Happy Labor Day! AirTalk goes on the road to ask, "Is California governable?" Then, author Christopher Cokinos joins Larry Mantle to discuss the allure of shooting stars. Finally, Larry talks with Simon Schama about the American future, and how the stories from the past will determine its course.
Is California governable?
OK, we have a budget deal in California but that doesn’t get to the root of the state's fiscal problems. Is it time to change California's constitution so that the budget process isn't a yearly stalemate? AirTalk goes "on the road" to convene its own Constitutional Convention at the Center for the Preservation of Democracy in downtown Los Angeles. Larry Mantle and guests pick apart the present budget system and make specific proposals to change the way California does business. Community Advocates Inc. co-sponsored this event.
Guests:
Martin Hittelman is the President of California Federation of Teachers and member of the American Federation of Teachers’ Higher Education Program and Policy Council.
Jon Coupal is the President of Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and has been involved with multiple state ballot initiatives in the wake of Proposition 13 of 1978, which amended the State Constitution to cap property taxes and imposed greater constraints on legislative attempts to raise property taxes.
Robert Hertzberg, is the co-chair of California Forward, a group that supports tax reform and shifting state and local fiscal responsibilities. He served as Speaker of the California State Assembly from 2000-2002, and is an advocate for renewable energy.
Steve Peace is the former Director of the California Department of Finance and State Senator and current co-chair of the California Independent Voters Network, a non-profit organization focused on independent voter education.
Is California governable? Web-Only Bonus
WEB ONLY BONUS: Audience members ask questions of panelists at AirTalk's mock Constitutional Convention at the Center for the Preservation of Democracy in downtown Los Angeles. Larry Mantle and guests pick apart the present budget system and make specific proposals to change the way California does business.
Jon Coupal is the President of Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and has been involved with multiple state ballot initiatives in the wake of Proposition 13 of 1978, which amended the State Constitution to cap property taxes and imposed greater constraints on legislative attempts to raise property taxes.
Robert Hertzberg, is the co-chair of California Forward, a group that supports tax reform and shifting state and local fiscal responsibilities. He served as Speaker of the California State Assembly from 2000-2002, and is an advocate for renewable energy.
Martin Hittelman is the President of California Federation of Teachers and member of the American Federation of Teachers’ Higher Education Program and Policy Council.
Steve Peace is the former Director of the California Department of Finance and State Senator and current co-chair of the California Independent Voters Network, a non-profit organization focused on independent voter education.
Fallen Sky
The wonder of shooting stars has captivated people since ancient times. In his book "The Fallen Sky", Christopher Cokinos creates a history of the people who chased meteorites to better understand them. The author also shares his personal quest to study meteorites, which took him to distant places like Greenland and Antarctica. He describes how meteorites can improve our understanding of the universe and life on the planet. Christopher Cokinos joins Larry Mantle to discuss the allure of shooting stars.
Guest:
Christopher Cokinos, Professor of English at Utah State University, and author of "The Fallen Sky: An Intimate History of Shooting Stars" (Tarcher/Pengiun)
The American Future
In the book "The American Future", historian Simon Schama looks into the country's past to better understand the present and contemplate the future. Starting with the 2008 presidential election, Schama examines present feelings about the military, immigration, religion, and prosperity by connecting them with the people and events of American history. He chronicles a family whose descendants fought in almost every major war, and ties current attitudes on immigration to the historical influx of minority groups. Larry Mantle talks with Simon Schama about how the stories from America's past are relevant today.
Guest:
Simon Schama, Professor of Art History and of History, Columbia University; cultural essayist for the New Yorker; and author of "The American Future"