“We are on dangerous ground right now, because of our secrets and our lies. They’re practically what defines us. When the truth offends, we lie and lie until we can no longer remember it is even there. But it is still there. Every lie we tell incurs a debt to the truth. Sooner or later that debt is paid.” Best quote ever - I use it a lot.
Thanksgiving in Northern California, where the host is my UC Santa Cruz graduate/woke granddaughter.
Everything out my 78 year old mouth "Grandfather, we don't say that any more."
She scolds all the family at the yearly touch football game...watch your language (concerned about her daughter, my GREAT granddaughter's virgin ears). Victoria, the 5 year old, "Mommy, not to worry, I hear that shit all the time" Kid you not!!
I love my oldest granddaughter, but when she criticizes me for using the word "girl" instead of "Young Woman"...my response. "Shut the fuck up, young lady!" 😘
Good for you, Johnny. I get a bit intimidated by strong loud women, like my Mom, the middle school principal who lived her life by Emily Post. I do not put up with the lack of courtesy or disrespectful behavior...push back to that stuff. I'm not looking to make new friends at this stage of my life or seeking anyone's approval. I got enough approval from my future wife, my kids my grandkids, my great grandchild and my 60+ year friends. Say what's on my mind, just not in front of woke granddaughter. 🤦🤷♂️❤️💯
It's not easy that's for sure. You just have to expect and be ready for a potential lecture or freak out. That's when I channel my inner 'zen' while it's in progress. And then we all move on.
Maddie, the woke granddaughter, "Grandfather, you look a bit peeved, let me give you a big hug" sure honey, hug away. "Grandfather, we don't say that any longer" 🤬
Thanks, Johnny! My vents will only increase cuz I'm getting married next Saturday, and my bride is like "Richard, what do you think of that shade of yellow?"....Richard is spending the day masking and painted the frickin bedroom for the 4th time, cuz that "yellow not quite right, don't you think so, Richard?" Under my breath...F*** off, B (word)
Government officials should probably be pressed into service, like jurors. Chosen at random from the rolls of taxpayers and obliged to perform their civic duty for a few years. Then a parting memorial plaque, and on down the road for you cowboy. Anyone who wants to be in government so badly that they're willing to endure the ruinously expensive and humiliating process of an election should be suspect, and excluded. Much the same should probably apply to anyone who really, really wants to work with kids.
It certainly says something about a person when you choose to hyphenate your last name even though it's "Quirk." That's the kind of surname that should drive a person to marry anyone at all - just to get rid of "Quirk." I'm glad that I beat the crowd and left 25 years ago! Chris, you will never run out of weird crap to write about if you stay there. Of course, you could be writing about the ginormous iceberg currently being calved in Antarctica but it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining as brain-deficient CA politicians! Thank you for making even idiots entertaining!
50+ years for me… I grieve for what such a lovely place has become.. Last year, knowing that Clownworld will go still darker, I had a small musical instrument made for me out of aged California redwood and walnut. Hearing the wood sing helps deal with the pain of such a loss.
I miss the 80s in CA but I'll never go back. I've seen enough on the news to keep me far away. Aaaaaand I do not miss having my very full bookcases knocked over by earthquakes!
The US Army took me from Modesto, CA to the Fresno MEPS station, and 20 weeks later I found myself a fully qualified 19E (M60A3 Tank Crewman) at Fort Lewis, WA.
I returned to CA in 1991 to the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey to study Russian--the Soviet Putsch/collapse occurred while I was studying Russian. We all thought we may get switched to Chinese or Arabic.
Monterey is in the top 10 most beautiful places on the planet (Fort Lewis, now Joint Base Lewis McChord-JBLM, is certainly in the top 15). I absolutely LOVED my time in Monterey. We surfed and boogie-boarded for PT. Work hard and PT. It was awesome.
As a young man I was proud to have come from California. Loved the Lakers, the 49ers, my first college experience was at Modesto Junior College with a tuition of $50 (1987, seriously 50 bucks for tuition), I was fortunate enough to have grown up in true abundance--even though my family rented while others bought their homes. The GenXers are the last generation with a childhood, and I was blessed to have lived that in the 80s in California.
