Column: We hold these truths to be self-evident — the Golden State is still golden. And yes, we are Americans (delusion alert)

LA Times ^ | February 18,,2024 | MARK Z. BARABAK, ANITA CHABRIA

[DoodleBob]

… That naysaying has gained much greater currency in recent years as California’s population has contracted for the first time in more than a century.

The “exodus” has become an industry, stoking real estate markets from Nevada to Tennessee, fanning the red-versus-blue political flames and launching a thousand what-went-wrong analyses.

The latest insult — or bracing reality check? — came last week in a Los Angeles Times poll that found 50% of adults nationwide believe California is in decline. (Bummer, man.)

Nearly half the Republicans surveyed said the state is “not really American.” Whatever that means.

L.A. Times columnists Mark Z. Barabak (a proud California native) and Anita Chabria (a happy Ohio transplant) discuss the poll, the hating by haters and the state of their troubled but still much-loved state.

…

What do you think, Mark? Are we in fact not American in some fundamental way I don’t understand?

Barabak: I suppose it depends how you define American.

If you’re talking about a certain kind of America — one that is overwhelmingly white and conservative in its social, political and cultural values — than, no, California fails to measure up to that, er, standard.

We’ve been a majority-minority state now for more than a generation. Politically, the state has leaned strongly Democratic for decades, after supporting Republicans for much of our history.

…

Chabria: …. California will always stand for diversity, freedom and tolerance — all values that sadly seem to be growing scarcer east of the Sierra…. To me, the poll results say less about life in California than the sad effectiveness of right-wing political propaganda and the power of fearmongering over truth. MAGA needs California to be a villain, to represent the supposed failures of the Democratic Party, especially around crime and immigration, and reality be damned.

[DoodleBob]

Any FReeper still in California is not an idiot, and is possibly more red blooded than others as they know what it’s like to have liberty lost.

That said, with morons like these two in great supply in CA, good luck.

[packagingguy]

“We hold these truths to be self evident. All men and women are created by...go...you know, the thing!”

Joe Biden

[Bikkuri]

I think MARK Z. BARABAK has been on here under many names, and has earned his nickname Kalipornia Spammer because of all of his Kalipornia URL spamming...
He is here again, under another name (again), but has lucked out and not been zotted yet.

[Bikkuri]

BTW DoodleBob, this site (Jim Robinson and his family) are in California.
(Not that I like it there, but I do stand behind JimRob and FreeRepublic.. I live in another crappy state (Hawaii), and hopefully I will be back in my home state of Texas soon.)

[who_would_fardels_bear]

It’s golden... like a shower.

[DIRTYSECRET]

The border is secure. Say Mayorkos.

[DoodleBob]

Oh I know…and JimRob took the Covid shot. These are a few reasons why I am not a knee-jerk reactionary on California and people who took the shots.

Furthermore, having lived in the People’s Republic of New Jersey, I can attest personally to the fact that there ARE lots of Americans behind enemy lines. Further, we don’t move because we sort of can’t, ie, work, family, perhaps we are living with elderly parents who won’t move, and so on.

And while I hated NJ politically, its diners rocked, the music scene was cool, the homeschooling laws are magnificent (they’re basically non-existent), and it’s not New York.

[SunkenCiv]

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[Drew68]

Any FReeper still in California is not an idiot, and is possibly more red blooded than others as they know what it’s like to have liberty lost.

Currently residing in San Diego (thanks, Uncle Sam) and there's something about Southern California.

As f'ed up as this state is (and it's pretty f'ed up) it's still Southern California. Maybe the most beautiful place I've ever lived and with so much to do and see.

But, damn, California voters have just made a mess of it all.

[BobL]

To use a Cold War term, it sounds like an effort is on to ‘Rehabilitate’ California.

And that can only mean ONE THING, which is that Newsom is Running.

[Bikkuri]

"we don’t move because we sort of can’t"

I understand that one very well :^/

[dpetty121263]

I disagree most who remain in California are not very intelligent as the rat trap has all but sprung on freedom loving Conservatives...Praying God delivers on his wrath and California has a great earthquake and slides off into the depths of the ocean.

[Bullish]

(I didn’t read article)...

Just dismiss everything printed in the LA Times out of hand, and you’ll be more well informed.

[Bullish]

"we don’t move because we sort of can’t"

I am in that same canoe up the creek without a paddle here in SoCal unfortunately. I guess we're going to see first hand how it all plays out here.

[TornadoAlley3]

https://youtu.be/zExTTDRf2gg?si=bb02gEsqb67rkvWB

Newsome campaign video. Every street will be Golden

[zeestephen]

Re: "Not really American." Whatever that means.

I think it might mean...

27% foreign born?

40% Hispanic?

34% white European?

[cherry]

I think California would be wonderful to live in except for the politics....but I would live far away from the big cities anyway....the ocean, the mountains, the farms, the orchards.....that’s what I love..

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Almost $593 billion USD in debt, and it rises rapidly now. Have a look....

Debt clock for California

Or as the idiot staff-firing LA Times says, "bummer."

[Gaffer]

There are a lot of good conservative Americans in California. The problem is there aren’t enough and they are very much outnumbered by the coastal regions. Unless illegals are stopped and huge numbers deported that imbalance is only going to get worse.

[ronnie raygun]

shoveling sh## once again. I recently saw commercials advertising vacations.