As a native Californian...
I LOVE this state!
I LOVE the incredible natural beauty....
I LOVE the weather in much of the state...
I LOVE the celebration of life, the embrace of outdoors, the active spirit
I LOVE that I at times I can surf in the morning, ski in the afternoon
I LOVE that I can be in a vibrant crowd and an hour later on a trail on which I will see no one for hours.
I LOVE the diversity; the world has come here! Every crusine, every culture present and celebrated.
I LOVE Disneyland, Universal Studios, Sea World, the Getty Museum and on and on and on - it's impossible to be bored.
I LOVE being in the midst of the 7th largest economy in the world and one of the most diverse.
There's a reason more tourists (foreign and domestic) visit California than any other state in the USA.
And many, many, many other things.
California is NOT a "dump." And IMO anyone who says that has never been here. I suggest they rent a Corvette convertible and take a drive along Highway One from San Luis Obisbo to Monterey.... or along the 49 Highway... or take a horseride at Yosemite. bike up Napa Valley or spend the night at the Hotel Del in Coronado.
But this is a one-party state. The Democrat Party gained control and now rules. As they do in many cities such as Washington DC, Detroit and Chicago. And what they are doing in California is what they've done in those cities - it's just taking longer (hey, they got control here later, there's a very vibrant culture here and, well, this is a very big state). That one party controls all statewide offices, both houses of legislature and the courts. There is only one Republican mayor in any significant city of the State, and he is a "RINO" (a Republican only by party regisration) and he's leaving office. Every major newspaper in the state is very liberal and basically a puppet and mouthpiece of the Democrat Party. Think the government of Detroit or Chicago and you've got the picture. And what the Democrats have done elsewhere, they are doing here.
All the problems mentioned in the article are real.... but they are either the result of the (non-existent) Republicans - who are puppets of hateful, reactionary and above all racists and homophobic - they caused every problem in the state, ).they get a LOT of blame for things (even though they don't really even exist here). OR they are "problems" Democrats created to punish selfish, racists, self-centered, homophobic (and suburban) residents. Our freeways are crowded because it is hoped this will get us out of our cars and into the mass transit systems Democrats have built at ENORMOUS cost (but are mostly empty) and they take money away from what by law is designated for roads because this is necessary to get Californians into mass transit;. And housing is expensive in part because the Democrats believe that everyone should live in very dense apartments located near mass transit (new apartments are being encouraged to not supply any parking so as to stop Californias from owning cars). Social engineering.
You ask how this is perpetuated?
1. Many Californians actually agree with this. Note the propositions that pass here.
2. There is no functional opposition. The Republican party is dead. There are no realistic alternatives being offered.
3. The media supports the Democrats and functions as the Party's supporter and mouthpiece. There is no accountability.
4. California is increasingly a state of minorities... and those are told ENDLESSLY, EVERYWHERE that Republicans are RICH, White, racist, homophobic selfish people who thrive by keeping the poor poor.... and that the Democrats are for them. And they buy it; it works. Ironically, the preachers of this are often white billionaire liberals.
And this gets worse because anytime there is ONE PARTY, that party quickly grows more radical and corrupt (doesn't matter which party it is). Democracy depends on accountability, choice and a free press. Those are the victims of a one-party state.
California survives this amazingly well. Our economy somehow survives this attack on business, the high taxes, the absurd regulations - survives and often thrives, so strong is business and business people here (I work with these people). People may be forced to pay well over one million for a tract house in a safe, nice suburb - but lots CAN do it and WANT to do it, so it happens. That people CAN do that and WANT to do that says something positive about the state, but the cost is (in part) the result of Democrats to try to get people to live in high rise apartments without a car. We are still a great distance from Detroit .... still able to survive the government. How long that will last, I don't know. I suspect it matters a bit on what happens nationally... and how strong Californians can remain before the liberal "the world owes me a living" mentality causes it all to crumble.
So far, BAD government has not destroyed this State. It's still GREAT. I believe it can remain so.... and perhaps the people will wake up before the Democrats get to their goal of Detroit. I'm a businessman in this State... and I remain optimistic. The people here are strong and creative.
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