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The Selfish Californian
American Greatness ^ | 12 Jun, 2022 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 06/13/2022 4:51:34 AM PDT by MtnClimber

Edited on 06/13/2022 6:40:04 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

We hear plenty of reasons for the perfect storm that imploded California. One-party, progressive government, of course. Decades of unchecked illegal immigration, without doubt. Years of mass flight out of state of the productive middle classes, certainly.

But perhaps the most important, but overlooked, reason has been the infusion of trillions of dollars of mostly tech capital into the state. Unimaginable sums of market capital warped politics and led to a top-down, feudal society, run by progressive elites who are shielded from the ramifications of their own toxic ideologies.


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


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: california; communism; elites; victordavishanson
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To: MtnClimber

Commie Californians = locusts.


21 posted on 06/13/2022 6:33:22 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (Yehovah saved more animals than people on the ark...siameserescue.org)
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To: MtnClimber

La Jolla

The most beautiful place I ever lived.


22 posted on 06/13/2022 6:40:28 AM PDT by Jolla
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To: skeeter

Massive corruption has always been the dirty little secret of American politics.

Here is an old story.

My grandfather wanted me to get into the family construction business when I was a teenager (many decades ago).

I drove him around all one summer while he tried to recruit me and also teach me about all aspects of the business—we visited suppliers, jobs in progress, manufacturing sites, business partners etc etc etc.

Then it was late in August and I would have to go back to school shortly—when we made that “special” trip.

We drove way out into the countryside to a hot dog stand for lunch. We were the only ones there. The owner was the sole employee—and he hugged grandpa—it was obvious they were old friends.

As we ate our hotdogs my grandfather explained to me that the “facts of life”.

The largest customer was the state of Connecticut. They required sealed bids. If the lowest bid won the business would lose most bids and would go broke building the jobs they did win.

So—grandpa cheated.

He met state politicians at the hotdog stand whenever a major state contract was in play. He handed those politicians suitcases of cash. They made sure that the jobs were awarded to my grandfather.

This went on for decades.

Nobody ever got caught.

The local media never found out about it.

All the key players are long dead.

(I wanted nothing to with this “business” btw.)

P.S. I know the story sounds crazy. I found it hard to believe at the time. What convinced me was when I got the owner alone and asked him point blank “do governors really come way out there to eat lunch”. He said “yup—along with state senators and reps and commissioners. Everybody enjoys themselves here.”


23 posted on 06/13/2022 6:45:28 AM PDT by cgbg (A kleptocracy--if they can keep it. Think of it as the Cantillon Effect in action.)
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To: MtnClimber
Great article. He missed one point around this line: They were welcomed by the state’s business and political elite but not to be housed, fed, and schooled as were the elite. Their directive was to vote correctly for their supposed betters and to supply janitors, landscapers, nannies, cooks, and housekeepers for those who welcomed them in—on the condition that they not dare demand the state’s green resources for good homes, affordable gas, or a nice lawn or long shower. The illegal immigrant shouldn't demand minimum wage or employer provided health insurance, two more imposed policies.
24 posted on 06/13/2022 6:50:01 AM PDT by PrincessB
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
When pressed to admit where I used to live I'd say

Yes, I'm from California.
Yes, I brought my politics with me.
---BUT!---
I left that state to the left of us BECAUSE MY POLITICS ARE NOT THEIR POLITICS!!!

25 posted on 06/13/2022 6:51:09 AM PDT by null and void (We're trapped between too many questions unanaswered, and too many answers unquestioned...)
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To: MtnClimber
"Californians are about to reelect Gavin Newsom so they have not learned their lesson"

California is probably the number one state for vote fraud.

Seriously doubt Newsolini, or the rest of them, have been legitimately elected.

26 posted on 06/13/2022 6:59:29 AM PDT by Pajamajan ( PRAY FOR OUR NATION. Never be a peaceful slave in a new Socialist America.)
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To: cgbg

I have a feeling, if we knew the truth about politics at the state AND national level, we’d long for the days where political corruption was just about the occasional suitcase full of cash. I suspect it is much more base & immoral than that now.


27 posted on 06/13/2022 7:05:05 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: MtnClimber

It’s one aspect of CA that often escapes Freepers who don’t live here.