Today, I actually kinda hope the collapse happens sooner than later. California is now shameful. Gavin Newsom is a character in a King novel, or better the antiChrist in a Lahayne/Jenkins Left Behind book.
There is zero goodness coming from CA these days. It will not be the San Andreas Fault that destroys California (like we all fretted about back in the 80s), it will be the soulless bureaucrats/elected officials from CA--perfect reflections of a population that cannot come to grips with the truth that actions have consequences.
I've been thinking about how dire so many things are in the world--and yet the most animating political occurrence for millions of women is the over-turning of Roe V Wade.
Roe V Wade told American men and women that our actions do not have consequences. Do whatever you want, there is no such thing as responsibility for your actions.
I think this is where all the vitriol comes--reality is crashing in on them. Our actions do have consequences. The California populace is not ready for this truth. 39 million teenagers. It is gross.
Keep it. I'm not even interested in visiting CA anymore.
First, I'm jealous of a long posting in Monterey. It must have been tough to leave.
Second, there's still goodness in California, locally and in small places. The Eastern Sierra has a whole bunch of it. It's losing the fight, but it's there.
You, Sir, are correct. I got a bit heated, stirring my own hyperbole to 11. Of course there is still goodness in CA...sadly they will be the only ones willing to help put the pieces back together.
The Pareto Principle is much more accurate. It is only 20% that make 80% of the unlivable decisions. When we 'Pareto' it out a few iterations--the 20% of the 20% of the 20% of the 20%...we get to legislators and high ranking govt employees. They're the true cancer in the body politic.
Monterey was AWESOME!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Chris.
I'm relatively new to the substack community, found you via David Grononski (I think--could have been a link on CFP). Your work here is critically important. I'm delighted whenever I see a new article from you.
You are a light in the darkness. I cannot thank you enough.
California: I almost got robbed two days ago by the Safeway on upscale Claremont Avenue on the Oakland/Berkeley border. It was an hour before sunset and I was stepping off the curb, crossing in front of my truck as he appeared crossing the street on the diagonal straight toward me with intent in his eyes. Keys and groceries were in my hands, but I managed one-handed to draw a pocket knife that, if necessary, I could have flicked open with a thumb. But as soon as he saw that movement, he abruptly changed direction for the back of the truck, cursing me half under his breath, and as he went around the passenger side, I entered the driver door.
Probably roughly the same place tax money goes here in the Green Mountain State. Around these parts, it's either in somebody's pocket or it goes to yet another necessary equity program for the five BIPOCs who live here.
I can understand how she gets to billionaires and corporations as The Source of All Evil™, although personally I think it's more the gummint, but I'm really confused at how the Religious Right is causing the price of gas to go up. Or is it that she just hates religious people and figures they *must* have a hand in everything bad that happens to her, because something?
Mostly it goes to graft, then generous salaries for commissars, followed by handouts to the lumpenproletariat, then "non profit" orgs, which are another kind of graft.
There's a rather otherwise remarkably unremarkable comic called "Crossed" about the usual 100% predictable zombie apocalypse (a virus spread by fluids, when it suits the plot...), and as per usual from its author the same predictable wokeness but it serves as a useful model here (Caution: it's very low-brow, trying conceal shoddy trite writing with gratuitous sex/violence and explicit content):
After a while, the zombies (who delight in rape, cannibalism and murder) start in on themselves because survivors have become too difficult to find, the majority having moved into sub-arctic areas where the zombies die off quickly since they don't bother with things like clothes or shelter.
Then, some zombies realise this means their potential victims - the normals - can simply win by waiting them out. So what do these smart zombies do?
They start establishing a modicum of control over the other zombies, and then start pressuring the survivors to allow interbreeding.
To me, this is a perfect parallell to the woke:
First, they destroy what made them possible. Then, they demand their victims save them.
