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Column: We hold these truths to be self-evident — the Golden State is still golden. And yes, we are Americans (delusion alert)
LA Times ^ | February 18,,2024 | MARK Z. BARABAK, ANITA CHABRIA

Posted on 02/18/2024 8:44:40 PM PST by DoodleBob

… That naysaying has gained much greater currency in recent years as California’s population has contracted for the first time in more than a century.

The “exodus” has become an industry, stoking real estate markets from Nevada to Tennessee, fanning the red-versus-blue political flames and launching a thousand what-went-wrong analyses.

The latest insult — or bracing reality check? — came last week in a Los Angeles Times poll that found 50% of adults nationwide believe California is in decline. (Bummer, man.)

Nearly half the Republicans surveyed said the state is “not really American.” Whatever that means.

L.A. Times columnists Mark Z. Barabak (a proud California native) and Anita Chabria (a happy Ohio transplant) discuss the poll, the hating by haters and the state of their troubled but still much-loved state.

What do you think, Mark? Are we in fact not American in some fundamental way I don’t understand?

Barabak: I suppose it depends how you define American.

If you’re talking about a certain kind of America — one that is overwhelmingly white and conservative in its social, political and cultural values — than, no, California fails to measure up to that, er, standard.

We’ve been a majority-minority state now for more than a generation. Politically, the state has leaned strongly Democratic for decades, after supporting Republicans for much of our history.

Chabria: …. California will always stand for diversity, freedom and tolerance — all values that sadly seem to be growing scarcer east of the Sierra…. To me, the poll results say less about life in California than the sad effectiveness of right-wing political propaganda and the power of fearmongering over truth. MAGA needs California to be a villain, to represent the supposed failures of the Democratic Party, especially around crime and immigration, and reality be damned.

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: anitachabria; california; kaliformia; markzbarabak; mediawingofthednc; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; unamerican
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To: DoodleBob

“We hold these truths to be self-evident...the Golden State is um, uh, you know, the thing.


21 posted on 02/19/2024 3:00:23 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Putin endorses Biden, I endorse Trump.)
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To: Fresh Wind

The way the LATimes is rushing pell-mell to bankruptcy, MARK Z. BARABAK and ANITA CHABRIA likely won’t be around long.


22 posted on 02/19/2024 3:27:46 AM PST by Bookshelf
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To: DoodleBob

You couldn’t force me across the state line into California at gunpoint.


23 posted on 02/19/2024 3:36:44 AM PST by MachIV
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To: Drew68

My oldest Son is homeported there as well. Says it’s a beautiful place for the most part but he’d never consider living there. We’re going to visit for the first time later this year.


24 posted on 02/19/2024 3:58:12 AM PST by TallahasseeConservative (Isaiah 40:31)
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To: cherry

Northen California is very nice...BUT way too many strange characters live out there..


25 posted on 02/19/2024 4:29:25 AM PST by dpetty121263
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To: DoodleBob

“‘not really American.” whatever that means…

If he were an American he would know well what it means.


26 posted on 02/19/2024 5:49:53 AM PST by hinckley buzzard ( Resist the narrative. )
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To: DoodleBob
Mark Z. Barabak and Anita Chabria also believe the news industry is thriving in the United States, that the LA Times is making money hand over fist with their massive subscription base, and that the color of the sky in their world is a light purple.

27 posted on 02/19/2024 6:11:30 AM PST by GOPJ ( New York Bank loans can bankrupt YOU if some Soros babe doesn't like you. Just ask Trump.)
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To: DoodleBob

Barkin’Mark Bazabak (sic) is a big time super lefty. I’ve read his commie tripe for years.


28 posted on 02/19/2024 6:28:00 AM PST by Luke21
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To: DoodleBob

“...the supposed failures of the Democratic Party, especially around crime and immigration, and reality be damned.”

_____________________________________________________

Supposed? Really?


29 posted on 02/19/2024 6:32:29 AM PST by Bishop_Malachi (Liberal Socialism - A philosophy which advocates spreading a low standard of living equally.)
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To: Bishop_Malachi

Help me become President and I will set this nation on the right course.


30 posted on 02/19/2024 6:33:19 AM PST by Lazamataz (Laz 2005: "First, we beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them.")
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To: DoodleBob

The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness can and has been forfeited by those who weaponize government


31 posted on 02/19/2024 6:34:40 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Hamascide is required in totality)
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To: Bishop_Malachi

I DID give a delusion alert.


32 posted on 02/19/2024 6:59:11 AM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: Lazamataz

You should run. Vote for you in a minute!


33 posted on 02/19/2024 7:30:33 PM PST by Nuc 1.1 (Liberals aren't Patriots. Remember 1789!)
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To: Nuc 1.1

Well then. I have a vote!

Time to formally declare my candidacy for President for 2024!

My campaign slogan: “Love Life Long Time With Laz!”

(Informal campaign slogan: “I’d hit it!”)


34 posted on 02/19/2024 7:44:59 PM PST by Lazamataz (Laz 2005: "First, we beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them.")
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To: Lazamataz

I’d love you long time.


35 posted on 02/19/2024 7:47:19 PM PST by crusty old prospector
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To: DoodleBob

As goes California...


36 posted on 02/20/2024 3:34:08 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: DoodleBob

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government”


37 posted on 02/20/2024 3:41:21 AM PST by shoff (Vote Democrat it beats thinking!)
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To: Bikkuri
Indiana is a hick state.

We once tried to define π as 3.00

Nothing fun happens here: no surf, grey sky, no mountains, and bad skiing.

Bible thumpers abound!

You'd BETTER like corn and soybeans!


There are three things that rate - circles!

You can drive for 500 miles in Speedway and rarely see a traffic light.

You can practice for the Speedway by racing ~53 miles around I465 with other aspiring drivers.

And you can walk 1,000 feet around the Circle downtown; while looking for the governor's dirty laundry..

Don't move here
Don't even VISIT here.
Just... DON'T!

38 posted on 02/20/2024 3:53:46 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Bullish
"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, 
  if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed."  

Mark Twain  

39 posted on 02/20/2024 3:57:01 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: zeestephen

I would imagine the folks Columbus found here had approximately the same feelings when they lamented: “There goes the neighborhood.”


40 posted on 02/20/2024 3:59:03 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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