Comments for Democratic Party of Contra Costa County http://contracostadems.org Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:30:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Central Committee Election Procedure Changes by Carolyn Phinney http://contracostadems.org/2012/02/central-committee-election-procedure-changes/#comment-5558 Carolyn Phinney Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:30:15 +0000 http://contracostadems.org/?p=1209#comment-5558 Thank you, Edi, for attending this committee meeting and providing this excellent summary. Thank you, Edi, for attending this committee meeting and providing this excellent summary.

]]> Comment on Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Holiday Party on December 15 by chuck carpenter http://contracostadems.org/2011/12/democratic-party-of-contra-costa-county-holiday-party-on-december-15/#comment-4931 chuck carpenter Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:11:27 +0000 http://contracostadems.org/?p=1137#comment-4931 <span style="color: #00f"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Craig,  You are one great human being.  Thank you for this work.  It is so professional and represents us better than we sometimes deserve. chuck</span></span> Craig,  You are one great human being.  Thank you for this work.  It is so professional and represents us better than we sometimes deserve. chuck

]]> Comment on Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Holiday Party on December 15 by C. Prudence Capelle http://contracostadems.org/2011/12/democratic-party-of-contra-costa-county-holiday-party-on-december-15/#comment-4896 C. Prudence Capelle Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:19:04 +0000 http://contracostadems.org/?p=1137#comment-4896 Will be going to Open House in WC first, but will be there by 7 depending on traffic. Will be going to Open House in WC first, but will be there by 7 depending on traffic.

]]> Comment on Occupy Wall Street meets Main Street in Walnut Creek on October 12 and 19 by David Schroeder http://contracostadems.org/2011/10/occupy-wall-street-meets-main-street-in-walnut-creek-on-october-12-and-19/#comment-4391 David Schroeder Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:09:48 +0000 http://contracostadems.org/?p=1048#comment-4391 I want the <span>Glass–Steagall Act back.</span> I want Wall Street to pay as they go. I want Wall Street to pay back the US for carrying them in their time of distress. I want to tax the rich fairly. I want education for all. I want jobs for all. I want my country back. I want the Glass–Steagall Act back.
I want Wall Street to pay as they go.
I want Wall Street to pay back the US for carrying them in their time of distress.
I want to tax the rich fairly.
I want education for all.
I want jobs for all.
I want my country back.

]]> Comment on The Loop: August 2011 by Read The Loop! « Democratic Party of Contra Costa County http://contracostadems.org/the-loop/the-loop-2011-issues/the-loop-august-2011/#comment-4190 Read The Loop! « Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:14:36 +0000 http://contracostadems.org/?page_id=1013#comment-4190 [...] The Loop: August 2011 [...] [...] The Loop: August 2011 [...]

]]> Comment on National Debt Ceiling Fact by Dr. Greg Konrad http://contracostadems.org/2011/07/national-debt-ceiling-fact/#comment-3855 Dr. Greg Konrad Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:24:45 +0000 http://contracostadems.org/?p=916#comment-3855 "Interesting how nothing that happened before January 20, 2009 matters, isn't it?"   Also interesting to see how everything that has happened since that date, has not been "owned" by the Obama Administration. I have been a lifelong Democrat, yet refuse to endorse the foolishness, lying and incompetence from either side of the aisle. The last DNC fundraiser to call my home accused me of being a disloyal American and racist, because I disagreed with the Obama Administration on many issues.   NEWSFLASH! My wallet is closed to you, until you SHOW me you put Country above political careers, American Citizen interests above political contributions, and fact before ideological fiction.   Have a nice day! "Interesting how nothing that happened before January 20, 2009 matters, isn't it?"
 
Also interesting to see how everything that has happened since that date, has not been "owned" by the Obama Administration.

I have been a lifelong Democrat, yet refuse to endorse the foolishness, lying and incompetence from either side of the aisle. The last DNC fundraiser to call my home accused me of being a disloyal American and racist, because I disagreed with the Obama Administration on many issues.
 
NEWSFLASH!
My wallet is closed to you, until you SHOW me you put Country above political careers, American Citizen interests above political contributions, and fact before ideological fiction.
 
Have a nice day!

]]> Comment on Join Us for a Taste of California Summer Event on July 23 with Special Guest U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer by chuck http://contracostadems.org/2011/06/join-us-for-a-taste-of-california-summer-event-on-july-23-with-special-guest-u-s-senator-barbara-boxer/#comment-3624 chuck Sun, 26 Jun 2011 04:31:03 +0000 http://contracostadems.org/?p=720#comment-3624   <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11px"><span style="font-size: 12px">This is the Democrat Event of the Summer.  Beautiful site,  the Best Senator, three Great Congressmen, local elected representatives, fresh fruit, grilled vegetables, plenty of time to visit and talk redistricting, open primary,  all those changes that make us crazy.  Bring a friend.</span></span></span>  
This is the Democrat Event of the Summer.  Beautiful site,  the Best Senator, three Great Congressmen, local elected representatives, fresh fruit, grilled vegetables, plenty of time to visit and talk redistricting, open primary,  all those changes that make us crazy.  Bring a friend.

]]> Comment on The Loop: May 2011 by Read Issue 2 of “The Loop” « Democratic Party of Contra Costa County http://contracostadems.org/the-loop/the-loop-2011-issues/the-loop-issue-2-may-29-2011/#comment-3163 Read Issue 2 of “The Loop” « Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Sun, 29 May 2011 17:38:11 +0000 http://contracostadems.org/?page_id=509#comment-3163 [...] The Loop: May 2011 [...] [...] The Loop: May 2011 [...]

