribute millions to the "Ahnald" fund. It worked for car companies, the energy industry, the pharmaceuticals. What he said in his initial campaign was very different than what he did after he was bought off by these corporate interests.

So it's so simple! Living in your car (that doesn't run) because there's no social safety net, or because health care costs bankrupted you??? All you have to do is buck up and give him what he wants! Why should he do anything for you when you can't reward him financially? Did you think he was supposed to boost the economy, empower the citizens, and ensure that everyone has a chance at the American dream? What are you, a left-wing liberal or something? What did you think the job of governer was anyway??? He's in the governer's mansion to make a buck, not to make California a great place to live. Believe you me, money will talk. So stop worrying, all you poor, and start donating!!!! Problem solved.

[Freesia2]

It's always been the most baffling thing to me. Republicans bread and butter is a meme they trot out every election day about "real" Americans and bootstraps, family values and the strength of community and our land of prosperity, built on the sweat of the little guy. This is followed by "if you'll elect me" trailed by promises of helping them continue being the fine plain people standing before them. It almost feels like Billy Joel could set it to music for them. "Don't go changin' to try to please me - I love you just the way you are."

Except they don't. Pretty much every policy decision the GOP has doesn't really do much for those people. Which then leads, when faced with disgruntled folks just before the next election, to throwing them a Tea Party. Throwing them a bone. And distracting them with someone to blame. Usually the poor people. Whose hunger becomes a crime against the "real" Americans. And that's it.

And every 4 years (or 2 or 6 depending) it's the same old song. Only now, the people they used to address are becoming those poor people thanks to the disaster the Repubicans wrought, and I don't know what in heck they're going to do. Blame Obama I think.

I like Arnold. In "True Lies". I'm glad he's not my governor.

[marinara]

yeah its so ironic when you meet one of the working poor, who consider themselves "republican" would never even be in the same room as a democrat, because the don't like those handout freeloader welfare mothers. :)

There's a reason why so many see the democrats as "republican light" or "low calorie republican" Hell, if there's so little difference, why not go for the real mcCoy?

[stevi]

It is hard for me to believe that anyone ever thought there was a chance that Arnie was committed to the people of California. This man is gov because he wanted to try politics, and with his popularity and power he could parlay that into the State house. He did, (no ugly comments on the wisdom of the voters) and we are now in this mess. Our state is full of people who have entrusted their government to this guy that they elected, Arnie betrayed that trust almost immediately after taking office, instead of solving our economic woes (Enron), which he campaigned saying he would, he just borrowed against our grand-children's lives. Why he ever got re-elected is a mystery to me. The idea that now, all of a sudden it's being noticed that he is ill equipped to head a government that answers to THE PEOPLE! This man has no compassion, what the heck does he care if education is gutted, his kids go to private school, what the heck does he care if there are citizens who are sick and cannot seek medical care due to $$$$, he has top notch, premium, prime, elite, complete, full coverage insurance for his family and himself. so...

[WillTell]

California is broke partly because of a proposition that favors the wealthy. Surprise, surprise! I was on a cruise not long ago where a staunch elderly Repulican who'll I call Ms. M, who had no use for the Democrats or President Obama, stated how she lived in Santa Barbara, and that fortunately her home, which she said was now valued at one and a half million dollars, was only taxed at small fraction of its value thanks to a law that was passed. One can cruise but not pay ones share of taxes. If the value of her home has gone up 15 fold, she could afford a home equity lone to pay her appropriate taxes, if need be. I don't think many of the average working Americans in California can avail themselves of this nice little deal for the wealthy and their expensive homes. No wonder California is broke. The Governor is looking to cut the programs of the poor, without cutting some of the unfair tax laws which only favor the wealthy. Blasphemy you say! Sure use the "S" word, but being American is supporting America and her people by paying ones fair share, not just thinking of how good you look and feel because of that flag in your lapel.

[propitiousmoment]

The law you're referring to is a proposition that was passed by the voters back in the late 70's, which states that property taxes cannot be more than 1% of a home's purchase price (I believe that's it, I have never owned a home so maybe someone will correct me). It applies to anyone who owns a home in California, and it's one of the big reasons the state is in so much trouble today.

[JKoos]

Prop 13 is not the problem. It is out of control spending mostly by larding up public employee compensation and benefits. Look out, US. Obama is leading us down the same road to ruin.

[Skepticat]

Always interesting when a state that exempts yachts from the sales tax has no money to help the citizens that so desparately need assistance.

[WillTell]

Great post, for there in lies the problem. Obviously there are two kinds of boat people, and just as obviously, we know which ones the law makers favor.

[larry278]

How will this be resolved when the State of Ca is declared bankrupt in a de jure sense?

