Article

2010-11-17 Economy

California Suggests Suicide; Texas Asks: Can I Lend You a Knife?

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2010-11-17 02:39|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ] Top

#1 Certainly a vexing issue. I am not at all convinced California can rebound or even desires to. The culture of entitlement and immigration of cheap, tax exempt, part-time labor may have cost us a State. How soon will Sacramento issue it's own passport, or cries of YANKEE GO HOME ring out? Will military bases be asked to close? The next few months will be most interesting as the decivilization continues.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-11-17 07:23|| 2010-11-17 07:23|| Front Page Top

#2 Optimistic view: sometimes, ya gotta hit bottom before you'll admit you have a problem and seek help.

Pessimistic view: just because you hit bottom doesn't mean you're going to admit you have a problem and seek help.

Posted by Mike 2010-11-17 08:37|| 2010-11-17 08:37|| Front Page Top

#3 Sigh. A lot of what you people keep saying about my state is true. Our politicians are mostly a bunch of crooks and that has led to a very sad state of affairs. But I'd still rather live here than in Texas. I've been to Texas. It's hot, dry and dusty. The surf sucks and the Gulf of Mexico is a cesspool. Houston's air quality is worse than LA's. When I drove from El Paso to Dallas I could not find one, single restaurant or motel that was up to the standards we have in California. I drove through ghost towns in Texas. There were places where not just a family or two but whole towns full of people just walked away, or maybe they sped away in their cars as fast as they could. It looked like the bust part of a boom and bust cycle.

California had a boom all through the 1990's and 2000's. Everywhere you looked there were massive new housing tracts being built. But in 2008 we found that a lot of this activity was spurred on by the corrupt, misguided policies of the federal government through their cat's paws Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I remember wondering who could afford these houses at prices ranging from $500,000 to $2 million dollars. Well, the answer was nobody. It was all the "exotic" mortgages and speculators that fueled the madness and now we're all left wondering what to do about the banks that are holding all the toxic paper. It was a FEDERAL policy that led to the disaster, get it? It was YOUR government too, not just mine, that caused the problem.

So now you want to talk about Jerry Brown and the green energy policies. I voted against them. But it's hard to elect conservative politicians when your electorate is comprised of so many illegal aliens. I'm sure you all read with glee the story here a few days ago about how the majority of California's school children are now Hispanic. Gee, I wonder why. Could it be that YOUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT shirked its duty to secure our border?

I know about the problems in this state better than most of you because I have to live with them. What I'm trying to say is, get real. Don't be so smug and sanctimonious because they are coming your way. California has always been ahead of the curve and, unfortunately, we still are.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-11-17 12:14|| 2010-11-17 12:14|| Front Page Top

#4 Ebbang Uluque6305, you have my sympathies for what you're going to have to endure for the next few years. Eventually, things will get so bad in Caliphornia that the feds will have to intervene. Hopefully by that time we have a government that will to the least harm and the most good.

The entire nation is in similar straits, and needs some house-cleaning. We started that on Nov 2nd, but it's far from over. It MAY end up requiring the "cartridge box" to solve all our built-up problems that began with the Progressive movement under Woodrow Wilson. First, we have to see how well using the ballot box worked before we, the American people that want smaller, less intrusive government, take any further steps. In the meantime, Caliphornia will remain a disaster. The best thing I can suggest is to move up north, where most of my California relatives live. You still have the same intrusive, overbearing state government, but it's not quite as dangerous as LA, and not as revolting as San Francisco. If things really get bad, just give a shout. I think there are enough Rantburgers willing to give you a hand with escaping the death-spiral collapse of the state.

Posted by Old Patriot 2010-11-17 14:57|| 2010-11-17 14:57|| Front Page Top

#5 If the free cheese ever stops, Old Patriot is right. The shooting WILL start!

