California is a different kind of state. It is one of the largest states and is known for being one of the most diverse states as well as being one of the most populous states in America. With all of these factors coming into play with California, it's not unlikely that California politics is in for a wild ride. In 2003, I was 12, barely old enough for my parents to let me watch Terminator. I knew who Arnold was at the time and thought it was great to have a Hollywood actor as governor. I even remember my parents and extended family calling him “the governor.” At 12 years old, being ignorant of politics, I had no idea what Arnold was doing in office. Ken DeBow makes an important and honest statement about the election of Arnold to replace Gray Davis, "the outcome was based on 'irrational' impulses such as the real-life Arnold's confusion with the invincible movie characters portrayed on the screen" ( DeBow, Pg 4). It may be honest and somewhat true, looking back, many voters probably didn't know why they voted for Arnold as the replacement. It was probably more of a popularity contest than anything else. California voters wanted to go another route than "politics as usual" and surprisingly, without knowing Arnold at all, but only judging him based on what we saw on television and the way he conducted himself, he became recognizable. Governing California is no easy task. California's size, population growth and diversity are advantages and disadvantages at the same time. With Arnold new to the presidency, Californians were looking for a new face, a new approach to things, and maybe, sometimes, that's not the way to go. One problem is the initiative policy. It's interesting... middle of paper... of money, but money alone won't solve the problem. There will always be people who take their education for granted. It is the government's responsibility to ensure that education is equal for all, but it is also an individual's responsibility to take the time to sit together and talk about the importance of school, learning and education. California is a special but troubling state. It is special because it is one of the few states where government takes the form of direct democracy. On the other hand, it is concerning because water is of great importance and California does not know how to share it within its own counties. And education is also a mess right now. Even if we have the form of direct democracy, it is more difficult for California to reach an agreement as a whole. It gives people the opportunity to speak up, but when enough is enough, finally enough is enough.