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

I believe that especially in a time when the private sector is failing miserably by all accounts -- and the unemployment rate is skyrocketing that it is the worst possible time to be cutting back on social spending and the public sector because that's the only sector that's working now and putting money in people's pockets is the only way to get the economy moving again and if the private sector cannot do it then the government must do it. That's the lesson of the Great Depression -- even Nixon said "we're all Keynesians now" -- what Arnold is doing (along with 14 white Neanderthal male Republicans from rural CA areas) is messing up the state and working against the Obama Administration -- at the national level the Republicans took out $40 billion that was to go to relieving the state's burdens (since all tax revenues are down) -- but the "moderate" Republicans who had to sign to get around a Republican filibuster (which means the GOP wanted to do NOTHING about the economy) the Democrats had to give it up. Schwarzenegger is simply showing the true face of the Republican Party: cold, heartless, lacking compassion except for the rich and powerful and especially the corporations -- so that's fine to have Tea Baggers squawking all the time -- just don't walk around like George W. Bush clucking about "compassion" or like his daddy "kinder and gentler" -- we know now it's a lie!

[KDog76A]

Nice complaints, but where is the fix? How do you pay for this welfare when the state is bankrupt? All you do is attack Arnie, I don't see a single solution in your rant.

I see lots of blame, but you present no solutions. Raise taxes? On who? Just the top 1%? Is that how you come up with billions? Legalize marijuana could save billions. So does cutting programs apparently. But just pointing fingers doesn't fly in my book...

I think anybody with an empty wallet can be pretty heartless when it comes to giving away money... how many more people do you bankrupt to support a wekfare system that cannot sustain itself?

[BusGreg]

How long do you support the Prison Industrial Komplex that can't solve problems and only magnifies it in the long run???
Addiction is a medical condition and not a crime. To close the treatment centers in favor of incarcerating non violent offenders is insane.

[allenosuno]

Here is a short list of revenue ideas compiled by the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee, the Progressive Democrats Sonoma County and others:
• Restore the vehicle license fee rates that we had under past Republican governors.
• Increase taxes on alcoholic beverages.
• Increase taxes on tobacco.
• Increase taxes on gasoline.
• Impose an oil extraction tax just like every other oil-producing state.
• Close the loophole that allows corporations to avoid reassessment of property they purchase.
• Prohibit corporations from using tax credits to offset more than 50 percent of the taxes they owe. Of course all the neocons will immediately cry "no new taxes" The above recommendations would be fought tooth and nail by a GOP base that froths at the mouth whenever taxes or holding corporations accountable are mentioned.) That is why it is all important--- everything hinges on it-- to get rid of the two-thirds vote to approve the budget. Democrats need to quit ceding ground to the Republicans on the question of raising revenues and fight the myths that the GOP has put in place about Democrats being "tax and spenders." The Republicans are 'cut and wasters' because they are penny wise and pound foolish.

[logan9]

@kdog
Spending cuts alone will never work! That should be obvious, but apparently not.

The answer is increased and newly explored revenue streams, prison reform, and marijuana taxation. Higher excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and yes, even sugary sodas would greatly help. Education and Welfare reform should be highly debated and reasonably pursued - BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE GUTTED!

[skeck]

Professor - your lack of understanding of basic economics is breathtaking. Where do you think the money to run the public sector comes from?? I guess that explains why you stated in a recent post
"if businesses don't like it ( higher taxes) they can leave CA - the sooner the better".

[laocoon]

but they can leave all those natural resources in CA and from that an economy can be built.

[laocoon]

I would be a lot more sympathetic to the idea of letting markets adjust if we equally stressed protecting the most vulnerable in that process. the poor lose their homes, possessions, health and sometimes life during the periods of adjustment. they bear the real costs of the adjustments and the costs they bear can be irreversible. like the miracle on the Hudson the point is not if the plane ditches, it is whether or not any passengers are casualties. shoring up the safety should always be priority one in a serious recession.

[DaveVentura]

Having worked for a subsidized childcare administrator, I can say firsthand that there's room for cuts. The administrators (non-profit agencies who contract out with the state) get a large cut, which then is used to spend lavishly and in fact non-profits are encouraged to spend because spending actually begets spending (the indirect rate is based on both how much is spent on actual childcare as well as how much is spent on whatever random thing to hit the numbers... wasteful spending is actually built into the system).

[Bobzmcishl]

Arnold turned down a proposal crafted by Democrats that would have spread the pain out and involved very small tax increases. Arnold refused to agree to any tax increases what so ever. With his line in the sand mentality, Caifornia is being held hostage by a small group of Republican's who are refusing to compromise. This is the worst form of ideology trumping common sense and it is embarrassing to most Californians who expect their legislators to represent them responsibly.

[KDog76A]

how do you "spread the pain out" when the tax rolls are shrinking and welfare is expanding? There's no way to get ahead that way. This recession has another 2 years to go... meaning the amount of cash coming in, even if you raise taxes, will continue to shrink and since unemployment will continue to grow over the next 18 months meaning welfare expenses will increase.

Its not about compassion, its about calculators. The writing is on the wall. Even Palermo doesn't have a solution, just a target for blame.

[Sunshine8768]

"California is being held hostage by a small group of Republicans who are refusing to compromise. This is the worst form of ideology trumping common sense"

Indeed!

Time for Californians to have a revolution in the style of 1700s France.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

I for one am shocked that an actor who showed absolutely no indication that he could handle such responsibility has failed so disasterously running a government.

[KDog76A]

except that ultimately it is the state legislature that is responsible

[seenitall]

this gov. didn't veto spending when he could have..too late now.