Gov. ‘Terminator’ takes hits from voters

The voters in the state of California have handed Gov. Arnold “Terminator” Schwarz enegger defeat after defeat of ballot measures he had pushed, necessitating a “Special Election” here on Nov. 8.

One measure would have greatly hurt public school teachers’ tenure requirements. Another would have severely cut organized public employees’ ability to politically fight in their own interests and that of all workers. One proposition would have authorized more slices, and legalized continued cuts, in state public school funding—in addition to school budget cuts already imposed since the former actor became governor. And another measure would have imposed political redistricting to strengthen conservative districts in the governor’s favor.

All four of these pet projects of Gov. Schwarz enegger were defeated. So were additional objectionable measures placed on the ballot by the governor’s political allies.

One of the defeated propositions was a clear attempt to chip away at freedom of choice for women’s reproductive rights. It would have made it much harder for women under 17 years old to choose to terminate a pregnancy.

A so-called prescription drug “discount” measure was also defeated. It had been backed by the profit-seeking pharmaceutical and medical industries. Unfor tunately the expensive media campaign this industry could afford contributed to enough confusion that voters also defeated a genuinely progressive prescription drug discount/rebates program that is truly needed. Now the people in most need of state assistance to acquire medicine will soon go without. If they had enough money or were already insured, they wouldn’t be in need of state help to begin with.

Here in San Francisco, a progressive proposition opposing military recruiting on public high school and college campuses was approved by the voters. Although symbolic, it sends a message to local, state and national politicians about most voters’ disapproval of the U.S. war against Iraq and the exploitation of youth to carry out the deadly ambitions of the Pentagon. This stand has made our city the target of right-wing media talk show pundits, like Fox television’s Bill O’Reilly, wishing ill on us and advocating a denial of assistance to the city in the event of an emergency.

Local voters also approved a measure to keep firehouses open that have been slated for closure due to budget cuts.

Finally, just two days after these massive defeats, the governor called off another one of his pet projects: an increase in the patient-nurse workload ratio, currently legally limited to a maximum of five patients per nurse. For months nurses have demonstrated at the governor’s speaking engagements up and down the state, adding up to at least 100 times, according to the New York Times.

Also, firefighters and teachers have joined medical care workers to fight the governor’s attempts to cut back pension and education funding. These workers and their unions have shown how labor solidarity can make a difference, giving renewed strength to workers all around the state who are currently engaged in struggles to defend themselves and the public they serve.