[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Marty D. Omoto
Director/Organizer
California Disability Community Action Network

Policymakers often like to use words that make the world - as they hope we'll see it - better.

That is human nature and to some extent we all do that to mask or somehow hide unpleasant or bad news (like responding to a friend in need of exercise who asks how their brand new spandex exercise shorts look on them, though I suppose it depends on the friend).

It's like the proverbial story of a parent telling a child that the old family dog was taken to a farm out in the country so he can roam free and live (rather than being told unfortunately that he was "put down" or less delicately, put in a cardboard box and "killed" at the local vet's office. Either way, its hard to make that sound good).

One believes masking the truth of course, makes it easier on the child, though it is also done to make it easier on the person who is giving the news so that it doesn't sound so bad.

Likewise, use of different words can create an artificial reality that allow policymakers during a budget crisis to speak of unpleasant proposals, bad and even horrific ideas that one would normally dare not speak in public (never mind in church).

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Anthony Wright
Executive Director of Health Access California

I've been getting E-mails in response to Saturday's Sacramento Bee article by Judy Lin, from people wanting to sign up to prevent some of the proposed cuts to schools, parks, health care and other vital services. The article describes the very preliminary conversations among leading organizations spanning a broad range of fields to work together toward a better solution to the budget crisis.

I think it's an indication that California is ready for another solution to the budget crisis, other than cuts, cuts, cuts.

The enthusiasm comes through in our recent work. It comes through in the fact that we have health care organizations and leaders active and ready to go to oppose the cuts to health care.

The energy comes through in the conversations we've been having with groups in completely different sectors. I've been in broad-based campaigns before, but the depth and breadth of interest in stunning, bring together health and social service organizations with environmental groups, the education community, the world of police and public safety, and many others.