Posted by Besoeker 2010-11-17 16:22|| 2010-11-17 16:22|| Front Page Top

#6 #3 I am a Texan. I have been around long enough to have had a lot of admiration for the state that was home to Ronald Reagon, California. But from here we can see the non-sense that has turned California into what it is now, and the head up the butt approach many of the voters have to solving problems there. So let me give you some helpfull hints to some of the issues you raised re: Texas;No beaches: The business climate is good here, which means the Eagle Flies high on payday. So do what Maria and I did last weekend, fly to Waikiki Beach for 3 or 4 days in Hawaii. Or do what we plan to do in January, go to the Miami Beach or the Florida Keys for a few days. Or what we plan to do in March, fly to a beach in Maria's country of origin Rio de Janiero, Brazil, and if you still miss California beaches, take the extra loot and fly in there a time or two on a whim's notice. While in Hawaii we met a couple who's company is moving from California to Austin. The hill country is beautiful. The big Colorado River is a canoer's paradise. Texas is much cheaper to live in so the folks will have plenty of loot to travel to their old haunts Texas bores them.Bad restaurants in Texas? Take the better half into one of the big cities for shopping and dining if you don't live there, otherwise, you will eventually find decent places. Most importantly, when you vote for a conservative here, your guy usually wins every time. Just remember the rules at the local store to our "ranch": "Welcome. No Smoking. Unloaded firearms only."

Posted by wr 2010-11-17 16:52|| 2010-11-17 16:52|| Front Page Top

#7 Bad restaurants in Texas?

Try the Cotton Gin in Fredericksburg.

Posted by Rantburg 2010-11-17 17:04|| 2010-11-17 17:04|| Front Page Top

#8 Sounds nice, wr. I don't mean to be too hard on Texas. There are a lot of things about the state that I admire. The toughest part of this whole deal is that I really love California. But it has gone downhill and continues to do so at an alarming rate.

OP, San Francisco is a crime against nature. As weird as this may sound, the last few times I've been to LA, I think I like it better than San Diego where I live. I think LA has gotten about as bad as it can but San Diego keeps getting worse and it's painful to watch.

But I'm not ready for the cartridge box. Not by a long shot. I believe that if we can't save this republic with the ballot box we're lost anyway. Because who's gonna take over after the revolution? George Washington? I wouldn't bet on it.

I believe one of the most powerful weapons we have is websites just like the one here at Rantburg where people can talk/rant about what's really happening instead of just hearing what the MSM wants us to hear. That is what the loonies fear the most.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-11-17 17:34|| 2010-11-17 17:34|| Front Page Top

#9 I firmly believe in a small but good cookbook collection and Penzey's for spices. And homegrown tomatoes, if one has a sunny space suitable for a few potted plants. Unfortunately I don't, at this house, and my suffering has been immense.

Beautiful writing in this thread -- one of the pleasures of Rantburg is the thoughtfulness and the beautiful sentiments that occasional escape from so such self-proclaimed hard-boiled, practical men and women.

Posted by trailing wife 2010-11-17 17:48|| 2010-11-17 17:48|| Front Page Top

#10 Don't look at me, man. I've got a place up in them thar hills and am prepared to "go hedgehog" when the whole magilla flies apart.

City slickers? They dead.

Posted by mojo 2010-11-17 17:53|| 2010-11-17 17:53|| Front Page Top

#11 Because who's gonna take over after the revolution? George Washington? I wouldn't bet on it.

Strange isn't it that two of the more stable democracies out of the 20th Century were to be Germany and Japan, and who laid the foundations for both after WWII. The bets are still out on the one made so far this century in Iraq, but then again, it was said to be impossible by the usual suspects. However, there was a certain organization in all of the cases which seem to be the planner and implementer. Decent track record if you think about it. You may not know you have another George until you truly desperately need one.

Posted by Procopius2k 2010-11-17 19:13|| 2010-11-17 19:13|| Front Page Top

#12 "When I drove from El Paso to Dallas I could not find one, single restaurant or motel that was up to the standards we have in California."

