“The Democratic Party can’t provide the fundamental attribute of government: public order.” — CNN host of GPS Fareed Zakaria, October 2, 2026
“History is made by intense, compact minorities.” — Washington Post columnist George Will
“Good government is good politics.” — Oft-heard refrain in the hallways of the Office of California Governor George Deukmejian, (1983-1991)
Almost DailyBrett concurs with Zakaria’s assessment of the Golden State Paradox: Silicon Valley excels, Sacramento fails.
Your author had not heard before the notion of a California vetocracy, but it seemingly goes beyond mere NIMBYism.
It comes down to self-annointed homelessness NGOs, public employee unions, über-regulatory bodies (e.g., California Coastal Commission) all slamming the brakes on any-and-all improvements in California’s quality of life … until their insatiable demands are met.
Good luck.
Despite throwing $24 billion at homelessness, one-out-of-four unhoused in the nation resides in California. The California’s High-Speed-Rail project is stuck in the Central Valley mud with the cost escalating to $231 billion (and counting). Torrid fires engulfed Pacific Palisades and Altadena, while the fire hydrants didn’t spray water and re-building permits are not being issued.
It’s hard to argue with Fareed’s assessment that California is “a case study in failed governance.” Keep in mind, neither he nor his sad partisan network would ever be confused with MAGA.
Almost DailyBrett strongly believes that Sacramento deep down inside detests the People of California. Through their collective arrogance that comes from one-party, veto-proof majorities, the governor and state Legislature with impunity exacerbates California’s Affordability Crisis.
Take for example, the nation’s highest gas tax and with it unprecedented directly related skyrocketing gasoline and diesel prices. Worse yet, these gas taxes are “indexed” for inflation. Without any action by neither the governor nor the state Legislature they automatically raise each July 1 in perpetuity.
Oh, it’s not our fault. … Yes it is.
Just a week ago, Los Angeles County, including your author’s former hometown of Glendale, saw its sales tax reach 11 percent. Anything and everything that one buys — exception, food that doesn’t taste good — will cost you 11 cents on the dollar more than the sticker-shock price.
BTW next door Oregon sports zero sales tax.
What If California Provided Order and Superior Public Services?
“Here in California, we learned the lesson that government doesn’t produce prosperity: workers, businesses, farmers and investors do. Government can either help or it can stand in the way.” – Governor George Deukmejian, State of the State Address, January 10, 1983
Once upon a time, California did not raise taxes, maintained a strategic reserve for emergencies, provided outstanding public services, responded effectively to natural disasters, and recognized the role of the private sector in the Golden State success story.
Almost DailyBrett has been lectured about not living in the past. Your author knows history can provide a standard for the present, and more importantly the future.
One major difference is certain: Special interests and regulators control Sacramento in the early decades of the 21st Century similar to the railroad barons in the initial years of the 20th Century.
Is there any doubt that Californians are hamstrung by more than 400,000 regulations and counting, all courtesy of state regulators?
Want to rebuild your burned-out residence in Pacific Palisades? What does the California Coastal Commission think? What will they require (e.g., public access to private property?). How long will it take?
Or will they just veto your rebuild project in the interest of the greater public good?
Is Sacramento a place that simply doesn’t like California’s (remaining) lawful citizens?
