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I lived in the Bay Area for 15 years. One thing interesting about the Bay Area in the recent years is that Progressivism has become almost uniform throughout the 30 mile radius of San Francisco Oakland, and Berkeley, San Jose and its suburbs are all. If one city sneezes out a progressive policy most other cities would soon catch cold. The phenomenon is much less the case in other parts of the state such as SoCal where city councils are reluctant to look at progressive policies that some of their neighbors might have passed. With the exception of coastal Los Angeles area cities and the Coachella Valley Palm springs area. Though alas as Bay Area and other coastal politicians has ever more control over Sacramento these days its hard to prevent such policies from becoming statewide these days so even living inland or in Orange County SoCal is not safe from Bay Area policies from being imposed on. On the flip side these groups would be angry if local control is usurped from them in other ways. Though it appears politicians regardless of their positions only defend local control if it fit their agenda.
Yep. And regardless of one's politics, this is the process by which power is centralized at ever higher levels. You eventually end up with oligarchy/dictatorship. Oops, looks like that's the direction both California and the U.S. are going. Citizens seem ok with dictatorship if a dictator supports policies they want...but that can turn very quickly. Yet people don't (want to?) see their own role in creating this monster.
"Crap" like "bag rules" - as if there was not a colossal global problem of plastic trash in waterways and oceans. I think it's a good law, and in time will be national in scope.
I have no idea how one turns a roadway into an "anti car mecca." Gee, couldn't possibly be a complex problem deserving of a public policy response, could it? (traffic, commute times, pollution, economic growth, tax revenue, fuel economy standards, oil exploration subsidies, carbon emissions....the list goes on.....)
Nah, it's about my freedom to drive my car in my way. Hmm, why don't I have the freedom to drive as fast as I want? Why do I have to stop at red lights, man? Why is the government putting up all those dumb traffic lights everywhere? Stupid Bay Area.
Fun times chatting, though.
There's a much bigger agenda with the bike lanes and all that. This liberal progressive woman from the Bay Area talks about it here (the short version):
Pretty funny you should say that. It's restrictive land use and zoning policies pushed by liberals that have priced you out of the Bay Area housing market.
By the way, neither of those states are really libertarian, but clearly you're more interested in name calling than actual facts.
Pretty funny you should say that. It's restrictive land use and zoning policies pushed by liberals that have priced you out of the Bay Area housing market.
By the way, neither of those states are really libertarian, but clearly you're more interested in name calling than actual facts.
No, it's because everyone and their brother wants to live here. I could buy a house in Alabama or Georgia in cash if I wanted to.
No, it's because everyone and their brother wants to live here. I could buy a house in Alabama or Georgia in cash if I wanted to.
Wrong.
Actually, California's population growth rate has been about the same as the U.S. as a whole for the past 20 or 30 years. This can easily be checked with a google search.
And even the liberal New York Times recently recently did an article on how California's restrictive zoning regulations has led to a crisis in home affordability.
...the churning economy has run up against 30 years of resistance to the kind of development experts say is urgently needed. California has always been a desirable place to live and over the decades has gone through periodic spasms of high housing costs, but officials say the combination of a booming economy and the lack of construction of homes and apartments have combined to make this the worst housing crisis here in memory.
Other liberal leaning outlets have said similar things over the past few years:
There is a deep literature tying liberal residents to illiberal housing policies that create affordability crunches for the middle class. In 2010, UCLA economist Matthew Kahn published a study of California cities, which found that liberal metros issued fewer new housing permits. The correlation held over time: As California cities became more liberal, he said, they built fewer homes.
Actually, California's population growth rate has been about the same as the U.S. as a whole for the past 20 or 30 years. This can easily be checked with a google search.
And even the liberal New York Times recently recently did an article on how California's restrictive zoning regulations has led to a crisis in home affordability.
...the churning economy has run up against 30 years of resistance to the kind of development experts say is urgently needed. California has always been a desirable place to live and over the decades has gone through periodic spasms of high housing costs, but officials say the combination of a booming economy and the lack of construction of homes and apartments have combined to make this the worst housing crisis here in memory.