Howdy Chris, - - I must have a masochistic streak. I continue to read your diatribes, and snicker, because of the evident head slapping astonishment at California politics. I grew up there during and after WWll. It was a wonderland. Then the 60's started the decline and I could see that there was no hope for sanity by the mid 70's and made my escape. Believe it or not, - - - it is going to et worse. When looking from the middle of the country, it is very apparent that only insane people would tolerate living in an asylum full of certifiable nuts, thieves and con-men. Take a look in the mirror, take a deep breath, and make an honest assessment. Then if you have doubts, watch " A Night at the Opera" by the Marx Bros., thn again, and then once more. If you haven't realized by then that it is all a preplanned madhouse, - - and caused you to sell out and run, - - Then get a derby hat and oogah horn and get in step with the rest of the inmates. SORRY!! That's the way it is, and will be.
"It will be a pleasure to watch his expertise blossom as he takes charge of legislation for forestry and oil spills."
🤣🤣🤣
Did you mean "Howard Dean" when you wrote that Buffy organized for Bernie, or did she also organize for Bernie, but that was omitted from the excerpt you shared?
Not to be pedantic or anything, but neither Howard nor Bernie are native Vermonters. They are flatlanders from New York: Dean is from East Hampton, where the rich people congregate, and Bernie is from New York City. This may not be an issue for the many transplants now living in the state, but the natives, the real Vermonters, are quick to point this out. The people whose families have been here since forever take little pride in being represented by either one of them.
You points are taken, but isn't it supposed to be one of the virtues of democracy that elected officials are *not* experts/insiders? They lay down their plow and go serve a term or two to make sure that their district's concerns are heard?
Absolutely yes, but not with a professional political class that never just serves "a term or two." I can't imagine wanting anything more than a wave of electeds who literally lay down their plow to go serve for a while.
A detailed analysis of the backgrounds and qualifications of members of virtually ANY elected body in "The West" would reveal that very, VERY few of those individuals have EVER had to make the agonizing choice between a mortgage payment, groceries, and kids medical or dental care. Nor have they ever experienced a crop failure, or had to meet a payroll.
Very few have ANY experience in the areas for which they are assigned responsibility. Many can not read, or understand, financial statements.
True but then they didn’t consider themselves the authoritative master of the subject matter. Unlike today’s idiots who believe title conveys expertise.
That’s the point, “they lay down their plow,” which implies they actually worked in the real world and gives them an understanding and respect for their fellow citizens who pay the taxes that are being appropriated.
For that virtue to be true, politicians would need to put into law that without any exception there is to be limits. Age, no. of terms, moral and ethical suitability judged somehow, et c.
To do so with any meaning would eliminate 90% of all those who go into politics.
Also, it would introduce the idea that politicians and their decisions must be limited and of lower priority than democracy itself (and "democracy" would need to be given a real and hard definition instead of the present-day one: "Whatever power decrees democratic, is").
I mean, what with the image of somone having a real life and doing a brief stint as elected official for a limited time, we're dangerously close to the idea that unlimited franchise and theoretically unlimited electability creates bad outcomes.
All the crazy shit that’s happening is all part of the Purges. Commies and fascists purge. It’s because they are miserable and envious of happy people, so they have to make others as miserable as (or more miserable than, actually) themselves.
"they have to make others as miserable as (or more miserable than, actually) themselves."
I believe misery is part of the core belief system of the dedicated leftist. Sufferers from the affliction known as socialism are forbidden happiness until they reach the exalted rank of supreme dictator. (A position most hold for a very brief period before they are overthrown by the next god-like ruler.)
I don’t think even becoming supreme dictator is sufficient to satisfy them. They want to be God. Since they can’t be, that’s basically why they hate Him. And His people.
The bad news for the unwoke who see their state being run into the ground by the California nomenklatura is that the Commies are in control, they have no idea what they are doing, all legislative committee assignments are obviously patronage gigs, and the suck is going to get worse. They will continue to double down on stupid until they can’t. This means when reality makes it impossible: insolvency, a politically unsurvivable disaster, Golden State voters disimpact their craniums from their rectums en masse. In regards to the voters, thus far it sure seems like Cali has extremely dedicated masochists. BTW this is EXACTLY how the USSR ran many of its committees, so as they say in Moscow: Поздравляем, товарищи!
