Think Long Committee For California

The Think Long Committee for California aims to offer a comprehensive approach for repairing and renovating California's broken system of governance while proposing policies and institutions vital for the state's long term future. It will make its recommendations to the legislature and newly elected governor and, as necessary, take issues to the public ballot through initiatives.

California has long been the bellwether for the United States as a whole. That is as true now as ever. Mired in deficits and political gridlock, California today is a louder echo of the country at large. Nearly 90 per cent of Californians consider their government broken. Dissatisfaction of the citizenry has never been higher.

Meanwhile, decisive and unified leadership elsewhere in today’s world, notably in China, is building for the future the way California did 50 years ago when it expanded the University of California into a world-class university system linked to a statewide education master plan and built vast networks of connecting roads as well as canals to bring water from the wet north to the arid south.

With huge reserves, a focus on education and energy efficient infrastructure, including laying a network of the world’s fastest trains to link 80 per cent of the population, China today is even taking the lead in solar and other clean technologies that were once the province of California. The Nicolas Berggruen Institute is deeply concerned where California and America as a whole will be two decades from now if we don’t find a way for democratic societies to break out of the gridlock that is leading us from an era of promise to a trajectory of demise. If California in its bellwether role can show the way back to good governance, it will be a powerful example for the rest of the country.

From the NBI perspective, good governance involves the responsive, efficient delivery of services to the public by a fiscally responsible government. Above all, it means politics conducted in a spirit of pragmatism that does not sacrifice the long term to short-term special interests. To that end, the NBI envisions establishing a non-partisan “Think Long Committee for California” of eminent Californians – not more than 10 or 15 people – that can apply their experience, stature and knowledge toward the goal of getting the state back to governability.

The recommendations of the Committee will be presented to the next governor and the legislative leadership, or, as necessary, taken to the public in ballot initiatives.

Nicolas Berggruen will provide $20 million in funds to finance the endeavor. Unlike any other reform efforts, this fund will not support a single candidacy or a single issue but only those structural and constitutional changes that will break the present gridlock, make government more responsive and efficient while at the same time putting in place the incentives and Institutions vital for California’s long-term future.