CA: The ugly truth about Sacramento

The Orange County Register ^ | September 12, 2005 | Steven Greenhut

[calcowgirl]

... Those who control the legislative process (i.e., Sacramento Democrats) seem to have no concept of the nation's founding principles, such as limited government, personal responsibility, the rule of law, free enterprise. Even when they quote the founding fathers, they know only the words and not the meanings.

(snip)

Approximately 400 bills reached the floor of the Assembly in the final four-day frenzy, with only about 45 of them authored by Republicans. One bill after another ... tax, spend, regulate and impose the liberal Democratic social vision on the state.

There's the plan to raise the state's minimum wage, with the sponsors oblivious to how such increases actually reduce the number of lower-paying jobs. There's a proposal mandating gender-equity in the workplace, which would allow anyone with a grievance, real or perceived, to sue his or her employer. Enabling more lawsuits, actually, seems to be a big Democratic priority. There are the bills to let workers sue their employers over labor concerns or over environmental concerns. There are the bills that let consumers sue businesses.

There are the curriculum mandates - e.g., requiring students to be taught in their native language, in apparent violation of Proposition 227, or mandating the teaching of tolerance. There's a bill that would trigger a tax audit of companies that have labor violations. There are bans on junk faxes and on certain kinds of car loans. There is a bill that creates a reparations fund for Mexican-Americans unfairly repatriated to Mexico decades ago. And don't forget the attempt to provide driver's licenses to those in the state illegally, and the endless proposals to add more regulations on every known activity.

[SnarlinCubBear]

It's rural boring. Not much action going on. Now, my very best friend is still there, and loves it, and I don't get it. I could never go back. The culture is very different from CA. By culture, I mean the mind-set.

How many high tech companies come out of Kansas? How many have satellite offices in Kansas? I'm afraid I see it as an oil 'n gas center w/little ingenuity.

I love the stimulation that living in the CA mix brings, even if I disagree with a lot of it.

[claudiustg]

I lived most of my life in California, but I won't be going back. I view it the way many immigrants viewed the Old World, a place full of narrow horizons and senseless turmoil.

[moog]

Interesting. My brother and sister both lived in Topeka at different times with their families working for Payless shoes (my sister's spouse and my brother). They enjoyed it, but seem to enjoy Oregon more except for the rain.