When was that, 1978? You must not have been looking very hard or else lying to yourself about "standards" in California. You do not have a decent BBQ join anywhere compared to Texas. I have been to LA and it full of whores and morons. San Francisco reeks of urine and is occupied by aggressive bums. Oakland is a deadly ghetto. Some "standards" you have. California is full of fools fooling themselves, and only a fringe of decent people hanging on at the edge. You are deluding yourself about California. San Diego is one of the few exceptions from all this. Give me Dallas, San Antonio or Austin any day.

Posted by No I am The Other Beldar 2010-11-17 19:18|| 2010-11-17 19:18|| Front Page Top

#13 Strange isn't it that two of the more stable democracies out of the 20th Century were to be Germany and Japan. Precopius2K

Not so "strange" when you consider the millions, possibly billions of US taxpayer dollars which were poured into the rebuilding of Germany and Japan for decades following WWII. Consider also the fact that restrictions on military spending and structures of Germany and Japan freed up domestic spending for other purposes, while the United States spent billions fighting the bear.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-11-17 19:20|| 2010-11-17 19:20|| Front Page Top

#14 No restaurants that meet California standards???

That was a joke, right? I mean, I ain't got a dog in the fight, but last time I was there (visiting a friend in Houston), the food was top notch. I am sure that some of the refugees from Katrina brought along their formidable cooking skills and made it even better.

Although I do have to agree with you regarding that atrocity called Tex-Mex....

Posted by Swamp Blondie 2010-11-17 20:31|| 2010-11-17 20:31|| Front Page Top

#15 IMHO, just stay away from restaurants with "Pappa" in the name and you'll be ok.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-11-17 20:42|| 2010-11-17 20:42|| Front Page Top

#16 I'm in Southern California. I was in Texas for a while when I was a soldier - I really liked it. The climate in El Paso is not so different from where I live, hot and dry. My main concern is my job, I have a suspicion that my company may move from this area (a real live manufacutring company - a dying bread in SoCal) to NV, AZ or TX. I will go if given the opportunity, but what will my house be worth at that time, and will there be a time, when ex-cal Americans are just not welcome anymore?

Posted by Rob06 2010-11-17 21:22|| 2010-11-17 21:22|| Front Page Top

#17 Im too much of a redneck for California (too "froo froo" for me), and too much of a hillbilly for Texas (its too flat and too hot). I guess I belong in east Tennessee, NE Alabama, NW Georgai, W NC or SW VA. Gimme the Smokies and Blue Ridge. Which happens to be where I'm looking to relocate and get out of Colorado. I need to get back home.

Posted by OldSpook 2010-11-17 21:29|| 2010-11-17 21:29|| Front Page Top

#18 Texas didn't really turn my crank when we spent almost 20 hours driving across it. most of the people i have met that are from there are top notch, and it is a very big state, so i have seen very little. never been to california, but almost every person i have met from there was a kook of one sort or another who had relocated to get away from the fouled nest they had created by their liberal voting and BS. all i ever heard them do was bitch about how in California, there was a law (or program, or agency) to make people do this or that.

there is a reason we called them cali-fonrnicators. now they are trying to do the same crap to colorado. anyone been to the peoples republic of boulder lately? glad i left for GA (north west corner if anyone is looking for lunch company off I-75 some day).

Posted by abu do you love 2010-11-17 23:44|| 2010-11-17 23:44|| Front Page Top

23:58 trailing wife
23:44 abu do you love
23:31 Barbara Skolaut
22:40 JosephMendiola
22:40 Pappy
22:39 Skunky Glins****
22:38 tu3031
22:32 JosephMendiola
22:27 Skunky Glins****
22:23 JosephMendiola
22:21 JosephMendiola
22:19 Mullah Richard
22:12 JosephMendiola
22:02 lord garth
22:00 JosephMendiola
22:00 trailing wife
21:48 JosephMendiola
21:45 swksvolFF
21:42 JosephMendiola
21:41 Dale
21:38 swksvolFF
21:36 Frank G
21:29 OldSpook
21:23 OldSpook