You are correct about California’s lack of a moral foundation and the refusal to object to destructive behavior. It was founded by fortune-hunting, gold-digging, hard-drinking, gambling miners and thieves. And then the prostitutes showed up. Hardly the kind of stable, hard-working agrarian people our nation was founded by.
Having grown up in CA, and then marrying a lovely Tennessee girl and living in the South most of my adulthood, I have the Californian libertarian republican upbringing with a complete indoctrination into full-on Southern conservatism.
I believe the way to go is somewhere between the two. We must have a moral foundation and respect for others as well as for ourselves. We also must learn to mind our own business and stop trying to force our personal standards on others. Be responsible, be free, and don’t enable irresponsibility in others.
Where do ya think all those folks came from back then slick?
BTW, I'll take the fortune hunting, gold miners and hard drinking people that aren't afraid to take a gamble over the like of someone like you.
With your experience you know that it takes real Christian warriors, real right wingers to stand up to today's onslaught from the left, moderates and fence sitters, and people without that hard edge and without the absolutes where they draw the lines, can't stand up to the left effectively.
In times of political peace, moderates may be more pleasing to some than living among bible quoting Evangelicals, but during political war time, with the left fighting with blood on their faces and moderate guts in their teeth, only social conservatives and people who answer to God can stand up to them.
I'll take what you're smoken Eric!