Anyone looking for a clean kill in tonight’s gubernatorial debate between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman probably walked away a little disappointed. If you were hoping for another Jan Brewer moment in which a candidate seems to simply and completely lose it on camera, again, disappointment reigns. But if you were looking for a reasonably thoughtful discussion of many of the real issues facing California, there was much to appreciate in the debate staged at the Mondavi Center at University of Cali... NBurnett naga comment-38141 2010-09-30T18:25:53Z 2010-09-30T18:25:53Z if you can't figure that out for yourself, don't worry about it. naga 2010-09-30T18:25:53Z Rich E. comment-38140 2010-09-30T17:57:07Z 2010-09-30T17:57:07Z um, and your point is? Rich E. 2010-09-30T17:57:07Z naga comment-38139 2010-09-30T17:39:41Z 2010-09-30T17:39:41Z This is an opinion piece. This writer is "Chair of the Communication Studies Department at California State University, Sacramento." Wouldn't he know better than present opinion as reporting? And where did all those Alex Keaton brownshirts in the photo come from? naga 2010-09-30T17:39:41Z s215 comment-38111 2010-09-29T18:25:04Z 2010-09-29T18:25:04Z Two points that Brown should have made clearer: 1. While both agree that there will have to be some serious negotiations with public employees regarding pension reforms, Meg Whitman's clear hostility to working people makes it LESS likely that she can work with unions. She could fire people at will as a business CEO, It doesn't work that way as Governor. Negotiations involve understanding and mutual respect as issues are confronted. She consistently shows contempt for the people who make California work--from law enforcement to DMV personnel, to nurses, teachers etc. The purchasing power of a strong middle class keeps the economy going..Wealthy people are not the only ones who buy cars, furniture, refrigerators etc. Everyone understands that some union contracts are absurdly excessive. But you can't make change without respect. 2. Texas was mentioned by Whitman as the "ideal" place for business. Texas has lower standards of everything--certainly less health and environmental protections, and one of the highest high school drop out rates in the U.S. I don't think Californians would like to live there. Texas does have a hefty oil depletion allowance tax which funds their state universities. In California, no Republican will support this kind of tax. Brown needed to hit this point. s215 2010-09-29T18:25:04Z