tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post5366862562466816714..comments2024-03-23T17:29:56.224-05:00Comments on Stilton's Place: Brain DrainedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-86702873462419539662019-03-05T18:31:57.627-06:002019-03-05T18:31:57.627-06:00To all of you touting Prescott, we here in Chino V...To all of you touting Prescott, we here in Chino Valley graciously allow you to use our water. Make sure you look at the water issues of this lovely area before you move here and make sure to leave your biases at the front door. We like this area and this state the way it is. <br /><br /> MAGAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-10502759905381038252019-03-05T16:28:00.999-06:002019-03-05T16:28:00.999-06:00I have decided that I am all for the Green New Dea...I have decided that I am all for the Green New Deal. Those eagle-chopping wind turbines that cost far more to construct and maintain than the value of electricity produced will put a lot of people to work, including psychologists that will have to treat the many cases of acrophobia that will spring up from erecting those tall monstrosities. Plus, the solar panel arrays, which super heat the surrounding environment with all the extra solar radiation absorbed, will keep the global warming prophets, like Al Gore, employed for all time, and one must think of all the people that will be needed to mine all the toxic waste minerals needed to produce solar panels in the first place.<br />Of course, the government could just release Nikola Tesla's sealed free energy technology, but the power companies, that bought off congress long ago, would never allow that to happen.Geoff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702402850031773761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-74253832388864066652019-03-05T14:33:35.701-06:002019-03-05T14:33:35.701-06:00I don't think we mentioned here the interestin...I don't think we mentioned here the interesting <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/02/23/feinstein-children-climate-change-green-new-deal-hartung-dnt-nr-vpx.cnn" rel="nofollow">dustup between Dianne Feinstein and a bunch of programmed kidbots regarding "climate change"</a>.<br /><br />Well, it seems that there are still at least a few people left at SNL who found it ripe for parody:<br /><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/kP_iVlEyp5M" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/kP_iVlEyp5M</a><br /><br />Except their lost their nerve and pulled it from the live show at the last minute, "for time". (They always seem to have enough time for Baldwin's now-tiresome Trump impressions)<br /><br />As for the actual incident, if I were DiFi I would have asked those children <i>"Other than making signs and marching around demanding that other people do something, <b>what have you personally done to eliminate your own carbon footprint?</b> Have you cut your electrical use by 90%? Have you forsaken auto travel? Are you still heating and cooling your home? Have you demanded that they cut the heating and cooling at your school? I bet not</i>"<br /><br />@Jason Anyone, if there is one consistency about Progressives, it's the notion that it's always up to someone else to make the sacrifices. Even the Progressive proletariat thinks this, as I just pointed out above. They think they can force somebody else they don't know to build a bunch of windmills and solar panels far away and they can go on with their comfortable lives as they always have. They are not only ignorant, but greedy and selfish.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-17212875104313628432019-03-05T12:01:00.988-06:002019-03-05T12:01:00.988-06:00@Rod: Could very well be this is what Trump has in...@Rod: Could very well be this is what Trump has in mind. He gets notoriety, Pence gets 2 terms and change, the Supreme Court goes 6-3... ;-) M. Mitchell Marmelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03713408277487830595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-30724204564480062102019-03-05T11:54:23.944-06:002019-03-05T11:54:23.944-06:00Am I missing something? Assume for a moment that ...Am I missing something? Assume for a moment that the Left & Media do prevent Trump from completing his first term. It's not likely to happen but let's assume. <br /><br />Then they get President Pence before 2020 elections; the sooner it happens the longer Pence has to establish his position. He'll have more Republican support, fewer haters, a great record with Trump and the office. How the Hell is that supposed to help the Left? <br /><br />I agree the leftist zealots (and that a nice word for them) are out of their minds; and they have proven themselves totally unqualified to lead this nation. Rodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-32916663584583610592019-03-05T10:43:49.542-06:002019-03-05T10:43:49.542-06:00@Jason: As Orwell wrote in Animal Farm, 'All a...@Jason: As Orwell wrote in Animal Farm, 'All animals are equal, but some more equal than others. 'Fish Out of Waterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04729449106447506298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-73179965788428722552019-03-05T10:37:10.389-06:002019-03-05T10:37:10.389-06:00Check out Alexandria Hypocrisyo Cortez. Uberish U...Check out Alexandria Hypocrisyo Cortez. Uberish Uber spending. Planes instead of trains.<br /><br />https://youtu.be/3QtJuGRBucI<br /><br /><br />And...consuming cow farts.<br /><br />https://www.americanthinker.com/images/bucket/2019-02/212287.png<br /><br />https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/02/ocasiocortez_freaks_out_when_photographed_with_chief_of_staff_eating_forbidden_hamburger.htmlJason Anyonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00085509158911768663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-45653272675689227432019-03-05T10:19:13.220-06:002019-03-05T10:19:13.220-06:00@JustaJeepGuy, I was under the impression that Col...@JustaJeepGuy, I was under the impression that Colorado was being ruined by Californicators as far back as the '80s. Blame John Denver. And you're right. Once they're finished ruining Colorado, they'll move on. They've already destroyed Oregon and Seattle. Idaho is now on its way. They now have Montana & Wyoming in their sights.<br /><br />I'd like to remind those people that for most of February, it's been near zero degrees out. It takes a lot of carbon-spew to remain comfortable in the winter.<br /><br />@Laura D said <i>"I am firmly convinced that leftism (I won't call it liberalism or progressivism, as it is neither) is a mental disorder. There is no other way to explain it."</i><br /><br />I largely agree, but there is another reason. It's profitable:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/ocasio-cortezs-chief-of-staff-ran-1m-slush-fund-by-diverting-campaign-cash-to-his-own-companies" rel="nofollow">AOC’s chief of staff ran $1M slush fund by diverting campaign cash to his own companies</a><br /><br /><i>Two political action committees founded by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s top aide funneled over $1 million in political donations into two of his own private companies, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission on Monday.<br /><br />The cash transfers from the PACs — overseen by Saikat Chakrabarti, the freshman socialist Democrat's chief of staff — run counter to her pledges to increase transparency and reduce the influence of "dark money" in politics.<br /><br />Chakrabarti's companies appear to have been set up for the sole purpose of obscuring how the political donations were used.</i><br /><br />It's also interesting, amusing really, to note that Chakrabarti's "consulting" operation is registered as a "for profit" company.<br /><br />I saw an interview with Chakrabarti yesterday on Bloomberg. He's clearly the brains of the operation. He's capable of articulating his points and actually answering questions (not that he had to) unlike AOC, who is only capable of spewing half-formed Marxist soundbites.<br /><br />As for the campaign finance complaint, don't get too excited. AOC & company will probably just have to pay a fine and this will disappear. What this really is is the Democratic leadership finally putting a leash on their out-of-control pet who has unwittingly and transparently exposed the bulk of the Democrat's long-term objectives to subjugate the entire country. They love that she's brought millions of millennials into the fold, but aren't about to tolerate her being "the boss". On the other hand, they know that her transparent totalitarianism will push at least as many voters back into Trump's camp.<br /><br />It will be interesting to see if she tones down her rhetoric in the coming weeks.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-56950634127557393432019-03-05T07:21:47.992-06:002019-03-05T07:21:47.992-06:00I am firmly convinced that leftism (I won't ca...I am firmly convinced that leftism (I won't call it liberalism or progressivism, as it is neither) is a mental disorder. There is no other way to explain it.<br /><br />I have a relative that's on that side of the fence. He moved from Kalifornia to Hawaii many years ago. Now that he's retired, he suddenly wants to move to a midwestern state to save money and be near family. I'm very concerned about him bringing his politics with him...<br /><br />@ M. Mitchell Marmel: I too have a place in the Ozarks. Not living there yet, but hope to rectify that within the next couple of years. Maybe we'll run into each other sometime...Laura Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-26649312025490974332019-03-04T22:07:36.691-06:002019-03-04T22:07:36.691-06:00Justin - Ok, cute snow pix, but SNOW... MEH..
Was...Justin - Ok, cute snow pix, but SNOW... MEH.. <br />Was in Traverse City some years back, for an Uncle's funeral, middle of the winter... locals all had bike flags on the front bumper so people could see them approaching intersections. Right of way at a 4 ay stop goes to the one who's coming through sideways.... <br />Had a co-worker move to Syracuse, NY, to take care of his dad... sent me a pic of his Jeep w/ like 4-6 FEET of snow on the roof... <br />yeah, no, thanks... Grew up here, and TX summers can be pretty brutal (especially the closer you get to Houston, where every day the temp and humids have a race to 100.. ) but she'ite, I'm DONE with winter. <br /><br />Stilt - "Cysters" you win. <br /><br />Libs from Kali (or elsewhere) who ruin everything - getting close to time for box 4, I fear... (Soap, Ballot, Jury, Ammo...) <br />And Stilt, if that's too close to calling for violence, feel free to delete it, I own that I'm walking that line... (not ACTUALLY calling for violence, but ...) <br /><br />Wholly Carp! People are apparently scamming Girl Scout Cookie tables to 'convert' counterfeit bills... <br />Assholes. <br />NOT that I have ANY favor for THAT scamtastick BS pumping crap (serioiusly, $.50 per cookie, and local get $.50 / BOX? and THAT supports progressive SJW programming? Eff GS Cookies. Except thin mints. Roomie brought home a box, I ate half...) <br />But still, ripping off the GS????<br />Shame, Shame, SHAME! Pete (Detroit)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-68723743732351409462019-03-04T20:44:37.129-06:002019-03-04T20:44:37.129-06:00Ya'll goota see this:
https://www.youtube.com/...Ya'll goota see this:<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbIo_K7UGwYJustin Casenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-44185525710233761702019-03-04T20:44:28.394-06:002019-03-04T20:44:28.394-06:00BTW, I moved from Ohio to Colorado for the 3rd tim...BTW, I moved from Ohio to Colorado for the 3rd time in 1991 and I have never voted for a Demo_Rat for any office in over 30 years.JustaJeepGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-62853935764531798052019-03-04T20:41:59.498-06:002019-03-04T20:41:59.498-06:00@Alfonso Bedoya ,
The last time I moved, I realiz...@Alfonso Bedoya ,<br /><br />The last time I moved, I realized that a well-timed house fire could be a good thing. I realized that after I moved...<br /><br />The Californicators fleeing California have definitely ruined Colorado. They started showing up en masse in '92, and now the Demo_Rats are in total control of the state legislature and the governor's office. I have simply never understood how anyone could vote for every idiotic liberal idea that came down the pike until they made California unlivable, then they fled there and came here and...voted for every idiotic liberal idea that came down the pike again. How can they not see that those idiotic liberal ideas were what made California unlivable? Where are they gonna go after they have ruined every state that isn't quite yet ruined?JustaJeepGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-82824806034861757182019-03-04T15:46:43.843-06:002019-03-04T15:46:43.843-06:00Same thing (tax thing) happened to us. After hour...Same thing (tax thing) happened to us. After hours of sweat and labor..."Hey! Looks like the Standard Deduction is right up your alley!" Popup occurred...yarghh.<br />Bill the Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00826786908721263629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-85318406063232275572019-03-04T15:18:58.748-06:002019-03-04T15:18:58.748-06:00@John the Econ- Good points, all.
@Colby Muenster...@John the Econ- Good points, all.<br /><br />@Colby Muenster- Yeah, Texas is already getting more blue state invaders than we want. I think my state needs a 360º wall just to keep liberals out.<br /><br />@Joseph ET- The media would, of course, point out that "taking the fifth" is invariably an admission of guilt. Unless when done by a Democrat.<br /><br />@Fish Out of Water- As the saying goes, "you can run, but you can't hide." It's getting increasingly difficult to flee from these morons.<br /><br />@John the Econ- Excellent summary of the situation. Sigh...<br /><br />@TrickyRicky- Politically, there's plenty I don't like about Amazon and Bezos. But dang, I do love my Amazon Prime shipping, music, and movies. I still buy my liquor locally, though, and that's no small thing (grin).<br /><br />@Geoff King- Newcomers need a period of adjustment. If they still don't learn, they should be escorted to the state line.<br /><br />@Rod- Sorry to hear about your father's situation, but glad that you're able to fight the good fight. And yes, good physicians are being run out of business (or forced to radically change their practices) by Progressive design and intent.<br /><br />@Sandy Link- I had family in San Diego and visited about half a century ago (sigh) when it was still quite nice out there. I flirted with the idea of moving to California way back when, but remain eternally glad that I didn't.Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-71981321199635395722019-03-04T15:18:29.733-06:002019-03-04T15:18:29.733-06:00"@M. Mitchell Marmel- If you're calling t..."@M. Mitchell Marmel- If you're calling them Nancy and Dianne, does that mean they're cysters? Seriously, good luck with the surgery and hope you have a speedy and complete recovery. Let me know if you need someone to feed Fortescue or walk him around the block till you're up and around again!"<br /><br />"Cysters!" Stilton, you are THE master of wit, and there will never be anyone to take your place....Thank God! <br /><br />@ Mitchell: cyst removal is usually uneventful. Make sure you have the pathologist filet and properly dispose of "Nancy" and "Dianne." From my experience here in Kalifornia, they have a habit of constantly recurring.<br />Alfonso Bedoyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12275837016861108459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-56630048347919585422019-03-04T15:03:42.689-06:002019-03-04T15:03:42.689-06:00@Stilton: Cysters under the skin! Unfortunately,...@Stilton: Cysters under the skin! Unfortunately, it's MY skin. ;) Thanks for the well wishes! M. Mitchell Marmelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03713408277487830595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-72729816777197163532019-03-04T14:58:56.354-06:002019-03-04T14:58:56.354-06:00@Alfonso Bedoya- I posted a freaking picture of a ...@Alfonso Bedoya- I posted a freaking picture of a llama sticking its head out of a car, and you apologize for your "digression from the original topic?" Ha!<br /><br />@Kay Ash- THAT'S the problem...people who flee from liberal, high tax states but then continue to vote Democrat in their new havens.<br /><br />@John the Econ- I believe that Trump is guilty at this point because of "consensus journalism." It's like climate change "science" only even less credible.<br /><br />Trump's speech: I wince at the man's words frequently, but I also enjoy his political incorrectness and patriotism. He's a weird guy, but he's the only one for the job at this strange juncture in history.<br /><br />Tax season: Yeah, I understand that the IRS computers are decades out of date, with code written in Pascal or Cobol or Sanskrit. And yes, it drives me nuts that the media is pounding on the idea that peoples' refunds may be smaller when <i>the government grabs less of your money overall</i>.<br /><br />AOC: This tyrannical little nincompoop wants my household to pay $600,000 for her "Green New Deal," then declares that she's the boss and I'm in "the cheap seats" that cost over half a million bucks?! And frankly, I'm surprised that SHE isn't living in her parents' basement...<br /><br />@Kay Ash- Okay, you two are obviously connected somehow. I mean, besides being followers of this evil, cult-like blog (grin).<br /><br />@M. Mitchell Marmel- If you're calling them Nancy and Dianne, does that mean they're cysters? Seriously, good luck with the surgery and hope you have a speedy and complete recovery. Let me know if you need someone to feed Fortescue or walk him around the block till you're up and around again!<br /><br />@Geoff King- Sounds like a nice, secure state!Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-71691858628684428782019-03-04T14:58:38.427-06:002019-03-04T14:58:38.427-06:00@Max Redline- Unless you've got a LOT of itemi...@Max Redline- Unless you've got a LOT of itemized deductions, you're probably just as well off taking the standard deduction. And I like your take on the AOC idiocy. She's lecturing us about being "green" while she avoids public transportation and chows down on farting cow burgers.<br /><br />@Crazy World- It honked me off that I had to enter driver's license info for my wife and myself into Turbotax in order to file my return. I suppose it makes sense, to keep someone else from claiming my refund - but whatever happened to picture ID cards being a tool of racism and repression?<br /><br />@Brie Camembert- "Though the Looking Glass" is right. When I look at the Dems' plan to pursue obstruction of justice charges against Trump, I just want to turn off the news for a year or so.<br /><br />@Jim Irre- The one year I used an accountant to do my taxes, they screwed everything up. Granted, the errors they made were about $20k in my favor, but I'm averse to going to jail.<br /><br />@JP- Now THAT is a fun idea! Let's get testimony from all the Dems who flat out loved Trump (and benefitted from their relationships with him) until he became President!<br /><br />@Colby Muenster- Suddenly I want to start a Llama ranch, just so I can use that name!<br /><br />@Murphy(AZ)- Exactly! Let's bring in Spike Lee, the Reverend Al, Jesse Jackson and scads of others who used to praise him. I'm actually starting to look forward to this!<br /><br />@Fred Ciampi- And remember, there's nothing wrong with a glass being only half full if it's a big enough damn glass.