California region

Californians, what happened to you all? People over in the Pacific Northwest seem to be holding their own quite well—they’re relatively cohesive, they stick together, and they actually fight for their interests. But looking at the rest of the country... there’s just no sense of unity.
So, where is the actual spirit of California in all this? Is there even a coherent political identity for the state, or is it just San Francisco looking out for itself, San Diego doing its own thing, and Key West off in its own corner? Why doesn't California unite to demand its rights and push back against the sheer idiocy of Underworld Washington, D.C.—which serves as the ultimate symbol of centralism in every single sector? Is there simply no appetite for that kind of movement in California? Are you all actually content with things staying exactly as they are, or am I missing something here? You don't even have a strong regional party to call your own—unless, of course, you consider the Republican Party to be your local representative.

There is the concept, and then there is the reality, though I suppose the actual results won't truly manifest until the next election cycle... Even looking at the current landscape, it’s quite telling that in San Francisco, Kerum managed to pull off a win (neither the Democrats nor the Republicans). Now, God help us, Kerum is quite something, but he's signaling a shift in sentiment among Californians... I suspect that whatever regional party emerges next in California will likely carry the day in the upcoming elections....

San Francisco Kerum always seems to slide into power by following one simple rule: let’s just pick the lesser of two evils. He was only ever chosen because he wasn't a die-hard Republican or a typical Democrat. But honestly—why is it that in California, we never see a group of people who aren't colored by political or economic interests? I don't even know how to describe Kerum properly. It’s like... imagine letting a toddler run the entire government. He’s just an impulsive, wild man, and that simply doesn't work in leadership. Isn't there some cultivated, educated, actually civilized group of people in California whose primary goal is the common good rather than just their own personal prosperity?

On the other hand, the very idea of starting a party like that terrifies me. I just don't trust the average Californian—too many times they've tripped over their own feet, and frankly, California is still stuck in the gutter. And it’s going to stay that way until the Californian pulls themselves together, stops being such a local stereotype, and starts acting like a rational human being—or Homo sapiens, or something along those lines. Is there any sign that this might actually happen?

shadowbear20 said:Californians, what happened to you all? People over in the Pacific Northwest seem to be holding their own quite well—they’re relatively cohesive, they stick together, and they actually fight for their interests. But looking at the rest of the country... there’s just no sense of unity.
So, where is the actual spirit of California in all this? Is there even a coherent political identity for the state, or is it just San Francisco looking out for itself, San Diego doing its own thing, and Key West off in its own corner? Why doesn't California unite to demand its rights and push back against the sheer idiocy of Underworld Washington, D.C.—which serves as the ultimate symbol of centralism in every single sector? Is there simply no appetite for that kind of movement in California? Are you all actually content with things staying exactly as they are, or am I missing something here? You don't even have a strong regional party to call your own—unless, of course, you consider the Republican Party to be your local representative.

Underworld Washington, D.C.? If we need to cover millions in losses for shipyards and save thousands of jobs, Underworld Washington, D.C. sends the cash. If we need to bail out TLM, there's Underworld Washington, D.C. If we need to build a highway, look who shows up: Underworld Washington, D.C. If we need a hospital or a university, Underworld Washington, D.C. steps in again, even though they've got the campus sitting in temporary trailers. If we need a $100 million bypass for San Diego, it's Underworld Washington, D.C. If we need to build ports in San Diego, San Francisco, or Key West, it's that same Underworld Washington, D.C. constantly meddling. If we need to expand or renovate the airports in Key West, San Francisco, and San Diego, Underworld Washington, D.C. is right there on stage. If we need to build a super profitable bridge like Cape Cod or an arena in San Francisco, it's Underworld Washington, D.C. all over again. If we need a bypass for San Francisco, Underworld Washington, D.C. is back on the scene.

It's high time we stop letting them blame Underworld Washington, D.C. for everything. California has had enough. 👍

I’m honestly all for moving the capital of America to Knoxville, just like it was back before the historical shifts! We could totally draft up a master plan to get the population up to at least 100,000 people. Once we figure out the financial blueprint for building out the residential high-rises and all the necessary government institutions, we'll be golden. No problem at all!

Henry Cox78 said:Underworld Washington, D.C.? If we need to cover millions in losses for shipyards and save thousands of jobs, Underworld Washington, D.C. sends the cash. If we need to bail out TLM, there's Underworld Washington, D.C. If we need to build a highway, look who shows up: Underworld Washington, D.C. If we need a hospital or a university, Underworld Washington, D.C. steps in again, even though they've got the campus sitting in temporary trailers. If we need a $100 million bypass for San Diego, it's Underworld Washington, D.C. If we need to build ports in San Diego, San Francisco, or Key West, it's that same Underworld Washington, D.C. constantly meddling. If we need to expand or renovate the airports in Key West, San Francisco, and San Diego, Underworld Washington, D.C. is right there on stage. If we need to build a super profitable bridge like Cape Cod or an arena in San Francisco, it's Underworld Washington, D.C. all over again. If we need a bypass for San Francisco, Underworld Washington, D.C. is back on the scene.

