L.A. Times - Commentary

Making history

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The author talks about his youth in an orphanage, his latest book on the story of California, and the state's current budget mess.

I made the acquaintance of Kevin Starr's books long before I made the acquaintance of Kevin Starr. "Golden Dreams: California in an Age of Abundance, 1950-1963," the eighth volume in his serial love letter to California, is arriving in bookstores this weekend.

Help the Homeboy Industries car wash clean up

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The gang-intervention program is trying to raise money to make up for the loss of state financing and private philanthropy.

Were you thinking of having your car washed this weekend? Well, let the Prius or Bentley go dirty for another week and consider spending just $10 on a "virtual carwash," the proceeds of which will go to save the lives of some of our city's most imperiled young people.

Honduras' non-coup

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Under the country's Constitution, the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya was legal.

Honduras, the tiny Central American nation, had a change of leaders on June 28. The country's military arrested President Manuel Zelaya -- in his pajamas, he says -- and put him on a plane bound for Costa Rica. A new president, Roberto Micheletti, was appointed. Led by Cuba and Venezuela (Sudan and North Korea were not immediately available), the international community swiftly condemned this "coup."

How did California get into this mess?

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

There's plenty of blame to go around in the budget crisis. Fingers can be pointed at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Democrats, Republicans -- and you and me.

I was recently hospitalized with a life-threatening illness that it took doctors several days to accurately diagnose. Until they fully understood the problem -- which turned out to be an antibiotic-resistant staph infection -- they couldn't prescribe the medication that would cure me.

What is it about Sarah Palin?

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The departing Alaska governor doesn't just line people up on different sides of an issue; she turns them against each other.

When Sarah Palin announced her resignation as Alaska governor, I did what any self-respecting "liberal media" smirker would do. I gleefully noted all the mean, clever things I could write about her.

Proposition 13 isn't the problem

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

When times get tough, the property tax measure comes under attack, but it's no boogeyman.

The "Blame 13" chorus is at it again. You can always count on it to sing "It's all Proposition 13's fault" during difficult economic times. The story has gone national, with columns in Time magazine and the New York Times taking shots at Proposition 13. The attacks are probably best summed up by an editorial cartoon picturing Proposition 13 as the beginning of the end for California civilization.

Learning to quit smoking

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

My first puffs at 16 were all about smooth moves, fashion statements and rebellion. The hard part came later.

"I constantly struggle with it [smoking]. Have I fallen off the wagon sometimes? Yes."

What makes the arts 'essential'? Let me draw you a picture

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Experiencing art is a crucial to producing young people who can understand the world's complexity. That's something philanthropic leaders should remember.

Irecently sent an article to a local philanthropic leader about the importance of helping arts organizations during the recession. I thought he might draw inspiration from it, but that was too optimistic.

Michael Jackson, Sarah Palin and infamous fame

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

As their stories show, our culture of celebrity can absolve or destroy.

The culture of celebrity giveth and the culture of celebrity taketh away. If you don't believe it, just look at Sarah Palin and Michael Jackson.

Waiting for the stimulus 'oomph'

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The debate over whether the 5-month-old plan is working is still a little premature, but that hasn't stopped economists and politicians from jumping into the fray. The most urgent reason: jobs.

Should President Obama seek a "second stimulus"?