Have-It-All Californians Squander Blessings In Era Of Complacency

IBD Editorials ^ | March 6, 2009 | Victor Davis Hansen

[Kaslin]

What went wrong in California? I think we can all agree on at least three observations.

First, California is by nature the most richly endowed region in the world. Nowhere else is there so much fertile land, watered by gravity-fed winter runoff from the majestic Sierra.

California has ample supplies of oil and natural gas. Millions of acres of timber abound in its coastal and mountain forests. Temperate climate and weather allow outdoor activity almost year-round. The coastline is more than 1,300 miles long — with two of the great natural ports of the world at Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay.

Second, previous can-do generations of Californians created an unparalleled infrastructure of dams, canals and hydroelectric generation that once provided the state with ample energy, irrigation and recreation.

Its three-tier higher education system — 110 junior colleges, 23 state universities and 10 University of California campuses — once ensured a literate populace.

We associate Hollywood with the world's motion picture industry. Napa Valley tops the wines of France. Silicon Valley fueled the high-tech revolution that gave us Apple, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Yahoo. Millions of tourists each year flock to Disneyland, Death Valley, Kings Canyon, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and Yosemite.

California remains America's richest farming state, leading the nation in fresh fruit, vegetable, nut and dairy production.

In other words, the present generation enjoyed quite a head start on their lives through the work and investment of often-forgotten predecessors.

[CottonBall]

If we can agree that Californians have somehow squandered a rich natural and inherited wealth, what were the root causes of this collective suicide?

Liberalism. And as CA goes, so goes the nation (since the sheeple voted for socialism)

[oldbill]

The advent of illegal aliens and the Democrats they put in power changed the Promised Land.

It is half way to third world status, and some parts of it are already there.

It is a lesson for the rest of America.

[Misterioso]

Exactly. The Democrats have used California for a playground for years. Now it’s just a sandbox.

[Chickensoup]

leftism...a killer of all that is productive.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Liberalism is the culprit.

Liberal laws, liberal values, and a liberal mindset have made it impossible to solve many of the state’s problems.

Interesting to talk about water projects and hydro electric dams built in a previous era. These projects couldn’t be built today because of liberal envirnomental laws, both state and federal laws are to blame.

Some issues aren’t unique to California. Other states and the fed. gov’t also grapple with failing schools and budget deficits.

Not to oversimplify, but does anybody think that myriad problems we face are because society and gov’t are too conservative?

[EyeGuy]

Well this hasn’t been too popular here on FR, but I can’t help posting it whenever the subject turns to death of the once magnificent Golden State:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QCZ_bv9aLc

[ArchAngel1983]

My vote is for Liberalism too.

[randog]

California remains America's richest farming state, leading the nation in fresh fruit, vegetable, nut and dairy production.

I wonder if all those farmers that converted over to wine grapes are thinking it might have been a bad idea. Unless wine consumption stays steady during the recession.

Also, whatever happened to Gray Davis? He doesn't seem like such a bad guy in retrospect.

[Veto!]

Yes, it was once wonderful there. My kids graduated from Santa Monica High where the education was good and the ocean view even better. We left at the end of the ‘80s, just in time to avoid the monstrous crime wave that crashed over our southern border—and is still flooding the state. I’d be incredibly happy if I could retire to Santa Monica and enjoy all the beauty and fun and culture the LA basin offers. Too scary, however. I’m in exile. Alas and just damn.

[Lancey Howard]

That’s awesome!

[ken21]

socialist-liberals have been destroying california for decades.

[Flycatcher]

they have convinced themselves that perpetual bounty is their birthright

Wonderfully stated.

And, tragically, that same sense of entitlement keeps migrating east...

[Lancey Howard]

Also, whatever happened to Gray Davis? He doesn't seem like such a bad guy in retrospect.

Yep, it turns out he is having the last laugh. The recall may have been a decent idea at the time, but after McClintock and other Republican activists did all the heavy lifting, johnny-come-lately Arnold breezed in and used his celebrity to steal the show. And now look at the mess. Whew.

[MplsSteve]

I read somewhere (or at least I think I read it somewhere) that California’s problem is in its budgeting process and the excessive use of state-wide propositions/referendums.

So many state-wide propositions have been passed by voters that it makes it incredibly hard for legislators (of any party) to properly allocate money into the right places.

[SoCalPol]

*What went wrong in California*

Not listening to Duncan Hunter and during the 1990s the Feds taking their time not building his fence thus the extra millions
of illegals in California and elsewhere.

Also Calif has huge numbers of people from other states,
many who are life’s losers and a drag on our society.

[dragnet2]

IT’S ON! REVOLT, RECALL & REPEAL!

2009 Tax Revolt is on!

Make your voice heard!

Join John and Ken Saturday March 7, from 3-6 PM

Doors open at 3 Live broadcast 4-6

The Slidebar Café is located in the Fullerton, California Transportation Center. Take your car, take the train or take the bus. Whatever you do take the time to come out and be heard!

Plenty of free parking

For directions http://www.kfiam640.com/pages/johnandkenshow/

Go to site to print out fliers

*********Take it to the streets*********

[Fiji Hill]

California only turned hard left in recent years. As recently as 1986, we elected a conservative governor.

[dragnet2]

The advent of illegal aliens and the Democrats they put in power changed the Promised Land. It is half way to third world status, and some parts of it are already there. It is a lesson for the rest of America.

While the rest of the country stood gawking, Californians stepped up to the plate years ago, and voted overwhelmingly for Prop 187 which would have put a halt to tax paid support of illegal aliens. The election was won big.

The Feds, working in concert with state government co-conspirators burned the ballots and declared California's free election, illegal.

The results of that punitive dictatorial government intrusion can now be seen in your backyard, and from coast to coast, in every single city and town in America.

In addition, the people of California and the southwest warned the rest of the country what was coming their way for years...

Unfortunately, few listened.

[SoCalPol]

Also Hansen who wrote this and a good guy but typical of a person who lives in the mid north part of the state.

He has no idea that San Diego which is the size of the state of Conn. with over 3 million people & isn’t stuck with one or two types of industry as most cities in CA.

San Diego has the largest concentration of military in the world.
Many huge defense contractors with contracts for yrs. to come.

The major area in CA for tourist and conventions.
Top area for BioTech, TeleCommunications, in the U.S.
and the list goes on.