The good news is that day will surely come. It’s not if, it’s when. Nothing this dumb and irrational survives forever. But to paraphrase dumbass economist, but paradoxically excellent stock investor,John Maynard Keynes, one of the chief architects of government debt finance schemes, the government can stay irrational longer than you, the citizen, can take it. But if you can take it, you will see the other side of this. So hunker down if you must and salt away your post apocalyptic provisions and a Mandarin/Spanish dictionary.
Nov 25, 2023·edited Nov 25, 2023Liked by Chris Bray
I also live in Barger's district and she faces an extremely tough race against longtime state assemblyman, Democrat Chris Holden in the upcoming election. The District is 46% Dem, 24% Rep. I'm not a fan of hers but the opposition is scary, she is not. I have been locally voicing my opposition to a $33 million, 43 unit, 4 story "affordable senior housing project" partially funded by the county and she has been somewhat supportive though state laws have largely handcuffed her. To make this easier to understand the board and state are well along in my community (San Dimas) to build an $1,800 per square foot facility for "affordable housing" for those who have experienced/ or are experiencing homelessness ($500 per square foot is now common here as a selling price for single family homes, though these are really more like pods). Creating a jarring monstrosity next to single story family homes and a Montecito school on 2/3 acre of land which will be serviced with 17 parking spaces and 40-some bike spaces for seniors. A facility nobody wants other than politicians and developers and people who want to "help the homeless" with no fiscal sense... this is the equivalent of building $3.6 million dollar, 2,000 square foot homes to address the senior homeless problem..., well at least 43 of the homeless.
The experts got us where we are, so there’s that. This new crowd of inexperienced ideologues won’t do any better. Neither of these groups is willing or able to set their ego aside listen, and allow for governance by the people and for the people. The grift is too rich.
The first hint reminds me of that scene in “Chernobyl”:
“I worked in a shoe factory, and now I’m in charge … to the workers of the world.”
And a bonus quote from the same scene: “I prefer my opinion to yours.”
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant series. Perfect scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idb_qsAAe1c
“We are on dangerous ground right now, because of our secrets and our lies. They’re practically what defines us. When the truth offends, we lie and lie until we can no longer remember it is even there. But it is still there. Every lie we tell incurs a debt to the truth. Sooner or later that debt is paid.” Best quote ever - I use it a lot.
And, "Why worry about something that isn't going to happen? Oh, that's perfect. They should put that on our money."
Thanksgiving in Northern California, where the host is my UC Santa Cruz graduate/woke granddaughter.
Everything out my 78 year old mouth "Grandfather, we don't say that any more."
She scolds all the family at the yearly touch football game...watch your language (concerned about her daughter, my GREAT granddaughter's virgin ears). Victoria, the 5 year old, "Mommy, not to worry, I hear that shit all the time" Kid you not!!
Things we don't say anymore.
Things we say now.
We are such better people now.
Wow
All we had to do was change our vocabulary and we are great principaled people.
Pretty sure that's an empty gesture.
Virtue signaling.
I love my oldest granddaughter, but when she criticizes me for using the word "girl" instead of "Young Woman"...my response. "Shut the fuck up, young lady!" 😘
I learned something invaluable from an aunt.
She would tell her kids, don't contradict me.
From my Mom, the teacher and Middle School Principal..."THE LOOK!"😒
The funny thing to me is, we're not 'better' people now. I think we've actually taken a step back.
so much for "respect your elders"
I use a lot of words they decided are pejorative.
They will not dictate what I say. Scold away as far as I'm concerned.
Good for you, Johnny. I get a bit intimidated by strong loud women, like my Mom, the middle school principal who lived her life by Emily Post. I do not put up with the lack of courtesy or disrespectful behavior...push back to that stuff. I'm not looking to make new friends at this stage of my life or seeking anyone's approval. I got enough approval from my future wife, my kids my grandkids, my great grandchild and my 60+ year friends. Say what's on my mind, just not in front of woke granddaughter. 🤦🤷♂️❤️💯
It's not easy that's for sure. You just have to expect and be ready for a potential lecture or freak out. That's when I channel my inner 'zen' while it's in progress. And then we all move on.
