Midterm warning for America, from deep-blue California

Polls suggest that Democrats might return to power in Congress, winning both the House and the Senate. If so, California is a warning about what deep-blue control looks like.

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California’s problems are all linked to the fact that Democrats control every statewide office, and every major city.

We have one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, because Democrats continue to raise taxes wherever they can, and to impose new regulations on business.

That is why thousands of companies are leaving, taking jobs with them to red states with lower taxes, fewer regulations, and right-to-work laws that restrain unions’ power.

We have the highest poverty rate and a disproportionate share of the nation’s homeless population. That’s not because we are poor. It’s because California doles out the most generous welfare benefits of any state in the Union. 

Instead of helping the homeless move into homes, or helping the poor move up into the middle class, California’s big spending keeps people homeless and poor.

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San Francisco is making progress — largely because its new mayor, Daniel Lurie, broke with the left on a number of issues.

San Diego is going in the opposite direction. A Democrat mayor took over from a Republican — and began spending into fiscal oblivion.

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California has massive fraud and corruption, because Democrats don’t hold each other accountable. And when faced with citizen journalists like Nick Shirley, they pass laws to make it much harder to look into what is going on.

On paper, we have wonderful, utopian plans for a “green” future. High-speed rail! A fleet of electric vehicles! Renewable energy! 

In practice, we have so many rules and regulations, and so many special interests to satisfy, and unions to keep happy, that most of these projects are stuck in neutral.

California can boast a high rate of economic growth, thanks to private-sector innovation, especially in high-tech and AI.

We have also seen crime drop in many of our cities, thanks in part to federal law enforcement.

Our politicians rush to take credit — but the truth is that they have cut funding to police, and oppose immigration enforcement.

In Sacramento, there is a rush to regulate AI, and data centers, that risks throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Then there are cultural issues. The state has tied itself in knots finding a way to let biological males compete in girls’ sports, over the objections of female athletes.

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Do Americans really want to be governed like deep-blue California?