Unimaginable wealth.

Filthy rich.

More than a million millionaires. Thousands of billionaires.

And 10 million dirt poor illegals.


28 posted on 06/13/2022 7:29:49 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: OHPatriot

CA has more registered Republicans than any other state.


29 posted on 06/13/2022 7:30:56 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Bedford Forrest

The “4”(verse 49) dropped off...sorry.


30 posted on 06/13/2022 7:48:17 AM PDT by mdmathis6 (A horrible historic indictment: Biden Democrats plunging the world into war to hide their crimes!)
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To: MtnClimber
California is in the same boat as other states that have succumbed to the manipulations of power hungry scum like the Clintons. Bidens etc.. These termites could not care less about the disastrous effects of programs they sell to a majority that is made stupid by its emotions. California is the epicenter of all the noxious social engineering due to a large population, as a result of pleasant environs.

Rat nobility doesn't give a crap about political ideology, except as the means to power. The good of the country and its people, in the long run, is submerged under the weight of Rat leadership's lust for wealth and power.

31 posted on 06/13/2022 7:56:51 AM PDT by PerConPat (A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground - Mencken)
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To: Mariner

And still out numbered by DEMOCRATS


32 posted on 06/13/2022 8:15:08 AM PDT by OHPatriot (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: cgbg

I’m in CA—I agree CA is a paradise for the very wealthy (except in the Fall, now, when the sky is choked with smoke for months which even the wealthy can’t escape other than by leaving the West for a while, like East Coast snowbirds do to FL).

But actually it’s a paradise for lower-middle class (but not poor) Latinos too. I know many, who aren’t particularly wealthy, and yet they know how to live. They enjoy the beaches, the lakes, snow play in the mountains, family outdoor events.

The silver lining of living in CA is being able to enjoy the following, which all can be done affordably actually: Lake Tahoe, Napa wine tasting (share a tasting, go north in the valley), hiking in Yosemite, camping, beaches in SLO, Carmel (hotels outside the town are cheaper), national and state parks, touring San Diego. There really is a lot of beauty in CA.


33 posted on 06/13/2022 8:37:13 AM PDT by olivia3boys
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To: MtnClimber
Californians are about to reelect Gavin Newsom so they have not learned their lesson. They are lost.

He pulled in 2/3 of the vote in the Recall and recent Open Primary.

I live here and I don't get it. Even the libs I know are tired of him.

34 posted on 06/13/2022 8:48:51 AM PDT by TankerKC (Be first with the truth. )
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To: cgbg

It seems WEF will make Cali one of its paradises for czars and Kings, tyrants and Queens. The illegals (slaves) brought in will keep things running.


35 posted on 06/13/2022 8:57:39 AM PDT by goodnesswins (....pervert Biden & O Cabal are destroying America, as planned. )
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To: TankerKC

Elections are won by WHO counts the votes.


36 posted on 06/13/2022 8:58:39 AM PDT by goodnesswins (....pervert Biden & O Cabal are destroying America, as planned. )
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To: Mariner

I don’t think the 10 million dirt poor illegals are as dirt poor as you/we think. They are illegals here for a reason—dirt poor in CA is still unimaginably rich by third world standards. . .


37 posted on 06/13/2022 9:16:28 AM PDT by olivia3boys
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To: TankerKC

I read that there is just very low turnout for both the recall and the primary—like 14%? Most people just don’t care about politics and don’t vote.


38 posted on 06/13/2022 9:17:36 AM PDT by olivia3boys
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To: Empire_of_Liberty

“If they can’t get out from under rigged elections, it does not bode well.”

Democrats cheat in California the most because it is the best Republican state and they could not stand California having brought forth Nixon and Reagan


39 posted on 06/13/2022 12:23:06 PM PDT by aaron_burgle
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To: OHPatriot; Night Hides Not; MtnClimber

Oh so you believe that Democrats don’t cheat at elections huh? You believe that California just magically went Republican to Democrat for no reason whatsoever? Well then I guess you also believe that Biden won 2020, right?


40 posted on 06/13/2022 12:25:12 PM PDT by aaron_burgle
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