CALIFORNIA’S STUPID MONEY TRICKS

No State Can Be That Dumb

The Tattletale Hotline

Feel offended today?  Think someone doesn’t like you because you are gay, Black, a religious practitioner or anything else?  “Who you gonna call?”  Californians now have a Tattletale Hotline, where you can report other residents to the state, presumably for some kind of re-education or punishment.  The phone line is called CA vs Hate, which implies “hate” can be proved.  The police will not be involved, unless you request it, fortunately.  Most of us would agree they have much bigger fish to fry, though whether the DA cares to prosecute is another matter. 

“A hate incident is a hostile expression or action that may be motivated by bias against another person’s actual or perceived identity,” the website states. “Perpetrators may be motivated by different discriminatory biases, including, but not limited to; bias based on race, color, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender, including gender identity.”  According to the website, examples of “hate incidents” include “refusing service,” “derogatory name-calling,” and bullying. Governor Newsom’s announcement of a new hotline underscores the message that hate will not be tolerated in California.

Is this really the biggest problem we have in California?  Not the flood of immigrants leading to record-high homelessness and crime?   That lack of water?  The failed financial management?  The goal of pushing electric cars without upgrading the infrastructure?  The state of California is badly broken and instead of addressing any of these critical issues, we’re going to focus on babying the hurt feelings of the ultra- sensitive snowflakes?

You can’t legislate about hurt feelings.  This makes no sense.  If we’re honest, we all have some biases.  I have issues with stupid or lazy people.  I try to recognize this in myself and not browbeat either group.  But people make mistakes, and people also get offended very easily.  How does anyone determine if hate is involved and what is actually going on.  I care deeply about animals and regularly tell people at our local park NOT to feed the ducks and geese and not to harass them (children chasing them till they panic).  I’m sure some of these people would say I hate them,

although it is mostly “Karens” who think their children are entitled.  I don’t hate them, but I think animals’ lives matter.

This is another bad idea from Governor Nuisance, at a time when he seems to have no good ideas except for pandering.

Reparations

As stated in previous blogs, reparations are theft, transferring money from those who never had slaves or benefited from slavery to those who were never slaves.  The idea is that Blacks have been discriminated against so badly that we owe them.  But who among us actually discriminated?  In fact, since the late ‘60’s, affirmative action has privileged them over others who may have a better resume or track record.  Who should pay?   Who deserves it?   Would you give this to the Obamas?  Or Meghan Markel? 

California has convened a Reparations Task Force, who proposes payments of up to $1.2MM to every qualifying Black resident, as well as a huge annual payment and forgiveness of all debts. The cost is roughly 2 ½ time the entire state budget. People subject to pay it would owe around $600,000 each.  Do you have this money?  This concept should be dead on arrival.   

What does easy money do to people?  One only has to look at lottery winners to see that:    (a).  They piss away the money very rapidly.   (b).  It doesn’t improve their lives in concrete ways and   (c).   They immediately give up working or adding value to their community.  This would be the same; only worse.

We only have to look at two clear examples of what happens when you pay people not to work.  During the Obama reign of terror, he extended unemployment for two years.  I saw many people avoid making any effort to look for gainful employment until near the end of the two years.  During Covid, unemployment was extended.

Subsequently, people refused to work.

We DO have a problem in this country—opportunity.  Opportunity is not fixed by offering cash payouts.  Instead, invest in vouchers to allow every child to get a great education.  Any child who can’t read or do basic math by the 2^nd grade is doomed.  Our state (and others) have done this to them, forcing them into bad public schools and then “social promoting” them on, instead of holding them back to be sure they have the basics.  Kids graduate every day with pathetic skills, despite the fact that given a chance, they could do really well.  Our teacher union is partly to blame.  And so is Newsom, who would never consider pissing off his donors by offering vouchers.

Several states are providing grants to every family to fund the education of their choice.  Many opt for home or group educational pods.  There are so many options today.  Give any child a great educational start and there’s no telling how far he/she can go.  They will be inspired by their success and go on to do great things.  Not everyone has as amazing a parent as Dr. Ben Carson. Despite her poverty, she insisted he work hard, even at a less-than-optimal school, wanting to see him rise far past the work she was able to do.  And surpass her he did.  How many other Ben Carsons are out there, being deprived of their futures by not being given the opportunity to learn?

Nothing else can repair the damage:  Not money, loan forgiveness or houses.  When someone gives you something you didn’t earn, your human growth potential is quashed.  We can make a difference in people’s lives, but we have to do it in a proven, affordable way.  F--- those like the unions who are invested in the status quo.  The need is urgent and they are the ones who must give way to concrete improvements in opportunity.