Times/USC poll discussed on KCRW and KPCC [Updated]

Most Californians believe the state is in a long-term decline and don't think political leaders have the right stuff to engineer a turnaround. Those were among the findings of a poll sponsored by The Times and the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences reported here last week.

Tuesday, Times assistant managing editor David Lauter discussed the poll's results and implications on KCRW's "Which Way, L.A.?" with host Warren Olney and Phil Trounstine, co-founder and editor of political website CalBuzz.com. Listen to the discussion by clicking the link below:

Listen to "Which Way, L.A.?" excerpt

[Updated at 12:22 p.m. Nov. 13: Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, also appeared on local public radio, KPCC's "AirTalk" with host Larry Mantle, to discuss the poll's results. Click this link to listen on KPCC's website.]

Comments

[Ridiculous]

Forget the political leaders' abilities and intentions. California voters don't have what it takes to change the course of this state's direction. They want services, but don't want to pay for them. They want government officials to work collaboratively for the common good, but elect partisan candidates who won't compromise; and voters refuse to lower the 2/3 majority needed to pass a budget. They want cuts to services for "other people," but don't want to endure the ramifications, including the loss of federal matching dollars.