Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Victor Davis Hanson: Two Californias
Orange County Register ^ | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 12/17/2010 2:54:03 PM PST by Ron C.

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 ocregister.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; illegalimmigration; thirdworld; vdh; victordavishanson
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last
Mr. Hanson also said:

In two supermarkets 50 miles apart, I was the only one in line who did not pay with a social-service plastic card (gone are the days when “food stamps” were embarrassing bulky coupons). But I did not see any relationship between the use of the card and poverty as we once knew it: The electrical appurtenances owned by the user and the car into which the groceries were loaded were indistinguishable from those of the upper middle class.

1 posted on 12/17/2010 2:54:03 PM PST by Ron C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Ron C.

California is doomed: Thread #9872


2 posted on 12/17/2010 2:55:35 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ron C.

I am glad you posted this. I heard his interview on John and Ken.


3 posted on 12/17/2010 2:59:04 PM PST by ColdOne (:*))) MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

Yep - and as they have said for years, ‘As California goes, so goes the nation.’


4 posted on 12/17/2010 2:59:44 PM PST by Ron C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Ron C.

California is the garbage collection of the west. Nothing left here but crap.


5 posted on 12/17/2010 3:00:19 PM PST by Logical me
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ColdOne

I wish I had heard the interview! Hanson is one of the best and brightest in this state, and almost always ahead of the curve.


6 posted on 12/17/2010 3:02:13 PM PST by Ron C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Ron C.

>> an elite environmental ethos that restricts commerce and productivity without curbing consumption

LOL! I never thought about it that way but VDH is exactly right. For all their enviro-zeal, big-city Californians are among the most materialistic folks I have ever known. They buy (and eventually discard) more “stuff” than people just about anywhere else.


7 posted on 12/17/2010 3:03:57 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Trust in God, but row away from the rocks!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ron C.

Have you read VDH’s 2004 book entitled “Mexifornia”?

Quite interesting.


8 posted on 12/17/2010 3:04:21 PM PST by MplsSteve (Governor Mark Dayton? That's so incredibly alarming, don't you think?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick
Hey... have you been to a 'second-hand' store lately. You can find brand new things there (perhaps worn once or twice) for peanuts.

The guy who owns one of them told me that he HAS to price stuff so low - to 'get it out of here' - because he can't process whats coming through the back door unless most of the stuff IN THE STORE 'moves out today or tomorrow' otherwise he will be overwhelmed within 48 hours!

Sadly, the majority of the people buying are Mexicans that can't speak English - the majority of those donating are white Americans.

9 posted on 12/17/2010 3:13:21 PM PST by Ron C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Admin Moderator
Restored - noting this has been posted twice prior. Please see the following links - neither of which now exist in a sidebar entry today.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2643152/posts

and:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2644244/posts

Also - listen to Victor Davis Hanson interview done today on the John and Ken show - for much more on the topic of much of California turning into a third-world dump.

Listen here

10 posted on 12/17/2010 4:16:04 PM PST by Admin Moderator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson; goldstategop; calcowgirl; NormsRevenge; Impy; fieldmarshaldj; AuH2ORepublican; ...

I am so glad that I got out while the getting was good.


11 posted on 12/17/2010 4:26:27 PM PST by Clintonfatigued (Illegal aliens commit crimes that Americans won't commit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clintonfatigued
I'm trying VERY HARD to 'get out of Dodge' myself - but it looks like it will be 6 or 7 more months until I can.

But - from the look of it there won't be (and perhaps already IS NOT) any place in the US where you can escape the damage being done to this nation.

12 posted on 12/17/2010 4:31:40 PM PST by Ron C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Clintonfatigued; dragnet2
I am so glad that I got out while the getting was good.

So am I but it's getting to be there is nowhere to go.

Some States are better than others but we best soon get a grip on the whole "enchilada" as well as the liberal infestation that is destroying it all.

13 posted on 12/17/2010 4:37:34 PM PST by Las Vegas Ron (The Tree of Liberty did not grow from an ACORN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Las Vegas Ron

I’ve heard about Nevada getting caught in it, but it varies from state to state. You’re correct that we need to get a grip on this before it’s too late.


14 posted on 12/17/2010 4:38:56 PM PST by Clintonfatigued (Illegal aliens commit crimes that Americans won't commit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Clintonfatigued
I’ve heard about Nevada getting caught in it, but it varies from state to state.

We have three major problems here, SEIU, the Culinary Workers Union and Reid.....three different entities yet one and the same.

Nevada on the other hand is a Gun and Corporate friendly State.

No State income tax either.

15 posted on 12/17/2010 4:44:24 PM PST by Las Vegas Ron (The Tree of Liberty did not grow from an ACORN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Ron C.
I left Calif a little more than a year ago. There is definitely life after “Cali,” and there are a number of great states that will gladly receive you as ,long as you don't try and bring the California attitude and thinking with you.

The sooner you can leave the better. A year from now, it will probably be more difficult. Most people in the Golden State are still trying to arrange the deck chair on the Titanic.

16 posted on 12/17/2010 5:12:21 PM PST by rjamesca (Been there, done that . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Ron C.

No matter where you move, you’ll still be bailing out California’s annual fiscal messes (through Federal taxes). Unless Repub’s in Congress can stop the CA bailouts.


17 posted on 12/17/2010 5:15:11 PM PST by 4Liberty ( How do you spell "moral hazard"?: $ 19, 0 0 0, 0 0 0, 0 0 0, 0 0 0.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: 4Liberty
Yes indeed - all American's get to pay for the fiscal messes in every state - through Federal taxation.

Damned sad state of affairs!

18 posted on 12/17/2010 5:40:41 PM PST by Ron C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Ron C.
Yep - and as they have said for years, ‘As California goes, so goes the nation.’

Well, there is such a thing as getting too far out in front of the parade. Last November California continued to goose-step toward the cliff while the rest of the nation took a clear, hard right turn. Granted, we had to horse-collar numerous corrupt, idiot incumbents, but at least now we can see the right direction ahead.

19 posted on 12/17/2010 5:45:56 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: rjamesca
I'll be moving to Arizona - to probably the most conservative town left there (Prescott) - but even that once very conservative redoubt has been massively polluted by LIBERAL CALIFORNIANS fleeing the mess that THEY made here with their stupid voting habits. Now THEY have elected a liberal democrat to THAT congressional district.

California is indeed the Titanic - going down very fast now. But beware - liberal Californians are fleeing to any-town USA, likely a lot of them right where you live.

20 posted on 12/17/2010 5:47:30 PM PST by Ron C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson