As a close observer of Malibu politics, I find the current City Council members among the best. Nevertheless, the present heated Lumber Yard flap serves to focus on a belief I have come to after many years. Even though we all have the right to try to get away with something, we should eliminate politics as a profession. Instead, from public agency middle-management level on up, we should choose our leaders at random from the body-politic, more or less like the idea once floated around for universal military training.
The slates would consist of all individuals who meet certain requirements such as a reasonable command of the English language without any overly annoying accents such as that of Cockneys, the French, or professional Irishmen; proof of having made a living for, say, 10 years, without too much help from dad; a record of paying taxes coupled with rational excuses for any errors an audit might disclose; and a high school diploma, depending of course on the district.
However, until we can come to grips with such change, we must struggle on with our system of political parties, special interests and back-room candidates. Now to be sure, that is not all bad. Take Meg Whitman for example. If she can make Sacramento run half as well as she did eBay, California might yet be saved. But first, we should learn a little more about her-for example, many will want to know how much she can bench press.
Don Michael