Other liberal leaning outlets have said similar things over the past few years:
There is a deep literature tying liberal residents to illiberal housing policies that create affordability crunches for the middle class. In 2010, UCLA economist Matthew Kahn published a study of California cities, which found that liberal metros issued fewer new housing permits. The correlation held over time: As California cities became more liberal, he said, they built fewer homes.
I don't support it but I do know how to play the game. For those that choose not to, they'll find it hard sledding to be around this neck of the woods. "Seeing through the game is not the same as winning the game".
Umm, that poster was merely answering the OP's question - even said "I'm used to it," so I'd hardly call that complaining. Also, complaining about (and then working to change) what you view as wrong is the CORE of American values. Anyone who uses the old "if you don't like it, then leave" diatribe is essentially assaulting what makes this country great. JMO.
Now to answer the original question, I'm very liberal but in more of an independent/libertarian kind of way; meaning I don't care what other people do or feel, as long as it's not directly harming anyone else. So I'm not a fan of "nanny laws" which are so prevalent here, like the over-extending smoking bans, food bans/restrictions, even seatbelt and helmet laws to some extent. Hey, if you wanna turn your brain into pasta, why should anyone try to stop you? Of course, I'm referring only to adults here.
More leiglsation to either make more excuses for police to stop you or government to ding you during inspections of your business. They would not stop now they would just keep nitpicking over the years.
I also notice its becoming more and more of the states job to raise children as many laws are cracking down on them. Common sense would to believe that its parents job protect their children not the state. Children's helmet and curfews legislation equals More excuses to stop children to issuing tickets in which the parents end up paying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mysticaltyger
There's a much bigger agenda with the bike lanes and all that. This liberal progressive woman from the Bay Area talks about it here (the short version):
Yep. And regardless of one's politics, this is the process by which power is centralized at ever higher levels. You eventually end up with oligarchy/dictatorship. Oops, looks like that's the direction both California and the U.S. are going. Citizens seem ok with dictatorship if a dictator supports policies they want...but that can turn very quickly. Yet people don't (want to?) see their own role in creating this monster.
Speaking of UN Agenda 21 true it appears there is a an ever growing power to bring up a one world government though all that stands in between them is whether the government agency would give in. We mostly hear of countries, state/provinces/regions or cities around the world who give into these repeated cut and paste legislation. They want control of the people in making a statement they must suffer to save the world i.e air conditioning temperature restrictions, bag bans, which is often an unnecessary measure with today's technology. The Bay Area just happen to be one location where we have a large number of politicians willing to give in to such. They just change the language slightly to meet the local cultures and flora, i.e using polluting the ocean may not work so well in an area that is thousands of miles landlocked. But These groups just won't stop until they get a one world government with their utopian legislation no matter where it is. If you do an internet search you would find how many countries in which similar legislation is pushed again and again. What I like about some states/countries is that they resist such efforts to Agenda 21 one world government in their states and ordered their cities to not act as pawns in which these lobbyists often take advantage of city council members to advance their fronts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Finper
Great post. It is also true in so cal though. For instance Huntington Beach is building like crazy. The nimbys are fighting it for all they have but it's a done deal and hotels and apts are being built on every empty lot
True it happened in Carlsbad where the city council unanimously approved a large outdoor mall in a swampy land area despite residents strong opposition. Carlsbad already has too malls for such a small city. They almost made an indoor mall to an outdoor one. Good thing that didn't happen or we will have three outdoor malls in such a small city and no place for refuge in event of bad weather. Though unlike most other places the citizens started a referendum and voted the projects out harray for citizens power. Alas this is the exception more than the norm these days and only happened in a few cities in OC(The tea party) and SoCal. I guess the people are also to blame for not working together to voice their opinions. The last election shows that a vocal minority still has control over the ballot box in CA. I guess the people are also at fault. We need to know that politicians are not their to serve us but their "pals" regardless of which type. Don't just think of it as good or bad luck whatever they vote for but think of as if its your job to take regain control.