'Brussel sprouts, bigot?"
"Sure. Thank you."
Maddie, the woke granddaughter, "Grandfather, you look a bit peeved, let me give you a big hug" sure honey, hug away. "Grandfather, we don't say that any longer" 🤬
Vent away, Richie. I'm - we're - here for you.
Thanks, Johnny! My vents will only increase cuz I'm getting married next Saturday, and my bride is like "Richard, what do you think of that shade of yellow?"....Richard is spending the day masking and painted the frickin bedroom for the 4th time, cuz that "yellow not quite right, don't you think so, Richard?" Under my breath...F*** off, B (word)
Perhaps would it work out better if California chose its bureaucrats by Lottery rather than intersectionality or service to the party?
Government officials should probably be pressed into service, like jurors. Chosen at random from the rolls of taxpayers and obliged to perform their civic duty for a few years. Then a parting memorial plaque, and on down the road for you cowboy. Anyone who wants to be in government so badly that they're willing to endure the ruinously expensive and humiliating process of an election should be suspect, and excluded. Much the same should probably apply to anyone who really, really wants to work with kids.
A solid system. Athens had something like this.
Something akin to a draft, force citizens to actually give a hoot about their state/country -- skin in the game
The ‘purity spiral’ will get them too.
The upside of that would be, "They could not possibly do worse!"
I played Little League. I'm applying to be the next manager of the Dodgers.
And that’s STILL more relevant experience for the job than anyone in this article possesses for theirs.
If your kid ain't a tranny don't bother applying.
I’d manage the A’s since they’re leaving CA in a few years. Plus no one expects them to win.
Lmao!
It certainly says something about a person when you choose to hyphenate your last name even though it's "Quirk." That's the kind of surname that should drive a person to marry anyone at all - just to get rid of "Quirk." I'm glad that I beat the crowd and left 25 years ago! Chris, you will never run out of weird crap to write about if you stay there. Of course, you could be writing about the ginormous iceberg currently being calved in Antarctica but it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining as brain-deficient CA politicians! Thank you for making even idiots entertaining!
50+ years for me… I grieve for what such a lovely place has become.. Last year, knowing that Clownworld will go still darker, I had a small musical instrument made for me out of aged California redwood and walnut. Hearing the wood sing helps deal with the pain of such a loss.
I left almost 21 years ago :)
I miss the 80s in CA but I'll never go back. I've seen enough on the news to keep me far away. Aaaaaand I do not miss having my very full bookcases knocked over by earthquakes!
The US Army took me from Modesto, CA to the Fresno MEPS station, and 20 weeks later I found myself a fully qualified 19E (M60A3 Tank Crewman) at Fort Lewis, WA.
I returned to CA in 1991 to the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey to study Russian--the Soviet Putsch/collapse occurred while I was studying Russian. We all thought we may get switched to Chinese or Arabic.
Monterey is in the top 10 most beautiful places on the planet (Fort Lewis, now Joint Base Lewis McChord-JBLM, is certainly in the top 15). I absolutely LOVED my time in Monterey. We surfed and boogie-boarded for PT. Work hard and PT. It was awesome.
As a young man I was proud to have come from California. Loved the Lakers, the 49ers, my first college experience was at Modesto Junior College with a tuition of $50 (1987, seriously 50 bucks for tuition), I was fortunate enough to have grown up in true abundance--even though my family rented while others bought their homes. The GenXers are the last generation with a childhood, and I was blessed to have lived that in the 80s in California.
Today, I actually kinda hope the collapse happens sooner than later. California is now shameful. Gavin Newsom is a character in a King novel, or better the antiChrist in a Lahayne/Jenkins Left Behind book.
There is zero goodness coming from CA these days. It will not be the San Andreas Fault that destroys California (like we all fretted about back in the 80s), it will be the soulless bureaucrats/elected officials from CA--perfect reflections of a population that cannot come to grips with the truth that actions have consequences.
I've been thinking about how dire so many things are in the world--and yet the most animating political occurrence for millions of women is the over-turning of Roe V Wade.
Roe V Wade told American men and women that our actions do not have consequences. Do whatever you want, there is no such thing as responsibility for your actions.
I think this is where all the vitriol comes--reality is crashing in on them. Our actions do have consequences. The California populace is not ready for this truth. 39 million teenagers. It is gross.
Keep it. I'm not even interested in visiting CA anymore.
bsn
First, I'm jealous of a long posting in Monterey. It must have been tough to leave.
Second, there's still goodness in California, locally and in small places. The Eastern Sierra has a whole bunch of it. It's losing the fight, but it's there.
Chris,
You, Sir, are correct. I got a bit heated, stirring my own hyperbole to 11. Of course there is still goodness in CA...sadly they will be the only ones willing to help put the pieces back together.
The Pareto Principle is much more accurate. It is only 20% that make 80% of the unlivable decisions. When we 'Pareto' it out a few iterations--the 20% of the 20% of the 20% of the 20%...we get to legislators and high ranking govt employees. They're the true cancer in the body politic.
Monterey was AWESOME!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Chris.
I'm relatively new to the substack community, found you via David Grononski (I think--could have been a link on CFP). Your work here is critically important. I'm delighted whenever I see a new article from you.
You are a light in the darkness. I cannot thank you enough.
bsn
Glad you're reading, and thank you.
California: I almost got robbed two days ago by the Safeway on upscale Claremont Avenue on the Oakland/Berkeley border. It was an hour before sunset and I was stepping off the curb, crossing in front of my truck as he appeared crossing the street on the diagonal straight toward me with intent in his eyes. Keys and groceries were in my hands, but I managed one-handed to draw a pocket knife that, if necessary, I could have flicked open with a thumb. But as soon as he saw that movement, he abruptly changed direction for the back of the truck, cursing me half under his breath, and as he went around the passenger side, I entered the driver door.
I got robbed by Safeway when I bought thx giving dinner
Sorry to hear that. I guess Safeway is a thing. They like that your arms and hands are holding groceries and keys.
I'm going to assume you knew my comment was a joke.
That makes your comment satire.
Well done
Huh?
Damn...I live about 3/4 mile north of there in SE Berkeley. The increase of crime around here is quite troubling.
Well this article definitely softens the blow I just experienced putting $160 of fuel in my tank in San Diego (2.5X compared to Florida).
I'm sure that money is being used for state of the art infrastructure, right?...
Where does it go Chris?!
Probably roughly the same place tax money goes here in the Green Mountain State. Around these parts, it's either in somebody's pocket or it goes to yet another necessary equity program for the five BIPOCs who live here.
Did you film yourself in a hysterical TikTok video after you gassed up? https://x.com/clownworld_/status/1727141127051231360?s=46&t=kzND_zTPcEIyK-t_5YpUHQ
Huh?
I can understand how she gets to billionaires and corporations as The Source of All Evil™, although personally I think it's more the gummint, but I'm really confused at how the Religious Right is causing the price of gas to go up. Or is it that she just hates religious people and figures they *must* have a hand in everything bad that happens to her, because something?
The religious right? I'm lost. How is it their fault? Weirdo!
Exactly
LOLOLOL.
That is awesome!
Mostly it goes to graft, then generous salaries for commissars, followed by handouts to the lumpenproletariat, then "non profit" orgs, which are another kind of graft.
LOL
There's a rather otherwise remarkably unremarkable comic called "Crossed" about the usual 100% predictable zombie apocalypse (a virus spread by fluids, when it suits the plot...), and as per usual from its author the same predictable wokeness but it serves as a useful model here (Caution: it's very low-brow, trying conceal shoddy trite writing with gratuitous sex/violence and explicit content):
After a while, the zombies (who delight in rape, cannibalism and murder) start in on themselves because survivors have become too difficult to find, the majority having moved into sub-arctic areas where the zombies die off quickly since they don't bother with things like clothes or shelter.
