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Two Californias
National Review Online ^ | 15 December 2010 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 12/15/2010 12:31:51 PM PST by ScottinVA

Abandoned farms, Third World living conditions, pervasive public assistance -- welcome to the once-thriving Central Valley.

The last three weeks I have traveled about, taking the pulse of the more forgotten areas of central California. I wanted to witness, even if superficially, what is happening to a state that has the highest sales and income taxes, the most lavish entitlements, the near-worst public schools (based on federal test scores), and the largest number of illegal aliens in the nation, along with an overregulated private sector, a stagnant and shrinking manufacturing base, and an elite environmental ethos that restricts commerce and productivity without curbing consumption.

During this unscientific experiment, three times a week I rode a bike on a 20-mile trip over various rural roads in southwestern Fresno County. I also drove my car over to the coast to work, on various routes through towns like San Joaquin, Mendota, and Firebaugh. And near my home I have been driving, shopping, and touring by intent the rather segregated and impoverished areas of Caruthers, Fowler, Laton, Orange Cove, Parlier, and Selma. My own farmhouse is now in an area of abject poverty and almost no ethnic diversity; the closest elementary school (my alma mater, two miles away) is 94 percent Hispanic and 1 percent white, and well below federal testing norms in math and English.

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: aliens; broke; ca; california; debt; entitlements; immigration; invasion; spending; thirdworld; vdh; welfare
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To: Blue Ink

Yep, there’s a major infestation of Marxist cockroaches in California.

Unlike a few others here, I’m not willing to hand over the state to Marxists, socialists and fascists. It’s way beyond the ability for the patriots in CA to take back the state. You need help.

That help needs to come from patriots taking back the federal government - and we will - and sending a division-size force - attroneys, investigators and armed federal agents - into your state to arrest and imprison all the thieving leftists in CA.

It can and will be done. In addition, all these union state leeches can kiss their million dollar pensions goodbye. Find a bridge and a cardboard box and move in.

Hang tight. We’ll be arriving soon.


81 posted on 12/15/2010 7:06:59 PM PST by sergeantdave
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To: Blue Ink
By an overwhelming majority, Californians passed Prop. 187 in 1994 to take away medical care, access to schools and other welfare and social services from illegal aliens. It was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. President Bush endorsed the ruling.

Yeah, "ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge". One foul, stinking, corrupt Democrat judge... And California just sat there, never appealing, never pressing the issue. Congratulations. It is good to see that Arizona is going pedal to the medal to make sure their version remains intact and enforceable.

And by the way, Bush took office as president in 2001, so who cares what he "endorsed" before that?

82 posted on 12/15/2010 7:27:04 PM PST by Lancey Howard (Pray for 3/5.)
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To: CaliforniaCon

I suppose the Dream Act will resolve all these issues.They attach it to everything else of being the final, answer.


83 posted on 12/15/2010 7:40:43 PM PST by moonshinner_09
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To: Blue Ink
Think with your wallet. We are the richest state in the union — the entire country benefits from our agriculture, minerals, manufacturing — the ninth biggest economy in the WORLD — and you would just build a wall.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/california-is-broke-19-reasons-why-it-may-be-time-for-everyone-to-leave-the-state-of-california-for-good.html Doesn't sound like the "richest state in the union" to me. Keep your wealth (but keep your debt too).
84 posted on 12/15/2010 7:43:23 PM PST by Yet_Again
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To: CaliforniaCon

I believe I was at Nepenthe around ‘76 or ‘77, “back in the day”. Family owned and very friendly. An in-law lived in a cabin in Big Sur and knew the owners. One of their kids played with our son while we were there.

Part of a five week cross county trip, we drove most of the coastal highway and loved it all, although San Francisco was weird even then.

It was my only trip to California. May return someday to watch my son climbing El Capitan. I don’t travel anywhere anymore that I can’t drive to.


85 posted on 12/16/2010 6:58:11 AM PST by Second Amendment First
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To: ScottinVA

Excellent article. I was about to post it when I saw that you beat me to it.


86 posted on 12/16/2010 7:07:21 AM PST by AuH2ORepublican (If a politician won't protect innocent babies, what makes you think that he'll protect your rights?)
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To: Lancey Howard

President Clinton was happy to see wide open borders. So when Bush was elected, the coalition that got Prop. 187 on the ballot approached him, thinking maybe a Republican president would help. What they got was worse than stoney silence: a stern lecture and the horrible revelation that he was going to try to pass an amnesty.

So the entire Federal government has been working against the interests of California and advancing those of Mexican nationals for years. And they’ve got all the power and the guns. Again, anything that could help us is ENTIRELY THEIR PURVIEW.

I honestly don’t know what you people think California did wrong or ought to do now.


