Posted on 10/02/2009 12:46:00 AM PDT by Bird Jenkins
Since its entry into the Union, in the aftermath of war and the midst of gold fever, the state has seemed an improbable colossus. But again and again, California has made its way through hours of challenge – not only surviving intact, but emerging as a model for the rest of the nation.
In the 19th century, despite immense geographic, ethnic, political, and social differences, Californians managed to form a cohesive identity, resisting numerous efforts to divide the state. They overcame the "curse of natural resources" that so long afflicted other commodity-rich states (and still afflicts some, like Alaska), laying the groundwork for a thriving and diverse economy that now dwarfs those of many developed countries. In the 20th century, through one of the greatest feats of engineering in human history, they turned the semi-arid desolation of southern California into a booming megalopolis and home to the second-largest metropolitan area in America. California ranked 20th among the states in population in 1900, but by 1963 it was first, where it has remained.
And through a series of social, political, and economic experiments, California has acted as America's foremost laboratory of innovation, trying out ideas the country as a whole would go on to adopt. In the 1960s under Governor Pat Brown, the state offered a model of modernization, building the most advanced education and transportation infrastructures in the nation. Under Brown's successor, Ronald Reagan, it offered a model of conservative governance that would go on to transform American politics. Hollywood has made California a crucial part of America's cultural identity, and Silicon Valley has put it at the heart of our vision of the future. For many decades now, Americans have seen California as a harbinger of promising things to come.
Today, however, California has become a warning sign.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalaffairs.com ...
social engineering, government regulation, unions, open borders.
Those would be a couple of the primary reasons.
Soc-ial-ism.
I’m an ex-Californian, and I’ve watched the state decline culturally and financially over the last 25 years. I go back there to visit friends and family, but I’m never going back to live there. The state’s governance and fiscal policy was wrecked by liberal politicians and judges, and by illegal immigration promoted by the federal government. Taxes are too high, housing still costs too much, and left-wing politicians and bureaucrats are arrogant and don’t respect the people. Unless you really love the beach or surfing, or you have a great job out there, I can’t see any reason to live in California.
Unless you’ve been to the Bay Area, you simply cannot comprehend the level of stupidity and malice that infects virtually everyone there. It’s like some sort of alien virus has attacked everyone’s brain - they smile the same way, they wear the same clothes, they use the same terms in their speech, they even walk and drive alike. And what they all have in common is a casual viciousness that literally staggers the mind.
Nancy Pelosi is not unique - imagine a million Pelosis everywhere - in the supermarket, next door, walking the dog, at work, in the library. The Bay Area has become a very scary place. Go there, see for yourself - it’s the Twilight Zone full of malicious, staggeringly stupid zombies who file their nails and discuss hair styles after the cannibal feast.
They feel nothing, vote liberal, and hate, revile, loathe and detest any opposition with every scathing, screaming mindlessly aggressive cell in their peaceful, green, politically correct plastic-surgeried bodies.
Oh you nailed it! I've been trying for years to find the right words to explain it to people. And here they are.
Not a very challenging question.
Too easy.
That's not quite the whole story. Assessed property values can and do get reassessed way upwards when properties are sold. Most homes in California have been sold at least once since Prop. 13 was passed and so most homes have been reassessed to much higher values since 1978. There's no shortage of property tax revenues in California. I have no doubt that average property taxes on homes are among the highest in the nation in terms of total dollars per year. There are a few old-timers who pay very low property taxes, but there aren't many of them left now and their numbers decline every year.
California's fiscal problems are almost entirely the result of uncontrolled, lavish state spending, partly caused by all those expensive ballot initiatives. When I was out there in 2004, a guy was out in front of a store collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to fund stem cell research from the California general fund. It was some kind of stupid liberal reaction to Bush's partial ban on stem cell research. Obviously, California can't afford to pay for stem cell research. If I recall correctly though, that initiative passed in the election.
