By: Ronald D. Struck                                                               August 4, 1999

PROPOSITION 187

On August 4, 1999, the page 1 headline in the LA Times read “Zedillo Key to End of Prop 187.”  It should have read - “Heads of State Impose Their Will on Citizens of California.”  But no, instead Mexican President Zedillo gets headline kudos for playing a key role in ending Prop. 187.  A foreign leader working to thwart the will of California voters?  

Governor Davis was recently in the headlines for ending the turmoil created by Prop. 187.  What do the voters who passed Prop. 187 get - ignored.  Welcome to the Imperial State of California.

Right, wrong, or indifferent, California voters passed Prop. 187.  Contrary to the opposition’s spin, money, anti-Mexicanism, and cold-heartedness were not the reasons.  It was because of a basic principal – No person should be permitted to ILLEGALLY obtain the rights available to legal residents - any rights: access to benefits, services, drivers’ licenses, property ownership, and EVERYTHING ELSE.  To successfully run the gauntlet of our Border Patrol is not sufficient justification to grant access to any legal residency rights.  That would make such rights a prize to be won when someone is good at breaking the law?  Meanwhile, people who are stupid enough to wait for legal entry get screwed.  Are opponents to Prop. 187 ready to bankrupt the country and offer the same residency rights they want to extend to illegal aliens to anyone in the world who asks for them?  Or, do the people who are able to sneak across our border have special rights?

A wide majority of voters supported Prop. 187, but some voters, special interest groups, the LA Times, and political leaders did not, including Governor Davis.  But when Davis was running for the governorship he portrayed himself as a representative of the people, indicating that even though he was personally against Prop. 187, he would be bound by the voters’ wishes and continue Wilson’s appeal of the federal court decision that had ruled much of the initiative unconstitutional.  The voters took him at his word because the position made sense.  In a system where citizens are governed, not ruled, even though Davis did not support the proposition, it was reasonable to assume that he would fully utilize our checks and balances system to determine exactly why it was unconstitutional.  What better application of judicial review - Determining why citizens do not have the right to rule themselves; Identifying exactly what part of the constitution requires legal residents to provide benefits to ILLEGAL aliens.

But after Davis won the election, he had a sudden change of heart.  California would be better off with him as its Imperial Governor.  He replaced the will of the voters with his personal desires regarding Prop. 187 – it was wrong and would not be enforced.  By changing his position, the turmoil caused by the mere likelihood that the proposition might be enforced could now turn into celebration in the land.  The Mexican President can bask in the glory of his contribution to ending the dastardly will of the voters of California.  Our Imperial Governor saved the time and tax receipts required to continue pursuing an appeal to determine what he already knows – the voters’ wishes are irrelevant.  The common rabble should understand  - they are subjects of the Imperial State.  If they don’t like the decrees of the Imperial Governor - let them eat cake.

Top