In the new pay-as-you-go state, shrouded in politically correct bureaucratese, Californians have developed a keen sense of cynicism. The scores of Highway Patrol cars that now dot our freeways are looking for the middle class — the minor, income-producing infractions of the generally law-abiding — inasmuch as in comparison the felonies of the underclass are lose–lose propositions.
This cynicism and instrumental targeting of law-abiding people and shunning of the habitually criminal recidivists and scofflaws is created by the financial pressures of socialism. An unplanned, unforeseen liability of "communism with a human face".
The cynicism and pragmatism of liberal socialism is an ouroboros that consumes itself -- indeed the whole society and state -- in an attempt to carry out its infinite powers and responsibilities.
Yeas that was one of the best points he was making. How the police and justice system are much more interested in the easy cash they can extract from the law abiding middle class. There is no cash to be gotten from prosecuting the illegal aliens and other farm equipment thieves
I like your allusion to Sidonius Apollinaris, VDH’s parallel to his situation