You Are Wrong About California Politics

I have lived here all my life, and over time have heard any variety of political punditry that does not seem to correspond to realpolitk. So, permit me to illuminate with a different light, keeping in mind that I am conservative Republican.

The Middle Class Is Getting Clobbered

I have often heard this, but repetition does not make it true. California tops the list of welfare generosity to the poor, and the gazillionaires in Silicone Valley are getting richer. Therefore, it leaves the “middle class” to get nailed right in the wallet.

Beg to differ.

First, the whole concept of a “middle class” is a Marxist idea: divide and conquer, and set the various classes against each other in economic warfare. Second, this conception misses the forest for the trees. In many ways, the state is hostile towards business in general. Therefore, rather than attracting population and new business, the exact opposite is happening. This is why, in many ways, California is an economic basket case where the opposite should be true.

Brown Is A Terrible Governor

Yes, I know, this is a common opinion, in as much as The Golden State has a tendency to produce solid, conservative chief executives: Reagan, Deukmejian, Wilson (Ahnold, not so much). Nevertheless, the state voters view him favorably as a decent, competent administrator.

Pet Rocks

Along with some coins and pocket lint in my jacket, I found:

• urban planning that encourages re-urbanization into skyscraper-apt buildings
• shiny, high-speed choo-choo train that goes from nowhere (Fresno) to nowhere (Bakersfield), note carefully it does not go from SF to LA
• statewide cap-n-trade
• free tuition to state colleges for illegal aliens
• liberal cities (SF/Bay Area, LA) dictating to conservative, rural areas
• goofy water allocation that values bait fish (delta smelt, ESA) over feeding humans (agriculture in the Central Valley)
• one of the highest state income and sales taxes of all other states
• state employee retirement systems that are in deep, statutory-debt doo-doo
• Democrat super-majority in both houses, meaning they can pass anything they want without any Republican support
• the melted remnants of a Hershey Bar
• an expired pizza coupon (oh, darn...)

It is important to note that, despite what outsiders may think, these gee-gaws exist because they maintain significant support among Californians.

Monterey Shale

The Golden State is sitting atop one of the largest reserves of shale gas/oil. They also oppose fracking based on environmental concerns: how foolish. Fortuitous. Umm...you see, major oil companies have drilled test wells. Based on the results, the EIA has reduced the amount by 95%. Turns out that the geologic formations in the Monterey Shale are different, and are not accessible using current fracking techniques. Recovery will have to wait for the future. Eastern Europe and China face the same problem with some of their oil shale reserves.

Kashkari Is A Bushie

Yes, this is the bluest of the blue states. Nevertheless, do not think that this has nudged the state Republicans to the center. Like other states, Republicans in this state has its share of conservatives who bristle at the Bushie/Rockefeller/Rove wing. For these, Kashkari was the TARP guy for Obama, another red mark against him.

California, Here I Come (or not...)

I am not happy with much of the political goings-on in The Golden State. Nevertheless, I find them to be reasonably congruent with the residents. I often do not agree, but Californians at large do. Like the old saying: you are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.