]]> Comment on Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center Hosts Project Censored 2011 by Blackwater Watch » Blog Archive » Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center Hosts Project Censored 2011 … http://contracostadems.org/2011/04/mt-diablo-peace-and-justice-center-hosts-project-censored-2011/#comment-2052 Blackwater Watch » Blog Archive » Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center Hosts Project Censored 2011 … Mon, 04 Apr 2011 05:06:54 +0000 http://contracostadems.org/?p=384#comment-2052 [...] Read more… [...] [...] Read more… [...]

]]> Comment on Rep. Jerry McNerney’s Opponent Argued For Abolishing Public Schools by Milan Moravec http://contracostadems.org/2010/10/rep-jerry-mcnerneys-opponent-argued-for-abolishing-public-schools/#comment-42 Milan Moravec Sat, 16 Oct 2010 21:48:00 +0000 http://contracostadems.org/?p=172#comment-42 Politicians ignore signs of trouble UC Berkeley leadership. <span style="line-height: 150%;font-family: times;font-size: 11pt"><font color="#000000">UC Berkeley’s recent elimination of popular sports programs highlighted endemic problems in the university’s management.<span>  </span>Chancellor Robert Birgeneau’s eight-year fiscal track record is dismal indeed. <span> </span>He would like to blame the politicians in Sacramento , since they stopped giving him every dollar he has asked for, and the state legislators do share some responsibility for the financial crisis.<span>  </span>But not in the sense he means.</font></span> <span style="line-height: 150%;font-family: times;font-size: 11pt"><font color="#000000"> </font></span> <span style="line-height: 150%;font-family: times;font-size: 11pt"><font color="#000000">A competent chancellor would have been on top of identifying inefficiencies in the system and then crafting a plan to fix them.<span>  </span>Compentent oversight by the Board of Regents and the legislature would have required him to provide data on problems and on what steps he was taking to solve them.<span>  </span>Instead, every year Birgeneau would request a budget increase, the regents would agree to it, and the legislature would provide.<span>  </span>The hard questions were avoided by all concerned, and the problems just piled up….until there was no money left.</font></span> <span style="line-height: 150%;font-family: times;font-size: 11pt"><font color="#000000"> </font></span> <span style="line-height: 150%;font-family: times;font-size: 11pt"><font color="#000000">It’s not that Birgeneau was unaware that there were, in fact, waste and inefficiencies in the system.<span>  </span>Faculty and staff have raised issues with senior management, but when they failed to see relevant action taken, they stopped.<span>  </span>Finally, Birgeneau engaged some expensive ($3 million) consultants, Bain & Company, to tell him what he should have been able to find out from the bright, engaged people in his own organization.<span>  </span></font></span> <span style="line-height: 150%;font-family: times;font-size: 11pt"><font color="#000000"> </font></span> <span style="line-height: 150%;font-family: times;font-size: 11pt"><font color="#000000">From time to time, a whistleblower would bring some glaring problem to light, but the chancellor’s response was to dig in and defend rather than listen and act.<span>  </span>Since UC has been exempted from most whistleblower lawsuits, there are ultimately no negative consequences for maintaining inefficiencies.</font></span> <span style="line-height: 150%;font-family: times;font-size: 11pt"><font color="#000000"> </font></span> <span style="line-height: 150%;font-family: times;font-size: 11pt"><font color="#000000">In short, there is plenty of blame to go around.<span>  </span>But you never want a serious crisis to go to waste.<span>  </span>An opportunity now exists for the UC president, Board of Regents, and California legislators to jolt UC Berkeley back to life, applying some simple check-and-balance management principles.<span>  </span>Increasing the budget is not enough; transforming senior management is necessary. <span> </span>The faculty, students, staff, academic senate, Cal. alumni, and taxpayers await the transformation. </font></span> Politicians ignore signs of trouble UC Berkeley leadership.
UC Berkeley’s recent elimination of popular sports programs highlighted endemic problems in the university’s management.  Chancellor Robert Birgeneau’s eight-year fiscal track record is dismal indeed.  He would like to blame the politicians in
Sacramento
, since they stopped giving him every dollar he has asked for, and the state legislators do share some responsibility for the financial crisis.  But not in the sense he means.
 
A competent chancellor would have been on top of identifying inefficiencies in the system and then crafting a plan to fix them.  Compentent oversight by the Board of Regents and the legislature would have required him to provide data on problems and on what steps he was taking to solve them.  Instead, every year Birgeneau would request a budget increase, the regents would agree to it, and the legislature would provide.  The hard questions were avoided by all concerned, and the problems just piled up….until there was no money left.
 
It’s not that Birgeneau was unaware that there were, in fact, waste and inefficiencies in the system.  Faculty and staff have raised issues with senior management, but when they failed to see relevant action taken, they stopped.  Finally, Birgeneau engaged some expensive ($3 million) consultants, Bain & Company, to tell him what he should have been able to find out from the bright, engaged people in his own organization. 
 
From time to time, a whistleblower would bring some glaring problem to light, but the chancellor’s response was to dig in and defend rather than listen and act.  Since UC has been exempted from most whistleblower lawsuits, there are ultimately no negative consequences for maintaining inefficiencies.
 
In short, there is plenty of blame to go around.  But you never want a serious crisis to go to waste.  An opportunity now exists for the UC president, Board of Regents, and California legislators to jolt UC Berkeley back to life, applying some simple check-and-balance management principles.  Increasing the budget is not enough; transforming senior management is necessary.  The faculty, students, staff, academic senate, Cal. alumni, and taxpayers await the transformation.

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