The
Center for Governmental Studies has closed the doors to its Los Angeles headquarters after nearly three decades.
One of the most highly regarded independent research organizations, the CGS think tank encouraged non-partisanship in government and worked tirelessly toward active public participation in government decisions.
The Center for Governmental Studies worked with civic groups to strengthen democracy by organizing commissions and publishing books and reports on ballot initiatives, term limits, redistricting, education, state budgeting and good governance.
Many times over the last three decades, the
CGS worked alongside citizens and elected officials to achieve and celebrate revolutionary successes together in a better informed 21st century society.
A completely nonprofit and nonpartisan research group founded in 1983, the Center for Governmental Studies helped steer the state onto a better path, affecting positive change with the help of generous financial donors over 28 productive years.
The CGS was supported by great funders, including the Ahmanson Foundation, the California Community Foundation, the California Endowment, the California HealthCare Foundation, the California Wellness Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, the Ford Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, the Irvine Foundation, the Kaiser Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Open Society Institute, the Pacific Bell Foundation, the Packard Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation...
... and many other benefactors, contributors, backers, donors, supporters, funders, friends and allies.
Now broke, the Center for Governmental Studies was left with no option but to lock the doors on its L.A. office, which sits in the most glamorous city of the richest state of the wealthiest nation on earth.
Something is wrong with this picture and it is quite disturbing.
"We basically ran out of money," said CGS President
Robert Stern. "We had 28 great years."
Where have all the funders gone? It is not entirely about the temporary state of the economy. What are big donors suddenly afraid of?
"What we see at the national level and the state level are partisanship and people not talking to each other," Stern said, adding that "nobody has confidence in government anymore."
I agree with both of Stern's points and will expound.
There is fierce partisanship from many who see things only in black or white terms. There is, however, a growing number of thinking people who see partisan polarization as outdated and obstructive.
As well, many have lost confidence in government because they have lost confidence in themselves. We are indeed a "government of the people, by the people, for the people."
One current example in our society is the protesting by groups of people in the streets of our cities who, evidently, do not like billionaires. Most individuals who hate the wealthy are those who believe themselves to be unable to create wealth.
Individuals who see wealth and success as being possible in their own lives do not resent billionaires. It is about
self-confidence.
Again, I say that many have lost confidence in government because they have lost confidence in themselves.
As individuals regain confidence, so will families, communities, cities, counties, states, and the federal government.
CGS President
Robert Stern remains insistent when he says:
"My wish is that all government be more responsive to the people and that we talk to each other, and that government work."
True words, indeed, spoken in the spirit projected by Ronald Reagan, whose favorite quotation was, "There is no limit to what a man can do if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