Then, some zombies realise this means their potential victims - the normals - can simply win by waiting them out. So what do these smart zombies do?
They start establishing a modicum of control over the other zombies, and then start pressuring the survivors to allow interbreeding.
To me, this is a perfect parallell to the woke:
First, they destroy what made them possible. Then, they demand their victims save them.
Howdy Chris, - - I must have a masochistic streak. I continue to read your diatribes, and snicker, because of the evident head slapping astonishment at California politics. I grew up there during and after WWll. It was a wonderland. Then the 60's started the decline and I could see that there was no hope for sanity by the mid 70's and made my escape. Believe it or not, - - - it is going to et worse. When looking from the middle of the country, it is very apparent that only insane people would tolerate living in an asylum full of certifiable nuts, thieves and con-men. Take a look in the mirror, take a deep breath, and make an honest assessment. Then if you have doubts, watch " A Night at the Opera" by the Marx Bros., thn again, and then once more. If you haven't realized by then that it is all a preplanned madhouse, - - and caused you to sell out and run, - - Then get a derby hat and oogah horn and get in step with the rest of the inmates. SORRY!! That's the way it is, and will be.
All through the 60s and 70s i looked to California as a paradise, living in Tx and Ms.
I got there late.
Lived there for 22 years. I feel like I lived there through the last gasps of reality.
When I left the politicians were happy to have me leave.
I was never a "native". I have tremendous respect for those natives who are sticking it out and fighting the good fight.
"It will be a pleasure to watch his expertise blossom as he takes charge of legislation for forestry and oil spills."
🤣🤣🤣
Did you mean "Howard Dean" when you wrote that Buffy organized for Bernie, or did she also organize for Bernie, but that was omitted from the excerpt you shared?
Good catch! This is psychologically interesting, because my brain just turned Howard Dean into Bernie Sanders. I didn't even notice.
😆 Just remember Howard screams, and Bernie buckles.
LOL
“Take it easy, I’m in pre-law, man.”
“I thought you were pre-med!”
[dismissively] “What’s the difference?”
Vermonters all look alike. There, I said it
Not to be pedantic or anything, but neither Howard nor Bernie are native Vermonters. They are flatlanders from New York: Dean is from East Hampton, where the rich people congregate, and Bernie is from New York City. This may not be an issue for the many transplants now living in the state, but the natives, the real Vermonters, are quick to point this out. The people whose families have been here since forever take little pride in being represented by either one of them.
I was just there for the "Fall Colors" Yep! All of them as white as Snow herself.
They all look like Red Green right ?
That was a great show, probably could never be made these days. Mores the pity.
LOLOLOL
😆
You points are taken, but isn't it supposed to be one of the virtues of democracy that elected officials are *not* experts/insiders? They lay down their plow and go serve a term or two to make sure that their district's concerns are heard?
Absolutely yes, but not with a professional political class that never just serves "a term or two." I can't imagine wanting anything more than a wave of electeds who literally lay down their plow to go serve for a while.
yes, but they ae not laying down there plow, or leaving a real job. No experience living day to day like the normal folks.
A detailed analysis of the backgrounds and qualifications of members of virtually ANY elected body in "The West" would reveal that very, VERY few of those individuals have EVER had to make the agonizing choice between a mortgage payment, groceries, and kids medical or dental care. Nor have they ever experienced a crop failure, or had to meet a payroll.
Very few have ANY experience in the areas for which they are assigned responsibility. Many can not read, or understand, financial statements.
But we still elect them.
True but then they didn’t consider themselves the authoritative master of the subject matter. Unlike today’s idiots who believe title conveys expertise.
That’s the point, “they lay down their plow,” which implies they actually worked in the real world and gives them an understanding and respect for their fellow citizens who pay the taxes that are being appropriated.
For that to be true , we need to maintain an educated poplulation - not the Clownworld version.
For that virtue to be true, politicians would need to put into law that without any exception there is to be limits. Age, no. of terms, moral and ethical suitability judged somehow, et c.