<br /><br />@Fish Out of Water- Sorry about your tax situation, though can't quite figure out the problem. If the standard deduction saves you more than the itemized deductions, don't you still come out ahead? As far as state taxes go, we don't have them here in Texas (though we have significant sales tax and property tax).<br /><br />@Gpa J- That's a beautiful thought. <br /><br />@Alfonso Bedoya- The outward migration from California is sad, but inevitable. I hear Arizona is pretty nice!<br /><br />@Sortahwitte- Being a "pillar of the community" wasn't such a great thing in Sodom...<br /><br />@TrickyRicky- I'd feel a lot better about paying taxes if I didn't think the gummint would be wasting my money. And at this point, it makes sense for me to do my own taxes because I'm largely retired and the taxes aren't too complicated (especially now, with the bigger standard deduction). <br /><br />@James Daily- Yeah, the gummint isn't keen on people working out of their homes or garages (or showing independence and initiative). Not only did I have to pay double (or <i>apparently</i> pay double, per John the Econ) for my own unemployment insurance, but when I finally decided once to try to collect some of it, I was told "you're not worth anything." Not really the bang for the buck I was hoping for.<br /><br />@Fred Ciampi- I run through a LOT of Amazon boxes too. I'd say I get at least 4 deliveries a week - sometimes more. I'll start saving them up for Alfonso!<br /><br />@Alfonso Bedoya- That all sounds great!<br /><br />@Geoff King- Also, to avoid sounding like a foreigner, remember that California is pronounced "f*cking California."<br /><br />@Anthony Arrigo- Sounds like you're in the same boat I am. I scrimped and saved for years, so I'm fine financially - but my "income" is low enough to be on food stamps. Still, because I sold some stocks a few years ago (and immediately put the money into a CD) the government has tripled our Medicare rates because, in the words of AOC, "we hate you and want you to die." And cool about the wrestling tournament. A good friend of mine has a son who's a very impressive young wrestler!<br /><br />@Sandy Link- Like I said, sad but inevitable. Hope you enjoy Camp Verde!Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-30122954728355055942019-03-04T14:39:54.401-06:002019-03-04T14:39:54.401-06:00@Fish Out of Water, I, too was raised in San Diego...@Fish Out of Water, I, too was raised in San Diego but it isn't the same town anymore. It drives me nuts to have to drive in it. And now we deal with distracted drivers in addition to all other driving hazards, let alone the crumbling roads and other infrastructure due to misallocation of state and county funds to fix them. Whenever I have to go there for medical or other services not available where I live, I can hardly wait to drop down the summit to my little tiny desert town. But alas, it is still CA. The motto in CA appears to be: Build, build, build. More people, more houses, more traffic, blah, blah, blah. I am grateful there is the wide expanse of land that is Camp Pendleton or there would be houses stretching every square mile from SD county all the way to Orange county. I am ready for country life. I promise to leave any CA crap behind in CA where it belongs.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07756879468472383389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-68985550189993736652019-03-04T14:39:50.197-06:002019-03-04T14:39:50.197-06:00Here's the latest news from our family on what...Here's the latest news from our family on what government is doing for us:<br /><br />My aged father, who served well and is an honorably discharged veteran from WW2... 75 years later and now a widower could use some financial assistance from VA to help cover costs in-home care or eventually assisted living residence or nursing home which now run over $5,000/month. But he still has some assets from a decades of hard work, A modest life and savings but HE is clearly not wealthy. I've learned he has way too much property & income to bother even applying to VA. Were he poor he could get ~ $9000/year after doing a pile of paperwork and a long wait. BFD, and to which I say to well with them all; we have money and everyone should have such problems. We don't need their fucking red tape and rules. With private pay, we'll use OUR rules. And meanwhile don't even bother asking us for money for your Cause or Campaign We'e keeping ours be-CAUSE it will be needed. <br /><br />In my own case and regarding the modern healthcare system in small town America: In the last 10 years I've had 3 good Personal Care Physicians in a row either quite practicing or move out of town for more secure positions with larger organizations. This week I learned of #4 doing the same thing. And I also tell you who IS staying in: The out of touch, phoning it in, old quacks who will not retire. They remain active in the "charge code" practice. Rodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-64348717717067711742019-03-04T13:55:51.879-06:002019-03-04T13:55:51.879-06:00Yeah, I have personally noted the Californication ...Yeah, I have personally noted the Californication of my beloved Arizona. Besides cost of living increases and higher taxes, I now deal with hearing things like "I heard a gun going off in the woods yesterday!!!". To which I am forced to reply "it's National Forest, shooting guns is totally legal". Or,"I saw a dog running loose down the road!!!". To which I am forced to reply "dogs outnumber people by at least two to one here, sometimes they go visiting".<br />It is time to lose your big city mentality and realize that you are not in (Kansas) Los Angeles anymore.Geoff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702402850031773761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-32335446648977758572019-03-04T13:55:24.675-06:002019-03-04T13:55:24.675-06:00@All Above- I understand how convenient Amazon is....@All Above- I understand how convenient Amazon is. However, please remember that Bezos hates those of us who frequent this forum, and uses his massive bullhorn, the Washington Compost, to denigrate us and hasten the collapse of our country.<br /><br />Just Sayin'TrickyRickynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-73229138705675039092019-03-04T13:27:40.591-06:002019-03-04T13:27:40.591-06:00@Colby Muenster, I was still in school as an econo...@Colby Muenster, I was still in school as an economics student in the latter half of the '80s when I started noting the phenomenon. At the time, most of my clients were in small manufacturing who were feeling pressured by largely unnecessary environmental regulations, taxation, and other issues. Many were pulling up roots and fleeing for Nevada and Arizona. In Arizona, they could meet a state representative who would personally escort them to the various agencies to get whatever approval or permits they needed in days to mere hours. In California, you were on your own and it could take 6 months or more of navigating numerous state and local agencies without any assurance of getting approval at the end of your efforts.<br /><br />I then started to observe the large number of middle class people I knew leaving. (Including ALL of my immediate family) By the end of the '80s, it was becoming clear to me that living a nominal middle class existence in California was going to get harder and harder, and eventually impossible as the cost of living (largely housing and taxes) continued to escalate at a rate that few incomes could compete with.<br /><br />And yet, the population of the state was sill increasing at an amazing rate. While highly educated and skilled middle class people who represented household incomes in the mid-5 to low-6 figures left, they were being replaced by uneducated to illiterate low-to-no skilled immigrants mostly from the south. This was great for employers of low-skilled labor. But not so much for the state's economics as the people who paid the bulk of the taxes and made little-to-no demand upon state social services were being replaced by people who paid little to no income taxes and consumed state services by default. This left a dwindling middle class to pick up an even greater tab. This was not sustainable.<br /><br />When I'd mention this phenomenon to the various academics and other Progressives I still associated with, they'd dismiss this. After all, "diversity" was so valued that it would certainly compensate for any economic shortcomings of the replacement population. More often or not, I'd be branded a "racist" for even bringing up the point.<br /><br />The situation was hopeless. Unfortunately, I can't see California being a worthwhile place to live again, even after the existing Progressive paradigm collapses. My concern now is containing the Progressive disease that California is now exporting nationwide. Progressive Californians destroyed Colorado. Arizona is now infected. Even Texas, that almost elected Beto will eventually swing. My small city where people used to mock Californians now votes just like them more often than not.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492406791849373430.post-36940439217347214782019-03-04T13:19:13.269-06:002019-03-04T13:19:13.269-06:00Interesting the conversation about Az and escaping...Interesting the conversation about Az and escaping CA. Had a cousin, born and raised in San Diego, fled to CO, only to find the California she thought she had escaped from had followed her there.<br /><br />With son unit gone and the 2 of us in a now too large house with an annual property tax of over 8K, flight from at least Northern Va is on the mind. <br /><br />As to the end game in CA. Wouldn't be at all surprised if it is to revert to the Spanish colonial period with landed gentry controlling large swaths of property and means of production and the rest, miserable peons.Fish Out of Waterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04729449106447506298noreply@blogger.com