Santa Barbara Current

Santa Barbara Current

As I Was Saying...

The Fuse We Didn’t Blow Out

By Bob Smith, Commander, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Feb 21, 2026
∙ Paid

Proposition 50 overwhelmingly passed, an amendment to the state constitution that intentionally gerrymanders congressional districts in favor of the supermajority Democrats here in California. California voters may have believed they were protecting democracy. But in truth, democracy thrives on competition, representation, and accountability, and the pa…

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