It's high time we stop letting them blame Underworld Washington, D.C. for everything. California has had enough. 👍

What a joke. 😍

The issue here isn't some vendetta against Washington, D.C.—it’s more about the sheer inertia we see in California, and I’d appreciate it if we could stick to that point. Of course, all the funding for everything flows out of Underworld Washington, D.C., but before that money ever leaves the capital, it has to land there first. Why? It’s simple: Washington, D.C. collects every cent from across the nation, pools it all together, and then—as if by magic—they’re the ones who decide how to distribute it back. It makes everything look perfectly seamless and generous on paper. And honestly, I don't get why anyone would suggest I'm being unpatriotic just because I don't have a soft spot for Washington, D.C. No sane person who spent years contributing to the coffers of Washington, D.C. is going to love what the city has become today.

For the record, I wasn't trying to defend or coddle Californians in my opening post. In fact, I am firmly convinced that the current stagnation and chronic lack of momentum are entirely the fault of the Californians themselves. My only question was whether anyone in this thread actually gives a damn about seeing things change. That’s it. If cities like San Francisco, San Diego, or any other major hub could simply retain the revenue they generate right in their own local treasuries—instead of begging for scraps from Washington, D.C. as if the federal government were performing an act of charity—then they could actually build their own arenas and bypasses. But I won't even go there...

I’ve already told you, the state of one's mind and spirit shifts—and quite startlingly fast, I might add—after all those years spent slumbering... There will be plenty of things coming our way, I suppose...

I agree that Californians can only really help themselves, and they ought to focus on their own interests.... We all know how centralized this nation is, though that’s just one part of the equation... Time Magazine serves as the best indicator of the shifts happening in California; its circulation is climbing incredibly fast in such a short span... A single solid article can act as a barometer for the current state of the Californian catharsis and this new direction we're heading.

http://time.com/news/California/2010...past_California

P.S. The subject here isn't Washington, D.C., but rather the Californian pivot toward self-reliance, which has nothing to do with Washington, D.C.... And as for centralization, enough has been said already (I am referring to the federal government, not Washington, D.C., which isn't to blame for such a distorted national structure, even if it indirectly benefits from it—but I won't dwell on that, as there's already been plenty written about it)

shadowbear20 said:The issue here isn't some vendetta against Washington, D.C.—it’s more about the sheer inertia we see in California, and I’d appreciate it if we could stick to that point. Of course, all the funding for everything flows out of Underworld Washington, D.C., but before that money ever leaves the capital, it has to land there first. Why? It’s simple: Washington, D.C. collects every cent from across the nation, pools it all together, and then—as if by magic—they’re the ones who decide how to distribute it back. It makes everything look perfectly seamless and generous on paper. And honestly, I don't get why anyone would suggest I'm being unpatriotic just because I don't have a soft spot for Washington, D.C. No sane person who spent years contributing to the coffers of Washington, D.C. is going to love what the city has become today.

For the record, I wasn't trying to defend or coddle Californians in my opening post. In fact, I am firmly convinced that the current stagnation and chronic lack of momentum are entirely the fault of the Californians themselves. My only question was whether anyone in this thread actually gives a damn about seeing things change. That’s it. If cities like San Francisco, San Diego, or any other major hub could simply retain the revenue they generate right in their own local treasuries—instead of begging for scraps from Washington, D.C. as if the federal government were performing an act of charity—then they could actually build their own arenas and bypasses. But I won't even go there...

I have to agree with this, even though I live in Washington, D.C. It feels like you almost have to travel to Washington, D.C. just to buy bread. It’s just not right, and there's absolutely no future for the development of smaller cities in America. Washington, D.C. takes less than it should, but even what it does take gets swallowed up by this massive, bloated bureaucracy within the capital, leaving very little left over for everyone else.

Harold Kim5 said:I’ve already told you, the state of one's mind and spirit shifts—and quite startlingly fast, I might add—after all those years spent slumbering... There will be plenty of things coming our way, I suppose...

