Posted on 01/11/2004 8:20:10 AM PST by daviddennis
I'm sure our fellow FReepers will say many of the same things I'm going to say, but here is my two cents: California has for a long time been, as the American Prospect proclaimed, a "laboratory" for Democratic politics, and therein lies the answer to your ponderings.
Well, the experiment has failed. Miserably. In the opinion of this college FReeper, California (especially Southern California) is yet another example of what results from liberal policies: inflation, gross inefficiency, and thus, ultimately a reduced standard of living for all but the exorbitantly wealthy (*coughBarbaraStreisandcough*).
And yet people still can't seem to wake up to the fact that socialism is BAD. It has failed over and over, but thanks to a liberal press feeding us propaganda, a liberal teachers' union controlling public education, and liberal college environments trying to tell us that we haven't actually tried communism yet (or that communism only failed because it was too extreme, and that modern [Western European] socialism can work), the ordinary layperson won't figure it out for him/herself.
See, the ordinary layperson just doesn't have the time to go and look up the stuff for themselves, or else it never occurs to them to do so. If it did, and they looked this stuff up, liberals would never win elections ever again, especially in the United States.
Huh?
That's way more than I pay on my *home* in a very nice area of Southern Californa.
Dang, I thought we had it bad. That's beyond outrageous.
You bet. I hear it was like -8 degrees in some areas back east this week, and expecting more to come.
Today in Southern California it was 74 degrees, with a sleepy pacific breeze, and unlimited visibility, in January!
It doesn't get any better.
The greatest state of the greatest country on earth
What's worked for me would be more difficult in L.A., but for what it's worth.....
If scheduling works out, show up at city council meetings. The only citizens who ever attend those things are those who have something to complain about. If you, instead, assume the role of a concerned citizen who just cares about the community, you'll find that after seeing you at half a dozen meetings some of the politicians will make it their business to find out who the heck you are. You'll also find that during that time you've developed relationships with a number of people who are heads of departments.
Once you have those relationships, you can express your concerns about various issues and frequently get responsive replies. If you act like a cheerleader most of the time, they pay attention when you suddenly get serious. Most of those guys are subjected to constant stream of complaints, and are always surprised and appreciative when you act like you understand their problems.
Strange Days. My daughter wants to go to college in CA, and my wife and I are considering a move to Southern Cal from Florida.
I like Florida, don't get me wrong, and I know this is a low tax state, but there is simply so much going on in LA that it's hard for me to consider living anywhere else. That said, I was not under the impression that LA city services were that bad. OTOH, LA itself is a cesspool of Democratic swag and patronage, so it shouldn't suprise me.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
This is what you get in Southern California for $428,000 - if you're lucky enough to find one like it.
Have you considered Miami? That's a pretty lively place. I really enjoyed visiting South Beach a few years back.
D
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