To do so with any meaning would eliminate 90% of all those who go into politics.
Also, it would introduce the idea that politicians and their decisions must be limited and of lower priority than democracy itself (and "democracy" would need to be given a real and hard definition instead of the present-day one: "Whatever power decrees democratic, is").
I mean, what with the image of somone having a real life and doing a brief stint as elected official for a limited time, we're dangerously close to the idea that unlimited franchise and theoretically unlimited electability creates bad outcomes.
Those who laid down their plows back in the day had more common sense than every legislator serving in CA right now.
All the crazy shit that’s happening is all part of the Purges. Commies and fascists purge. It’s because they are miserable and envious of happy people, so they have to make others as miserable as (or more miserable than, actually) themselves.
"they have to make others as miserable as (or more miserable than, actually) themselves."
I believe misery is part of the core belief system of the dedicated leftist. Sufferers from the affliction known as socialism are forbidden happiness until they reach the exalted rank of supreme dictator. (A position most hold for a very brief period before they are overthrown by the next god-like ruler.)
I don’t think even becoming supreme dictator is sufficient to satisfy them. They want to be God. Since they can’t be, that’s basically why they hate Him. And His people.
There’s good news and there’s bad news.
The bad news for the unwoke who see their state being run into the ground by the California nomenklatura is that the Commies are in control, they have no idea what they are doing, all legislative committee assignments are obviously patronage gigs, and the suck is going to get worse. They will continue to double down on stupid until they can’t. This means when reality makes it impossible: insolvency, a politically unsurvivable disaster, Golden State voters disimpact their craniums from their rectums en masse. In regards to the voters, thus far it sure seems like Cali has extremely dedicated masochists. BTW this is EXACTLY how the USSR ran many of its committees, so as they say in Moscow: Поздравляем, товарищи!
The good news is that day will surely come. It’s not if, it’s when. Nothing this dumb and irrational survives forever. But to paraphrase dumbass economist, but paradoxically excellent stock investor,John Maynard Keynes, one of the chief architects of government debt finance schemes, the government can stay irrational longer than you, the citizen, can take it. But if you can take it, you will see the other side of this. So hunker down if you must and salt away your post apocalyptic provisions and a Mandarin/Spanish dictionary.
Thank you for "disimpact their craniums from their rectums". Can't come soon enough - for the few sane folks left in California.
(Aside: When are you heading to the Dakotas, Chris?)
The Dakotas will go on taunting me with their sanity, because family stuff will keep me away for a long time.
Diversify your bonds. Step to the Wu. Financial diversification can help you escape.
https://youtu.be/zhUnEg0he4A?si=aoqWBU8Im8rBkejj
I also live in Barger's district and she faces an extremely tough race against longtime state assemblyman, Democrat Chris Holden in the upcoming election. The District is 46% Dem, 24% Rep. I'm not a fan of hers but the opposition is scary, she is not. I have been locally voicing my opposition to a $33 million, 43 unit, 4 story "affordable senior housing project" partially funded by the county and she has been somewhat supportive though state laws have largely handcuffed her. To make this easier to understand the board and state are well along in my community (San Dimas) to build an $1,800 per square foot facility for "affordable housing" for those who have experienced/ or are experiencing homelessness ($500 per square foot is now common here as a selling price for single family homes, though these are really more like pods). Creating a jarring monstrosity next to single story family homes and a Montecito school on 2/3 acre of land which will be serviced with 17 parking spaces and 40-some bike spaces for seniors. A facility nobody wants other than politicians and developers and people who want to "help the homeless" with no fiscal sense... this is the equivalent of building $3.6 million dollar, 2,000 square foot homes to address the senior homeless problem..., well at least 43 of the homeless.
sounds like that project is part of a 15 minute prison. more where that came from https://100percentfedup.com/smart-cities-connect-conference-is-your-city-included/
The experts got us where we are, so there’s that. This new crowd of inexperienced ideologues won’t do any better. Neither of these groups is willing or able to set their ego aside listen, and allow for governance by the people and for the people. The grift is too rich.