---
[ LOS ANGELES ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles)
# Immorality in California Politics … More Than Sexual Harassment
January 01 2018
Written by David Crane.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
GUEST COMMENTARY--Sexual harassment by elected officials in California is all over the news but less visible forms of political immorality are just as prevalent. One example is that of state legislators who sell students, families and vulnerable citizens down the river to [boost prison guard compensation](https://medium.com/@DavidGCrane/prison-guards-3-parks-and-kids-0-b41552d241b7).
Another is legislators protecting the [profits](https://medium.com/@DavidGCrane/california-needs-a-truman-committee-5315d0674603) and [turfs](https://californiahealthline.org/news/california-nurse-practitioners-lose-battle-for-independent-practice-again/) of cronies while ignoring the healthiness and convenience of 14 million customers of the state’s sub-functional single-payer system, Medi-Cal.
Other examples include state officials [opposing student civil rights](https://calmatters.org/articles/how-to-follow-vergara-v-california/) and legislators [robbing K-12 students and young teachers](https://medium.com/@DavidGCrane/pension-and-other-retirement-costs-are-crowding-out-sf-school-teachers-ed0047d09902) of their futures out of fear of powerful commercial interests.
Corrections employees in California collect compensation far exceeding the revenues of the country’s largest private prison corporations. The cost is borne by families, students and the needy. Where is the morality in that trade?
Citizens should compare political performance with campaign promises. But most don’t — and that’s why citizens often become victims of legislation introduced to please special interests who do pay attention. But now, organizations such as [Govern For California](https://www.governforcalifornia.org/) that support pro-citizen legislators and legislation are paying serious attention.
We know not only what legislators say but also what they propose and how they vote. We know they have reduced the share of the state budget available to universities, courts, parks and social services nearly in [half](https://medium.com/@DavidGCrane/for-whom-the-california-budget-tolls-1e1ba6d28308), [doubled spending](https://medium.com/@DavidGCrane/california-needs-a-truman-committee-5315d0674603) in favor of healthcare industry cronies at the expense of other programs, [magically created debt](https://medium.com/@DavidGCrane/cas-next-budget-will-not-tell-the-truth-1589e00683d5) to the detriment of the state’s most vulnerable citizens and taxpayers, and much more.
Mark Twain famously said “everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” The same aphorism applies to politics. Few subjects are more discussed — and fewer conversations are less informed. That leads to dangerous outcomes as well-meaning people too often support legislators who say one thing but do another.
The California Legislature reconvenes January 3rd. We will be watching every bill and every vote. It’s not enough that just sexual harassers are on their way out. Politically immoral legislators also need to shape up or depart.
We all owe it to our fellow citizens to be well informed and to take smart actions. There are [plenty of ways](https://medium.com/@DavidGCrane/you-have-more-power-than-facebook-8f34aff5b74a) to do so. Know what legislators do, not just what they say — and then hold them accountable.
*(David Crane is a lecturer at Stanford University and president of [Govern For California.](https://www.governforcalifornia.org/%C2%A0%20))*
*-cw*
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/115 "Brian Goldsmith Vertical R. Col")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/114 "McKinney Campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Name
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/113 "Rhonda Haymon campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know")
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters)
### [Prosecutor, Democrat, City Attorney? McKinney Makes His Case to Los Angeles Voters](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters)
ELECTION 2026 - The race for LA City Attorney has been laced with political accusations and allegations that when close…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
### [The LA Watchdog’s 2026 Voter Guide](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
LA WATCHDOG - My recommendations are influenced by the need for truly balanced budgets, fiscal responsibility, long ter…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game)
### [The Fools’ Blame Game](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game)
THE VIEW FROM HERE - Angelenos do not use elections to plot a wiser course of conduct for Los Angeles, but rather they…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too)
### [California Film Tax Credits Aren’t Enough. The Guilds Need to Change Too.](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too)
LONNIE’S VIEW - California used to be the center of the movie and television universe. If you wanted to make movies, yo…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it)
### [Here’s What Zionism’s Got To Do With It](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it)
ICAN - The anonymous website “BHUSD Watch” recently published a long, detailed article about the current BHUSD board an…
---
## [ LOS ANGELES ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33637-getting-housing-projects-through-los-angeles-permitting-and-land-use-approvals)### [Getting Housing Projects Through Los Angeles Permitting and Land-Use Approvals](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33637-getting-housing-projects-through-los-angeles-permitting-and-land-use-approvals)
### [JAY on LA 10-28-26](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33630-jay-on-la-10-28-26)
### [JAY ON LA for 10-26-26](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33629-jay-on-la-for-10-26-26)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33616-from-dreams-to-careers-pasadena-summit-opens-doors-for-la-county-youth)### [From Dreams to Careers: Pasadena Summit Opens Doors for LA County Youth](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33616-from-dreams-to-careers-pasadena-summit-opens-doors-for-la-county-youth)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33593-pricing-angelenos-out-of-their-own-city-the-great-appeal-fee-heist)### [Pricing Angelenos Out of Their Own City: The Great Appeal Fee Heist](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33593-pricing-angelenos-out-of-their-own-city-the-great-appeal-fee-heist)