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As late as the 80s, California was democratic in a fundamental sense, a place for outsiders and, increasingly, immigrants—roughly 60 percent of the population was considered middle class. Now, instead of a land of opportunity, California has become increasingly feudal. According to recent census estimates, the state suffers some of the highest levels of inequality in the country. By some estimates, the state’s level of inequality compares with that of such global models as the Dominican Republic, Gambia, and the Republic of the Congo.
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Rest at link.
Kind of a long read, but an interesting read nonetheless.
Interesting how the author states the only real challenge to the CA status quo will be from the more fringe elements of the left who do not consider California sufficiently progressive since the right is effectively vanquished in the state.
The Daily Beast is a pretty leftist site in and of itself, so I was surprised the author pinpointed the aspects of liberalism for the states woes.
Kind of a long read, but an interesting read nonetheless.
Interesting how the author states the only real challenge to the CA status quo will be from the more fringe elements of the left who do not consider California sufficiently progressive since the right is effectively vanquished in the state.
The Daily Beast is a pretty leftist site in and of itself, so I was surprised the author pinpointed the aspects of liberalism for the states woes.
Sigh... Joel Kotkin again??? Why is he the only urbanist you guys ever link to? Because he's made a career out of BASHING California at every opportunity?
The gap between the oligarchic class and everyone else seems increasingly
permanent. A critical component of assuring class mobility, California’s once
widely admired public schools were recently ranked near
the absolute bottom in the country. Think about this: despite the state’s huge
tech sector, California eighth graders scored 47th out of the 51 states in
science testing. No wonder Mark Zuckerberg and other oligarchs are so anxious to
import “techno coolies” from abroad.
Sigh... Joel Kotkin again??? Why is he the only urbanist you guys ever link to? Because he's made a career out of BASHING California at every opportunity?
Do you know he lives in Encino?
Look to your own house before demanding changes elsewhere.
LOL..more like pointing out that liberal policies only served to make income inequality a bigger gap than it used to be.
And -- let me guess -- the solution is to reduce taxes on the rich (of whom California has an enormous abundance) and increase them on the poor. To you cons, the real problem with income inequality is that there isn't enough of it.
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