The Second California Gold Rush.

March 16, 2003

By Peter Amherst
Copyright AHRC News Services

Like a giant octopus straddling the land, the tentacles of corruption now reach into every corner of California life. From its head in Sacramento, Gray Davis, down through the myriad of government departments such as the state legislature, attorney general's office and insurance commission, the ooze of corruption seeps into every pore.

The onward march of money stifles any conscience for the child of money is fear, and fear creates cringing, craven specimens of humanity whose sole credo is not to get on the wrong side of Gray Davis. Davis is now king, emperor, sole potentate of that land against which the warm waters of the Pacific lap. Gray the First - and many hope, Gray the Last.

And how did he become this almighty deity against whom nobody will rail? By starting the Second California Gold Rush.

But this time there were no rivers flowing at Sutter's Fort .. No, he would not sully his hands in the dirt digging for gold. But he would have no hesitation about sullying his conscience in selling the birthright of the people of California to every corporation, every lobby group, every grasping, greedy entity that was willing to fill his coffers in exchange for his favors.

There is nobody who believes that California is the Golden State more than Gray Davis. He has mined its gold every day, in every waking moment. How will this make me more money, how can I squeeze an extra $10,000 here, another $20,000 there. Money, money, money. How can I live without it?

This gold was not mined from the earth, but from the minds and hearts and hearths of the people of California. Under him, public education continues to be an abysmal mess. Inner cities fester, millions have no health insurance. It is under him that many peoples' homes have been given to the grasping, greedy hands of collection lawyers. Children have now learned from him the worst lesson of all - that the way to success is to sell everybody out. They follow the hollow man without realizing that he is a mere husk in a gray suit, with shallow smiles full of wiles.

And when his crooked energy friends who had loaded his coffers with multiple offers began to turn out the lights in California, Davis panicked for he saw his coffer becoming his coffin. So in a mad dash for safety, he signed high priced electricity contracts that would have the people pay for his mistakes.

Some day, of course, his wayward ways will weigh against him. Some day, the people of California will say enough is enough, you have cheated us and stolen our rights too often. Already, thunder may be heard on the distant horizon. The slumbering giant is stirring, so Davis, begin to pack your bags, and prepare for your inglorious future in that dark night reserved for those who have betrayed the public's trust.

But do not take all that money with you. Give it to the poor, give it to those who have lost their homes because of you. Maybe then you will find a moment of peace in your dying days, for St.Peter does not accept gold at heaven's gate.