87 posted on 12/16/2010 10:31:50 AM PST by Blue Ink
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To: Yet_Again

To suggest that our debt outweighs the wealth this state will generate next year and in five years and in twenty years, is not just erroneous, it’s absurd.


88 posted on 12/16/2010 10:53:04 AM PST by Blue Ink
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To: Servant of the Cross
(SWOON)

89 posted on 12/16/2010 12:05:03 PM PST by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: PGR88
"In fact, trash piles are commonplace out here — composed of everything from half-empty paint cans and children’s plastic toys to diapers and moldy food. I have never seen a rural sheriff cite a litterer, or witnessed state EPA workers cleaning up these unauthorized wastelands.

"So I would suggest to Bay Area scientists that the environment is taking a much harder beating down here in central California than it is in the Delta. Perhaps before we cut off more irrigation water to the west side of the valley, we might invest some green dollars into cleaning up the unsightly and sometimes dangerous garbage that now litters the outskirts of our rural communities."

90 posted on 12/17/2010 12:58:21 PM PST by BenLurkin (This post is not a statement of fact. It is merely a personal opinion -- or humor -- or both)
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To: ScottinVA

There is a reason the people in Latin American countries live as they do: it’s how they prefer to exist.

If they wanted to live like we do here, they would convert their countries into something other than arid, sun-baked, Third World poverty pits. But, as one who owns — and lives in — a home in Honduras, I can tell you that there is no great desire among the locals to live any differently than they do now, and have for centuries on end.

They have the resources. They have the talents. They have the energy. They have the intelligence. What they don’t have is the initiative. And wherever they go, they take that same lack of initiative with them.

Including California.

Before anyone screams, “Racist,” remember: I like the people of Latin America. I chose to buy a home and live among them six months a year. It’s a rather pleasant, stress-free lifestyle. And it is not likely to change.

Down there. Or, up here.


91 posted on 12/17/2010 1:09:21 PM PST by hampdenkid
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To: ecomcon
I grew up in Madera county. I make many frequent trips back to Fresno and Madera. It is appalling. VDH is spot on.
92 posted on 12/17/2010 1:19:44 PM PST by afnamvet (Patriots Rising)
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To: ScottinVA

Oh they just keep watching Hollywood’s s**t and ALL of TV which supports Obama and what is going on in CA. Fox is no better. As long as they control the media and people do not go Galt on Hollywood and ALL of TV then we will all end up like CA.


93 posted on 12/17/2010 1:21:44 PM PST by Frantzie
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To: Presbyterian Reporter

Anyone would be insane to buy CA muni bonds. The state is a disaster but America’s future will probably be link CA.


94 posted on 12/17/2010 1:44:50 PM PST by Frantzie
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To: ScottinVA

BTTT!


95 posted on 12/27/2010 5:50:11 PM PST by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
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To: re_nortex

California country mice are still quite conservative. City mice...well, you all know about them.


96 posted on 12/27/2010 6:00:46 PM PST by bannie (( ))
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To: Yet_Again

For God’s sake let us have the freakin’ wall.

We are also YOUR border.


97 posted on 12/27/2010 6:09:54 PM PST by bannie (( ))
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To: bannie
City mice...well, you all know about them.

...aka rats.

98 posted on 12/28/2010 5:41:45 AM PST by ScottinVA (The West needs to act NOW to aggressively treat its metastasizing islaminoma!)
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To: Nea Wood
What they fail to realize is that as California goes, so goes the nation.

That's what they'll tell us when they come for a bailout - teir deficit is our deficit, and if they fail we all fail. I don't want to give it to Mexico, but California needs to get over itself and quit thinking they lead this nation and all of us dumb rubes out here in flyover country can't get along without them.

99 posted on 12/28/2010 5:48:54 AM PST by tacticalogic
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To: AdmSmith; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; bigheadfred; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; Delacon; ...
The last three weeks I have traveled about, taking the pulse of the more forgotten areas of central California. I wanted to witness, even if superficially, what is happening to a state that has the highest sales and income taxes, the most lavish entitlements, the near-worst public schools (based on federal test scores), and the largest number of illegal aliens in the nation, along with an overregulated private sector, a stagnant and shrinking manufacturing base, and an elite environmental ethos that restricts commerce and productivity without curbing consumption... My own farmhouse is now in an area of abject poverty and almost no ethnic diversity; the closest elementary school (my alma mater, two miles away) is 94 percent Hispanic and 1 percent white, and well below federal testing norms in math and English.
The better to convince the masses of the global warming hoax and the necessity of taking away what little they hath for their own good. Thanks ScottinVA for the topic and thanks neverdem for the ping.


100 posted on 12/28/2010 6:52:19 PM PST by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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