I live there, not by choice, but because I am caring for my elderly parents. And I absolutely agree with you about the “vibe”. It is a mindset of leftover brain-dead hippy nonsense yet with this barely submerged viciousness towards anything that their shrunken brains cannot immediately fit into “cool” or [gag] “right on”. It is a time warp and an ugly yet unending episode of the Twilight Zone all in one. It’s everything I can do not to freak myself out just hating this area.
bookmark
The unions killed this state.
>> Unless you’ve been to the Bay Area, you simply cannot comprehend the level of stupidity and malice that infects virtually everyone there.
Been there many, many times; spent nearly half my life in the Bay area between ‘95 and ‘05.
I don’t agree with the “stupidity and malice” label, but I do agree that there is an incomprehensible level of ... something. And, yes, sometimes it comes off as stupid and hateful.
I’m going to say it’s a sense of elitist liberal entitlement, for lack of a better concise description. They have a warped “chic leftist” world view that they feel is their God-given birthright. Not only to “enjoy” themselves (even when it drives them to ruin!) but to foist off on the rest of the country as well.
There are a lot of very smart, very hard-working people there — and yet they are (mostly) liberal koolaid drinkers to a degree that would astonish an outside observer (given that they are smart and hard working). Their world view is not in their long-term best interest, but they don’t get it.
Many (not all) have that ruthless materialistic cannibal streak you refer to as well.
It’s a beautiful, exciting, innovative, interesting place, but it’s headed for a fall of epic proportions if they don’t change their tune.
A final point — just my 2c worth. Do you know what the glue is that holds the entire wacky Bay Area “society” together? Sort of the “dough” matrix that holds the fruits and nuts together to keep the cookie from crumbling? It’s the significant Asian population.
Let’s see, who moves to my State and passes crazy regulations against property rights. Uhhhhhh, Californians? Oh...and New Yorkers.
That’s not quite the whole story. Assessed property values can and do get reassessed way upwards when properties are sold.
Very true. Since the housing bubble burst, many homeowners are paying taxes on property that is assesed far higher than it’s actually worth.
It’s citizens who thought there was such a thing as a free lunch.
“imagine a million Pelosis everywhere - in the supermarket, next door, walking the dog, at work, in the library”
Sounds like one heck of a nightmare. It’s enough to make your head explode.
They answered their own question. That is the attitude that has killed California.
I am very impressed with Talsker’s words. And, a little frightened. What has happened to our great nation?
can’t speak about the rest of the country, but in CA, political correctness run rampant (to boil it down) for so many years has done our state in.
Dude, that's hella harsh.
They even make that same face when you say something remotely Conservative or pro-Republican.
Hell, they even screw alike... well, at least in San Francisco (and even they do THAT the wrong way).
Public employee unions, illegal aliens, smug hedonists, NIMBYism, a love of generous public services without having to pay for them, and Mobocratic “rule by referendum” have turned California into a basket case.
Sounds like Manhattan and the gentrified parts of Brooklyn.
Government activity = costs that replaces jobs.
Self ping
I didn’t see the word “illegal alien” anywhere in this article.
The referendum is the only good thing CA has got. It allows the people to reign in the excesses of the liberal moonbats.
Like others here are saying, it is somewhat difficult to succinctly describe, but it presents a profound change in human dignity and attitude from what I grew up with in the East (50's and 60's). One of the more defining descriptions is arrogance.
A deep problem is that youth adopt the culture of the environment they grow up in. And it's going to take paradigm shifts to counter California's ugliness.
In Cali, the masses are asses, but the pols are often worse, it is true.
It’s not perfect, but I’d rather they have it than not (although once you get a supermajority of idiots, at that point, it will be no longer a good thing).
Unelected officials granted powers to enact rules and regulations that destroy businesses.
Misinformed voters that lack the clarity of mind to sort chaff from wheat when it comes to issues.
LOL - exactly.
Democrates!
If you are not a professional writer, Talisker, you really should be. That was a brilliant description of something that I have been trying to put into words for a very long time!
Democrats and illegals.
No organism (society or individual) can support that percentage of malicious parasites and their resulting drain on every fiber of existence.
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