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In this introductory chapter, we survey the big picture of California politics. Many observers
claim that the Golden State is no longer the land of milk and honey, yet it continues to
draw newcomers from the four corners of the earth. Why the differences in perception?
The answer is in the diversity of California and how it is governed. This chapter covers
those two subjects. We'll be looking at how diversity explains California politics, how
political theory and hyperpluralism explain California politics, and the ironies of our
diversity. There are two approaches to understanding California politics: First, as we said, the
state's remarkable diversity. And, second, a set of theories that political scientists
use to explain aspects of American politics generally. To answer the question "Who governs"
four theories have emerged. Democratic theory says that people do, usually through elected
representatives. Elite theory claims that the upper class exercise power and influence
beyond their numbers. Pluralist theory contends that groups compete for power and policy advantage.
Hyperpluralism, an emerging theory, contends that so many groups now compete and the political
system is so complex that governing can become most difficult. Although these theories seem
incompatible, each helps explain aspects of California politics. Evidence of hyperpluralism
in California is growing. Let's first look at how diversity explains California politics.
We'll look at land, regions, resources, people and the economy. For the land, the state's
diversity has been its strength. The sheer size of the state -- California covers the
distance from New York City to Jacksonville, Florida. The land varies from temperate coastal
plains to rugged mountain ranges; from lush agricultural valleys to barren deserts. People
divide California into several regions, but these divisions seem to be a matter of perception.
Some divide the state into North and South; others see multiple and diverse regions. People
can see anywhere from 4 to 14 distinct regions. In public opinion surveys and election analysis,
you generally find these regions: the coastal areas being more liberal and Democratic -- those
are the LA, San Francisco areas -- and the inland areas being more conservative and Republican.
That would be the Central Valley and the Orange County/Inland Empire. California is rich in
resources, especially water and desirable climate. Remember for your exam -- water is
the state's most precious resource. The climate has a number of impacts on the state. Predictable
weather helped movie producers, farmers have several harvests per year and developers and
contractors can have less-weather-resistant construction. The people -- California is
diverse with its people. Diversity and growth characterize our demographics. Latinos this
year will become a plurality -- that means there will be more Latinos than any other
ethic group. California has a large population of non-Hispanic whites, African Americans
and Asian Americans. Our economy is diverse. California is the ninth-largest economy in
the world. We're in a stage known as postindustrialism -- it's characterized by a large and growing
service sector, rapid change, innovation and advanced technology. Our economy is constantly
changing from the Gold Rush to the expansion of railroads to the rise of the manufacturing
sector and the technological revolution. We have a diverse workforce with many economic
sectors and we have a multi-tiered workforce that leads to income inequality. There are
highly-educated, well paid employees in the technology and knowledge-based industries
and lower-paying, low status service jobs. Let's take a look at how political theory
explains California government. Democratic theory: The answer to the question "Who Governs
Us" is "All of Us." Two forms of democracy. First, participatory -- rule by many. And
the second , which you'll need to know, is a representative democracy -- rule by a few.
The evidence of the democratic theory in California is the initiative process, frequent elections,
and elected legislative bodies at the state and local levels. Elite theory says that all
societies naturally divide into two classes - -the few who rule and the many who do not.
Evidence of class power in California is the Big Four, the machine back in the early days,
major campaign contributors and policy entrepreneurs. This theory cannot fully explain California
politics, though, because voters rejected business efforts to suspend the state's global
warming law in 2010 and voted to impose higher taxes on multistate corporations in 2012.
Pluralist theory: American politics is group politics -- it's a fluid process of competing
interests winning and losing, rising and falling. There is an amazing breadth of interest groups
in California. But not all politics can be labeled group politics. For instance, group
competition alone doesn't explain the rise of policy entrepreneurs such as Howard Jarvis
in the anti-tax movement and Richard Lee in the marijuana movement. Hyperpluralism suggests
that power is thinly scattered, not just widely or unevenly scattered as other theories suggest.
In this theory, exercise of power has become a highly competitive tug-of-way between institutions,
policymakers, political parties, numerous interest groups and voters. Here is how hyperpluralism
explains California politics. The constancy of individualism. Individualism is the key
tile in the mosaic of California politics. We have an individualist society. It's the
dependence on self rather than society to fill wants and needs. You join interest groups,
you live in gated communities, you have solitary rush-house commutes. Low voter turnout is
an element involved in this individualism. We have a diversity of interests and cultures.
A wide range of civil engagement by groups. We see single-issue politics in which public
policy issues are viewed in narrow terms and those who hold those views hold them with
more determination. We see increased group conflict in California, which means a decreased
potential for broader intergroup consensus. We have fading "majoritarianism," the changing
nature of majority rule. The reality is "minorities" rule -- a small number of individuals and
groups set legislative agendas and determine which issues make it to the ballot. You see
a small percentage of California voters who qualify actually register to vote, an even
smaller turn out on Election Day, and only a simple majority of those who vote determine
the outcome of elections. Our political structure invites political conflict. The state's constitution
pre-destines a power struggle among the executive, legislative and judicial branches. By dictating
certain rules for local governments, that guarantees a vertical power struggle between
the locals and state government. And the initiative process allows voters to circumvent or contradict
the legislature that they elected. The ironies of our diversity. California is both a policy
innovator and a laggard. We're an innovator with Prop 13, Three Strikes, and medical marijuana
regulation. But we lag in infrastructure and education spending. The policy generosity
of the electorate and government is cyclical and contested and ambivalent. We can see record
budget surpluses one year and record deficits not that long afterward. And what we see is
policy progress at the local level. Cities and counties are finding innovative ways to
raise needed revenue because the state isn't providing those resources. That's a quick
overview of chapter 1 of the California text. Good luck in your quiz!