Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

California Dreamin'
The American Thinker ^ | November 05, 2010 | Bruce Whitsitt

Posted on 11/05/2010 12:57:00 AM PDT by Scanian

I would like to feel elated about the elections last Tuesday, but alas, I live in California. As the rest of the nation lurches back toward common sense, California defiantly stands as a testament to the power of delusion. Over twenty billion dollars in debt, some of the highest unemployment in the nation, businesses fleeing the bloated bureaucracy's draconian regulations, water policies dooming the farming industry in the vital Central Valley, out-of-control taxation -- all of these crises are political in origin and speak to a legacy of ideological obtuseness combined with incompetence of astonishing magnitude.

I have been striving to understand how my beloved state could again give a chance to Jerry Brown, a career politician and former governor who is in many ways responsible for California's present disasters; allowed the reelection of Barbara Boxer, a corrupt, radical partisan whose intellectual vacuity is an embarrassment; voted down Proposition 23, which would have halted, at least temporarily, the "green" restrictions encumbering our faltering economy; voted in Proposition 25, which will make it easier for politicians to raise already astronomically high taxes; and turned over key posts, such as Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, as well as a majority of the state assembly and Senate seats, to the party most responsible for California's ruination. I can't wrap my mind around this phenomenon without using metaphor.

A friend of mine has a daughter who, in high school, was beautiful, bright, and ambitious. However, she was quite pampered by her parents, and right out of high school, she began a series of disastrous relationships with men. A couple of these boyfriends were actually in residential drug rehabilitation at the time they were dating her.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: delusion; obtuseness; regulation; taxes
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-52 next last

1 posted on 11/05/2010 12:57:01 AM PDT by Scanian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Scanian
Evidently California voters have been self-choosen to learn the hard way that “there is no free lunch”!
They shall suffer for their self-imposed frolly. I have absolutely no sympathy for California populace. I was born in LA and escaped in 1985, and have never looked back!
I do put a lot on Arnold for not delivering on the promises that got him elected., but the sustained support for CommieCrates by voters is their responsibility and just due punishment from what is real!
2 posted on 11/05/2010 1:03:54 AM PDT by J Edgar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Scanian

A coherent and very accurate (not to mention depressing) summary of “the problem” in California—and within the psyches of latter-day Democrat voters in general.


3 posted on 11/05/2010 1:11:22 AM PDT by Memoria
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: J Edgar

I’ve noticed a lot of out-of-state plates in California since Nov 2. Must be either operatives finishing the job on Harmer, or perhaps Dems leaving the newly deep-red states looking for a new blue home.

Heaven help us who remain in the Central Valley.


4 posted on 11/05/2010 1:15:12 AM PDT by AQuietThinkingMan ((jus' tryin' to get by))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Scanian

I like to call it “Liberal Battered Voter Syndrome.” After being assaulted, abused and mistreated constantly by the Left, the voter accepts leftism as a natural state of affairs. And this is what has led California to the place it finds itself in today.


5 posted on 11/05/2010 1:16:54 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

As good people will testify, battered women have a hell of time disassociating themselves from the men who hurt them because they have come to believe this is what love means. In a similar manner, people have convinced themselves the leftist contempt for them is actually compassion. Getting them to change is nearly impossible. Its doubtful the battered California voter will ever wake up and say “enough.” For only when you are free, will you be truly free.


6 posted on 11/05/2010 1:17:16 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

This singular distinction separates from those accustomed to servitude and those who maintain their rights as free men. That is the question Californians must confront, if ever they escape from the lethal clutches of the “Liberal Battered Syndrome” in which they are now trapped.


7 posted on 11/05/2010 1:17:46 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: AQuietThinkingMan

It’s time to leave. The collapse is imminent, and you really don’t want to be nearby when it happens.


8 posted on 11/05/2010 1:18:22 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: AQuietThinkingMan
The assault on central valley farming is nothing less than treason!
Some have suggested that it is ploy by Soros to drive out present owners so he can buy farmland cheap and then control a major part of food production. I don't know about that, but I do know what is happening is government criminality!
9 posted on 11/05/2010 1:21:49 AM PDT by J Edgar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Scanian

Vote with your feet - MOVE!


10 posted on 11/05/2010 1:25:15 AM PDT by broken_arrow1 (I regret that I have but one life to give for my country - Nathan Hale "Patriot")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: J Edgar

You have absolutely no sympathy for the California populace. I don’t know of anyone who wanted your sympathy; I do find your judgmental superiority a bit odd though.
Do you have any sympathy for those of us who voted against Obama and suffered under his 2 years of folly? Or are you disgusted with yourself for ‘letting it happen’ (i.e. not controlling the outcome of the vote). Are you smacking your lips saying you’re getting exactly what you deserve as our economy tanks, debt explodes, jobs disappear?
You do realize that those of us in CA who were outvoted are in the same position as those of us who were outvoted on Obama’s presidency, right?
I voted straight Republican ticket in CA as usual - but like the POTUS vote of 2008, I didn’t get what I wanted. good to know that SOME Freepers find deep deep gratification in seeing a state of the union fail. Make that a state of the union that provides 13% of national GDP (2006 data) and is among the top 10 economies in the WORLD. Gosh I hope you don’t suffer when CA tanks and takes it’s percentage of GDP with it...


