Going public is a tool an a political leader’s toolbox meant to be utilized when insider negotiations fail.  Put simply, going public is where you appeal for the public’s support when you cannot get support from the elected officials you negotiate with internally.  Such was the case with Propositions 1A thru 1E on the May 2009 Special Election ballot.

The problem with going public is that it is the political version of a Hail Mary, meaning if the public fails to support your ideas, you have effectively proven your opponent’s position — so you should only do it if you either have no other option or you firmly believe the public supports your ideas.  If going public fails you are forced to accept a plan contrary to your own — one that has the public’s support.

Proposition 1A was the Governor and the Democratic Party’s plan to fix the budget deficit.  When negotiations with Republicans broke down, meaning the Republican leadership at the time failed to get the rank-and-file support for the tax increases, the Governor and the Democrats chose to go public by putting the 5 propositions on the ballot for the voters to decide on.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s actions in response to the failure of the Democratic budget plan are a textbook example of how leaders keep themselves accountable to the voters.  Since the tax increases failed, rather than propose the same tax increases again, Arnold proposed cuts (and other savings measures like furloughs and layoffs) that the public will get on board with.  The Governor, despite his unpredictability has shown that when the people speak, he listens.

The Democrats, however, have continued their ‘no cuts ever’ mentality. Despite the obvious public opposition to tax increases the Democratic Party Leadership, largely influenced by the public employee labor unions, continues to oppose any realistic measure to balance the budget.  Sure, several thousand workers and beneficiaries of social programs oppose the cuts, but millions of voters opposed the tax increases on the May Special Election ballot.  The public and the government are starting to realize the unions’ base support is merely astroturfing — a political technique designed to create the appearance of genuine grassroots support.

The Democrats have stalled long enough.  It is clear that the voters want to see a government that spends within its means.