California pessimistic about the future, Times/USC poll finds

Frustrated at California's woes, voters are sharply pessimistic about whether the next governor will be able to move the state in the right direction, and most believe California is in the midst of a long-term decline, a new Los Angeles Times/USC poll shows.

Against that grim backdrop, next year's political contests loom as potentially volatile, but Democrats start out holding the upper hand, the poll found. President Obama retains his popularity in a state that gave him a landslide victory one year ago, with 60% approving of his tenure as president. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican struggling in the last year of his term, won the support of only a third of voters.

In the election to replace Schwarzenegger, Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, the only major figure currently angling for the Democratic nomination, was seen favorably by more than 4 in 10 voters, and unfavorably by about one-quarter. His likely Republican opponents are much less known; none was seen favorably by more than 2 in 10 voters, the poll indicated.

There was little confidence that the next governor, whoever he or she may be, would be able to successfully battle California's problems. Voters were split over whether the winning candidate would be able to bring about "real change." More than half of voters said that California's problems are long-term in nature and will not ease substantially when the national economy recovers.

Read the rest here.

--Cathleen Decker

Comments

[Steve]

I think it has more to do with the people feeling marginalized and without a voice when it comes to government either locally, statewide or nationally and believe the government wastes and feels entitled to their hard earned money.

For example. The City of L.A. gives Channel 36 over $600,000 a year and it doesn't even own the channel and has no say in its direction at all. Just gives them this money as a gift every year. This might make sense if the City didn't already own a channel (Channel 35) that it spends over $2,000,000 on. Two Mayors have tried to cut channel 36 out of the budget only to have it restored by City Council. This is the type of stuff people are sick of.

[Jose]

California's decline can be summed up in two words......

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!

We simply can not support the massive influx from the Third World....we are becoming the Third World.

[John E McCue]

It may not be bad for California if many of the business's here leave and go to other states where they can buy the legislature in those states. Poplations will leave as well to follow the jobs.
No matter how poor we get, if we can get to a social leval where we are willing to share and help one another and get those that still think like southern plantation owners to leave we will get our old California back.

[dogrob1]

No matter who's is the next governor man or woman must first repair all the internal problems that the state faces,local govermental turmoil between the two parties,and if its not broke dont fix-it,the state has peaked with its economical woes. The next governor must be ready to implement total repair in certain areas not to please but repair. California when you arrive to your knees get up dust yourselfs off and get er done, but first you must have the right governor to lift you off your knees and if not the time of California has come to an end====Good Luck

[ferenc]

john mccue has no CLUE. the ca cities counties and state government and their evil politicians are to blame. that, hollywood and the millions of illegal aliens and legal aliens on welfare have fuku this once great golden state.

[Shelley]

Californians are unhappy with the way the state is going? Then stop electing the same people over and over again. The state is broke? Then elect representatives that will try and balance the budget, and not add expensive new programs. And don't complain if taxes go up or there is a 10% surcharge (read no interest loan to the state) on your refund. The people of the state elected these politicians who are doing what the voters told them to do...fund more and more programs with no regard to the reality of tax revenue.

[anonymous]

so...they polled 1,500 registered voters out of 17,000,000 registered voters. That is a .008823529% representation of the population. I find it hard to believe that such a small sample could possibly represent all the many diverse people of California...

[Yellowbird]

California's decline can be summed up in two words......

Republican voters.

We simply can not support families on peanut wages from all powerful corporations who own our state and national governments.

Which is why we are becoming Third World.

[Mufon]

Yellowbird,

If that wasn't a spoof post, it was the funniest serious post today.