11 posted on 11/05/2010 1:38:23 AM PDT by ransomnote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: J Edgar
Beware, when the chips are down, California, New York, Illinois, etc. will try and get the rest of us to pay for their folly. Obama will find various inventive ways to further indebt the USA to help them.
12 posted on 11/05/2010 1:42:10 AM PDT by Truth29
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr
They will default on their bonds.

Standard of living will collapse for the state. Roads will become impossible to drive above 20 MPH, as the roads crumble and do not get repaired. As that happens, all business (whats left) will vacate out of necessity.

All government services will virtually stall.

Hollywood libs will start running national telethons for charity drives, blaming all of it on Bush.

NY will get a preview of their future with Cuomo at the helm.

13 posted on 11/05/2010 1:42:34 AM PDT by PA-RIVER
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Scanian

A decent comparison, but not wholly accurate, because so many of the voters are not turning to failed policies out of desperation.

The three sets of Dem voters that ruin things for us here in CA are the freeloaders, often immigrants, who want free goodies; the ideological leftists who understand radical liberalism and enjoy it; and the set of Dem voters that could be reachable if Republicans knew how to do it: the uninformed, who vote Dem because it’s cool, and the cool Hollywood people do it, or their entire race or culture does and they are afraid of being mocked if they stray from the fold.

And it’s not like the pampered girl who keeps making wrong decisions that get her in deeper. They are different voters with all of the above reasons for voting Dem.

It’s up to us to fight for this state the way the revolutionaries fought for this country. We need to take it away from limousine liberals who welcome high taxes (I know many of these) and feel that the answer to all those glorious poor people is patronizing them with government goodies. We need to take it back from people who stole their way in and do not know or care about American liberty or ideals.

Instead of running for the door, we need to be brainstorming how we can get good, conservative candidates who will not campaign on social issues at all, but on fair, good fiscal policies. Who can explain how conservatism is better for EVERY Californian, not just the right wingers.

Joe Q. California does not even KNOW that taxing the rich means they won’t be able to hire people.

Joe Q. California doesn’t even understand that regulating businesses with super tough laws to “prevent global warming” will make businesses leave the state and go where they can make money in freedom.

Joe Q. California doesn’t get that making handouts “fun” and shame-free will KEEP people dependent for generations.

Joe Q. Public does understand that he doesn’t want government in his bedroom. But he doesn’t know how to extrapolate that to other freedoms. He thinks it’s OK to make laws to control kids’ food, or what kind of car you drive, as long as it doesn’t affect him. He needs to know that true freedom means EVERYONE can live as they wish, not just Joe.

Who is going to explain all this and more to him????


14 posted on 11/05/2010 1:43:12 AM PDT by Yaelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yaelle

The dependent class doesn’t care. But the Democrats problem is asking them to pay is akin to pulling out a bad tooth. People don’t want to pay for their benefits. At some point, the party’s over.


15 posted on 11/05/2010 1:46:52 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Scanian

Canary in the coal mine. California.


16 posted on 11/05/2010 1:54:00 AM PDT by screaminsunshine (the way to win this game is not to play)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Scanian
voted down Proposition 23, which would have halted, at least temporarily, the "green" restrictions encumbering our faltering economy;

But, don't you know, those oh-so-righteous and prosperous (snicker) windmill companies and solar producers will be flocking to the Golden State where they will be pampered to death (literally)!

17 posted on 11/05/2010 1:59:21 AM PDT by REPANDPROUDOFIT (General, sir, it is perfectly ok to call me "ma'am"!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ransomnote
Move,! The San Andras fault is getting ready to pop along a 360 mile front!
18 posted on 11/05/2010 2:07:23 AM PDT by J Edgar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: J Edgar

You “escaped in 1985.” And how many hundreds of thousands have escaped with you over the years?

Most of them were “makers” and they left behind a multitude of “takers,” who seem to make up the lion’s share of the Cali electorate these days.

With so many on the dole (and that includes public service unions), is there any wonder that no conservative has a snowball’s chance in hell in a statewide race?


19 posted on 11/05/2010 2:08:25 AM PDT by Scanian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Memoria

Sometimes I wish we could just unhitch that place from the rest of the country, let it float independently in the Pacific having to fend for itself, and see how well it does.

My own “California dreamin,” I suppose.


20 posted on 11/05/2010 2:11:09 AM PDT by Scanian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-52 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson