My Brother lives in California. He moved there in the late 70's and got a degree in Electrical Engineering from CalTech SLO.
He did well during the dot.com boom and made lots of money. Retired at 43 years old, and I'm proud of those accomplishments he achieved.
He visits me once a year, and was just here a couple weeks ago.
He wants to go shooting every time he comes, so we do that back at the range. I ask him about the absurd gun laws and he agrees they're retarded. So I say well what are you going to do about it?
He shrugs and says what can I do? (It's an admission of failure really, but it's too huge to conquer now.)
I go full Godfather and say YOU CAN ACT LIKE A MAN!
My Brother is pretty much a full lefty, even though he doesn't like to admit it. He likes to say he's moderate. All Californians like to say that you-know.. reasonable thinking intelligent people who are way ahead of the National mentality.
But you don't live in CA that long because you don't agree with assimilation. Deep down they know they are heavily controlled. But like Scarlet O'Hara in Gone With The Wind..,"I don't want to think about that now. I'll worry about it tomorrow."
In a nutshell here's what they want. They want the latest in technology. They want their medical marijuana cards. They want solar power because it's good for the earth. They drive electric cars because it's good for the earth. They have extremely expensive housing on tiny pieces of land. They plant tiny little gardens that use enormous amounts of water so they can say they're promoting natural-ism because it's good for the earth. They have set aside land that they can ride bicycles on and walk trails, that amount to no more than golden play-pens due to the extensive rules that you must comply with to even use it. They like to intone that all races and ideologies are embraced. (as long as they don't move in next door of course)
It's all about perception among themselves. The perception that they're a tolerant, intelligent, advanced, earth-kind people that are far ahead of everyone else.
They don't want to talk about their crushing debt. It was necessary you-know. They don't want to talk about the corruption of their leaders, cause the other side would be way worse. (even though they've never tried it) They don't want to address the rampant crime in their cities, because it ultimately circles around and points the blame right back at them. They don't want to talk about voluntarily relinquishing their rights as individuals. It was necessary for the good of all.
They don't want to have you point out the leash and choker collar they're strangled with, it's an uncomfortable topic...like the kid you didn't raise right and has become an embarrassment.
I call it the trophy wife mindset. The insistence that she's so pretty!...but she's a relentless insufferable witch with no redeeming qualities and absolutely intolerable to be around.
But she's so pretty!!
So they re-enforce the perception to each other, in a vain effort to dismiss the reality.
"It's so awesome here!"
Yes it is!
"We live in Paradise!"
We do!
"It is Paradise right?"
Um..yes! It's Paradise!
The arrogance is so prevailing. But reinforcement among themselves begins to ring hollow, and that's why they insist the rest of the country must follow suit. If other States do better in any aspect, that is not good! The truth hurts, and even though they live a failed experiment, if everyone were to live the same way it would justify their mythical perception of perfection...and the rest of the Country would see the obvious error of their ways and have California to thank for leading the way.
