The brutal truth about Californians.
When I first moved out there thirty years ago, it was unusual to run into a native Californian — most people you met were immigrants from other states (or countries). I suspect that’s less true today, but modern native Californians are a different breed from those of an earlier era, and they’re running their own state into the ground. They don’t appreciate the natural bounty of the place, and seem to have an entitlement mentality.
Rand,
You forgot to include the link. I’m going to guess you meant http://pajamasmedia.com/vodkapundit/2010/02/24/the-brutal-truth-about-californians/
All true, sadly. Californians will not approve a “cut” to much of anything, but can’t continue without drastic spending cuts.
Thats why this native Californian got the hell out….
It seems Californians still believe in Santa. If they behave and be good little boys and girls, Santa Government will give them everything they want. Either that, or they’re incredibly stupid.
Is there a ranking of states by fiscal health available anywhere? I’d like to see something like state gov’t deficit per capita … it’s my understanding that Illinois is actually much worse off than California, for example, though I don’t doubt that California is in the bottom 10 (or 5).
Denial runs very deep here in California. I get in trouble with friends and neighbors for simply pointing out facts regarding how deep the debt problem really is — both here in California and for the nation as a whole. I guess it’s simpler to attack the messenger than actually contemplate what needs to be done. Oh well…
Made up my mind, make a new start
Goin’ from California with an achin’ in my heart…
Sorry about the OT:
http://tinyurl.com/ya72oyx
Best statement about the state of climate science, evah.
I tried to move the family to CA in the early 90’s. I actually worked for 6 months at a co-gen in the Oil Patch near Taft for 6 months. I started out moving alone with plans for the family to follow me after I’d found a place to live. But, ultimately, I decided that sobriety and my marriage were more important than having THE job I wanted, WHERE I wanted to live.
Given the way things have changed out there oil wise, power generation vs CAL EPA wise and tax and spend wise, I’m glad my “moment of clarity’ occurred when it did. Of the twenty or so people I knew who I worked with, there are 3 left in the state, 2 are retired now and struggling. The rest moved away from Bakersfield to find work outside CA, and most not by choice. It was move or go hungry.
It’s a shame, CA is my favorite state.
I’m a native Californian who left to join the service in 1979. I’ve gone back to visit a couple of times, but I will not go back there to live. The state has gone so far downhill I barely recognize it.
I do miss the redwoods, though…
Sacramento is about 1/3 Russian immigrants or their children. It’s a lot better than where they came from. Northern CA is still a great place if you like the outdoors but their political views are smothered by the cities. Sacramento itself is more conservative than the state as a whole. Of course, like we did here in Phoenix, they messed the capital up with light rail which makes little sense to me.
Ken
the two cities you mention are some of the cities the hierarchy here in Raleighwood looked at to get ideas for our light rail. No one here wants it. Unless they stand to make money on it anyway.
I have mixed feelings about light rail. I like street cars and tramways. However taking up valuable space in the middle of the city by building a fenced system with low passenger carrying capacity, or building light rail in the middle of nowhere is clearly not going to work.
I didn’t just leave the state, Rand, I fled…
OTOH, the state has been unable to raise taxes any further, no matter how much the Democratic legislature cries in their lattes.
Unless they stand to make money on it anyway.
I strongly suspect that this minority is always the driving force behind light rail.
A thought… since light rail invariable ups the traffic accident rate… is light rail human rated?
Think on this, Rand. Mojave is where all this great space and aersopace stuff is being designed and built… Scaled, XCOR, Masten, and others. But what happens when their technology reaches the point where you want to scale up production? Sure, you MIGHT stay in California if your product has enough value added components and customers that pay enough to make you a little insensitive to high costs. That explains why some of the big military contractors are remaining. I wonder what the new space companies will decide once they move away from the prototype phase to the actual serious money-making phase. My belief since I moved here is that a lot of the politicians are simply waiting for the train wreck to take place before taking any meaningful action.
What is scary is that they make stupid meaningful changes, not smart ones, once the trainwreck occurs.