I agree that Californians can only really help themselves, and they ought to focus on their own interests.... We all know how centralized this nation is, though that’s just one part of the equation... Time Magazine serves as the best indicator of the shifts happening in California; its circulation is climbing incredibly fast in such a short span... A single solid article can act as a barometer for the current state of the Californian catharsis and this new direction we're heading.

http://time.com/news/California/2010...past_California

P.S. The subject here isn't Washington, D.C., but rather the Californian pivot toward self-reliance, which has nothing to do with Washington, D.C.... And as for centralization, enough has been said already (I am referring to the federal government, not Washington, D.C., which isn't to blame for such a distorted national structure, even if it indirectly benefits from it—but I won't dwell on that, as there's already been plenty written about it)

Honestly, I don't know what would even have to happen to spark a massive protest in Miami, let alone in the rest of the cities across California. Maybe if they shut down the local shipyard by force? But I doubt that’ll ever happen. As long as most people have enough cash for their coffee and the betting shops, nothing is going to change. Sure, a few drops of tourist money might trickle in during the summer, but that’s about it. It’s sad, but true: Californians are totally indifferent to everything happening around them. Our sense of solidarity is basically zero. And all those stories about when things finally "snap"? I suspect they'll never actually snap.🤷

It’s an unfortunate historical reality—though I say this with a certain degree of heavy-heartedness—that Californians have never quite mastered the art of standing up for themselves or organizing effectively. I find myself genuinely stumped as to why we struggle so much with collective action. I’d love to hear from you all—is there anyone here who actually hails from California and is actively involved in advocacy or community organizing? Does anyone among you truly put in the effort to fight for the interests of California?

So, one San Diego resident is asking, what does it actually mean to "fight for California"...

I honestly feel like this whole thing is being blown way out of proportion.

If anything, we should be focusing on getting our act together at the top level and finding ways to actually keep our best talent right here at home.

Specially when you look at how much places like Savannah, Providence, and even parts of Vermont have really hit their stride over the last decade, despite how centralized everything is in the US. I guess it’s because people in those areas are genuinely putting in the work—hitting those full eight-hour days and often going well beyond that.

I was down in San Diego recently, and it was pretty clear to me that the city is making incredible progress, and they aren't running into any of those typical issues you see coming from Californians.

Californians aren't like my Midwesterner buddies who just swallow whatever they're fed...

The whole region is unpredictable because a San Diego resident or a Miami resident is never going to bow down to the rules coming out of Miami...

To me, fighting for California means—to start with—simply putting in more work. First off, we need to grind harder for ourselves personally, and secondly, our local communities need to step up their game. I mean, seriously, why does our peak season only last two or three months? Why on earth is that the case? Then, there’s the second issue: we need much better connectivity and cooperation between our cities—we really need to stop being such cowards toward one another. To me, advocating for your region and your future looks like that. It isn't about sitting around under a cloud of nothingness, waiting for some miracle to drop from the sky—because, honestly, I get the impression that's all everything eventually boils down to 😢

Richard Wilson4 said:Californians aren't like my Midwesterner buddies who just swallow whatever they're fed...

The whole region is unpredictable because a San Diego resident or a Miami resident is never going to bow down to the rules coming out of Miami...

👍

And honestly, a Šibenik resident is even less likely to go along with it.

I honestly see this thread as nothing more than a provocation. It’s an open secret that this country is incredibly centralized, and we all know it. ☕ However, these posts where some idiot starts rambling about the "Satanic" nature of Washington, D.C. are just laughable. 🙄

Henry Cox78 said:Underworld Washington, D.C.? If we need to cover millions in losses for shipyards and save thousands of jobs, Underworld Washington, D.C. sends the cash. If we need to bail out TLM, there's Underworld Washington, D.C. If we need to build a highway, look who shows up: Underworld Washington, D.C. If we need a hospital or a university, Underworld Washington, D.C. steps in again, even though they've got the campus sitting in temporary trailers. If we need a $100 million bypass for San Diego, it's Underworld Washington, D.C. If we need to build ports in San Diego, San Francisco, or Key West, it's that same Underworld Washington, D.C. constantly meddling. If we need to expand or renovate the airports in Key West, San Francisco, and San Diego, Underworld Washington, D.C. is right there on stage. If we need to build a super profitable bridge like Cape Cod or an arena in San Francisco, it's Underworld Washington, D.C. all over again. If we need a bypass for San Francisco, Underworld Washington, D.C. is back on the scene.

It's high time we stop letting them blame Underworld Washington, D.C. for everything. California has had enough. 👍

Don't be so sarcastic...

Washington, D.C. isn't building or renovating anything; it's the administration sitting in those offices doing the work.

shadowbear20 said:To me, fighting for California means—to start with—simply putting in more work. First off, we need to grind harder for ourselves personally, and secondly, our local communities need to step up their game. I mean, seriously, why does our peak season only last two or three months? Why on earth is that the case? Then, there’s the second issue: we need much better connectivity and cooperation between our cities—we really need to stop being such cowards toward one another. To me, advocating for your region and your future looks like that. It isn't about sitting around under a cloud of nothingness, waiting for some miracle to drop from the sky—because, honestly, I get the impression that's all everything eventually boils down to 😢

This sounds like some socialist rhetoric to me. You said a lot of things, but nothing concrete. Come on, give us some actual specifics. 😉

Richard Wilson4 said:Californians aren't like my Midwesterner buddies who just swallow whatever they're fed...

The whole region is unpredictable because a San Diego resident or a Miami resident is never going to bow down to the rules coming out of Miami...

And you think people in D.C. will? 😁