Thats what I always want to know. Though it appears there are some people like me who went through a lot trying including attending city council meetings and gathering signature petitions. Though while many people may support the cause there is not much who are are able to work together. It appears people are negative and think they would always lose when confronting special interests and one sided media. If the council majority wants to build a mall or hotel in residents' backyards or ban a certain item or activity or require something they are going to do it regardless even if more than half the city showed up to meetings or wrote letters to tell them not to. Lobbyists drive the show in council meetings it just depending on whether the council majority gives in and usually the end results are known well before the public council vote. In the Bay Area leftist lobbyists would likely win control over the council chamber but developers can sometimes win control of the same council makeup too. Apparently they can be hypocritical by authorizing developers to hurt the environment but at the same time penalize relatively harmless activities by voting residents.
This happens in city council meetings when the opposition is basically lined up to the door of the council chambers but their letters and severely limited speaking time becomes fruitless as long before the issue is made public its already a done deal between the lobbyists and council majority and nothing will change their minds. Also Many people gave up voting after learning that all the candidates think the same way and that their votes are just an illusion of control in an long already set agenda. Voting them out would not be an option and even if it were the next council would be just the same. The pre selection process already have sealed their fate and hammered the nails in the coffin. I know that three Milpitas city council members that opposed a lot of bad policies pushed by Bay Area type lobbyists and their city manager they were bullied hard until the end of their terms. Essentially they all gotten ran out of town by the next term and replaced with a council majority that passed all these bias policies. In other words you won't last more than one term if you don't run the city in a uber left manner or agree with uber left policies. This is not the case in SoCal though alas unless Sacramento says otherwise. Though we can't blame the general population in the Bay Area for this as many immigrants in these cities who strive to make a living don't want more meddling in our livelyhoods. Most Milpitas residents and business owners were very relieved when the city did not embrace in new ordinances that other Bay Area cities embraced.
True great pacific garbage patch if its proven to exist would not only not be reduced by these bans. It makes it worse as many six packs, wrappers, straws, and all those other plastics that our groceries comes with are far less likely to be tied in and will likely blow away from where its kept. Its much safer to give shoppers the option to have something to contain all that wrapping and used plastic items before throwing it into the garbage to prevent trash confetti. The pictures of sea turtles eating a piece of plastic is often misleading as it is a piece of fishing gear their eating. Though if those used fishing gear were all properly tied in bags and properly disposed of in trash it would not have been eaten by the turtle.
The thing with cities and City Council meetings its the small, loud minority who shows up and makes a big stink/deal about things that the general population may be more supportive of. Generally speaking if people either support or are indifferent to something they won't speak up or say so. It's always the naysayers who dominate and speak at city council meetings and get their way or some sort of concession.
Quote:
True it happened in Carlsbad where the city council unanimously approved a large outdoor mall in a swampy land area despite residents strong opposition. Carlsbad already has too malls for such a small city. They almost made an indoor mall to an outdoor one. Good thing that didn't happen or we will have three outdoor malls in such a small city and no place for refuge in event of bad weather. Though unlike most other places the citizens started a referendum and voted the projects out harray for citizens power. Alas this is the exception more than the norm these days and only happened in a few cities in OC(The tea party) and SoCal. I guess the people are also to blame for not working together to voice their opinions. The last election shows that a vocal minority still has control over the ballot box in CA. I guess the people are also at fault. We need to know that politicians are not their to serve us but their "pals" regardless of which type. Don't just think of it as good or bad luck whatever they vote for but think of as if its your job to take regain control.
SoCal cities seem way more controlled by developers and special interests and ignore their residents more so compared to Northern CA. Can be both good and bad depending on how you look at it. Pro is SoCal cities generally are more development friendly which means more housing but the con also more sprawl and they love sprawling commercial/retail development that in a way is a detriment to the quality of life in the big picture. Planning and development wise Carlsbad has made a lot of bad decisions over the years (just way too sprawly/auto-oriented) but I commend them for blocking that development on the lagoon. Sounds like SoCal cities are becoming more NIMBY like NorCal lol.
Seriously though how many days of "refuge in the event of bad weather" would you need there? 1 or2? I don't get why any indoor malls even exist there, it's such a waste given the climate.
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