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 ...
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.
California is doomed: Thread #9872
I am glad you posted this. I heard his interview on John and Ken.
Yep - and as they have said for years, ‘As California goes, so goes the nation.’
California is the garbage collection of the west. Nothing left here but crap.
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.
>> 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.
Have you read VDH’s 2004 book entitled “Mexifornia”?
Quite interesting.
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.
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.
I am so glad that I got out while the getting was good.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Damned sad state of affairs!
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.
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.
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