California is Still Very Much America
When I spoke at the Patriot Movement Arizona rally in early March, I heard a lot of people say “Make California America Again.” A former Navy seal who later ran for Congress made the same joke to me when he was out of state. “I’m not in California right now. I’m in America.”
Those comments really incensed me, though. Four and a half million Californians voted for Trump in 2016. Even though the state legislature has gone full-tilt communist, Californians up and down the state are rising up against the state legislature, which has become destructive to the ends for which governments are instituted among men. The media won’t cover these restorative trends emerging throughout the state, so here goes. Entire counties in North State (Siskiyou, Tehama, Shasta, and El Dorado) have resolutely refused to comply with California’s sanctuary state insanity. Kern County has also joined that list.
Then the cities started rising up. On March 19th, 2018, the Los Alamitos City Council passed their first draft of the official Constitution Compliance ordinance, rejecting California’s ill-conceived, abusive, unconstitutional sanctuary state law. In spite of a massive crowd from within the city and throughout the region, plus intimidation from the ACLU, the city council voted 4-to-1 for the ordinance. On April 16th, they will vote for the second reading and make it official. March 19th will be viewed as a historic day in California and for the country, not a date of infamy, but defiance against the arrogant, narrow-minded political establishment, conservative and liberal, as well as the well-wishing yet cynical media.
Los Alamitos fired the Second Shot Heard Round the World, and the fight hasn’t stopped here. The little city with a world-renowned race-track took the risk, and it is paying off. Within days, Yorba Linda, CA (the birthplace of Richard Nixon) filed an amicus brief with Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s lawsuit against California’s sanctuary state policies. Then the Orange County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution condemning the sanctuary state law and filed their own amicus brief in turn. I was there, and the thrill of victory filled the chamber, even while open border zealots and left-wing interest groups pouted in disgust as the Board unanimously voted to defy the lawless state legislature.
Then another welcome surprise emerged on the breaking news horizon: Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has published all the release times for inmates in her county jail, legal or illegal! This move skirts the demonic spirit of the sanctuary state law and put the lawless statewide law enforcement officials (like California Attorney General Xavier Becerra) in a worse bind. Becerra then had to face a crushing press conference in which he was forced to answer whether he planned to prosecute Sheriff Hutchens. Laughably, he told the press corps that he would uphold state law. Funny! The state legislature routinely flouts their own rules, and they pass legislation defying federal law. The Democrats in Sacramento started out threatening cities and private businesses. Now they are feeling the heat.
The winning didn’t stop that day. Quickly, I dashed over to Buena Park in North Orange County, the location of Knott’s Berry Farm. One city councilmember was prepared to seek a resolution against SB 54, too, but backed off at the last minute. I fired back during public comment. Now more than ever, we need elected officials to protect citizens, our law enforcement, and most importantly the rule of law! Then I dashed down to Mission Viejo. For the first time in three years, I attended a city council meeting where likeminded, pro-American patriots outnumbered the vocal yet viciously ignorant opposition.
Naui Huitzilopochtli was there, too, the man who has routinely harassed women, children, and people of color over their pro-enforcement views. Not only was he outnumbered, but Mission Viejo Mayor Ed Sachs slammed him for his repeated interruptions and outbursts in the city council chambers: “Some people don’t seem to realize that this country is the last place on earth where you can say whatever you want, even if it means the right to act like a buffoon!” The whole chamber rocked with laughter at the bigot in our midst. The city council then voted unanimously to approve a resolution condemning SB 54 and join the DOJ lawsuit with an amicus brief.
It was a stunning victory. It is nothing short of a dream now becoming a reality. The cities of Escondido, San Juan Capistrano, and now San Diego County are joining the fight! Granted, residents in droves are fleeing California. Businesses are closing, and homeowners can’t sell off fast enough. U-Haul companies are running out of trucks to rent to customers ready to move out of California. But for me, and for many of my conservative friends, we are not leaving. Why should we have to pull up stakes and run from the state where we were born, which we call home? The American colonists didn’t run away when the British came. They stood up and fought back.
So are we Californians, for California is still very much America—and worth fighting for! https://townhall.com/columnists/arthurschaper/2018/03/31/california-is-still-very-much-america-n2466482
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Without CA., the ten poorest states would starve to death, and they are all red states.
Did you bother to read what the study you cite uses for metrics? And, while California ranks second overall, did you notice that it actually ranks firmly in the middle for Economic Health? And, did you notice that this was in 2016 before all of the legislation that is causing the resurgence of the secession movement in California to become news along with the resistance to California's Sanctuary status?
But, but, but...."what about" all the debt the state has acquired and has no realistic way to pay off....and does it even include the San Joaquin boondoggle, aka the "The Mostly Empty Train To Nowhere"??
"Our estimate of California government debt represents about 52% of California’s Gross State Product of $2.48 trillion."
The US has a GDP of $18.5 trillion and a debt of almost $21 trillion, making the debt about 120% of our GDP. So California isn't doing that bad at all in comparison.
So California owes 1/8th of the National debt? Is that because we have 1/8th of the population? It would only make sense if we were taking more in entitlements than we were paying in taxes, which we're not. Unlike nearly every single Republican majority State, California pays more in taxes than it takes in entitlements. We're the only reason some Republican States haven't starved to death yet.
They would actually have to pay more in taxes than they take to be subsidizing anything. Just because many in California were getting a tax break for the high property taxes they were paying doesn't mean Red States were paying our share, we were still paying more than any of those States with dirt priced properties and next to nothing property taxes. Will we now end up paying more in taxes than we were under the big tax break for corporations Trump tricked his dumb ass followers into supporting? Yes, even though we were already paying more than any Republican majority State. Now we get to pay even more to subsidize the rusting rust belt and lazy out of work trailer park laden south.
Maybe you could stretch your legs and enjoy the fabulous outdoors where you live. Look at what's right outside your door. Why worry about the number of articles you can post on a daily basis to a blog site ? Get out there !
They need us more then we need them and when they are bitching about California they should keep that in mind.
But we're not going to let you go. If only just to piss you off if for no other reason.
Sadly, Randy, I have to agree with you as the Constitution states it is up to each state's legislature to determine whether any part of said state can secede from that state. If the Jefferson movement wants to secede from California and gets enough support by the people in the areas desiring to secede, California's legislature can stop them anyways by refusing to let them go and it would be Constitutional.
It's not just the California Legislature, it is the United States Congress. The new State cannot be formed from other States without California's approval (not a chance in hell) and then US Congressional approval * and they won't grant it simply because a new State of Jefferson does not have the infrastructure necessary to function as a State without massive US Government help.
* Article 4, Section 3 of the Constitution:
Clause 1. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
I'll support creating the new state of Jefferson, as long as it's a hole the size of a football stadium in Death Valley, down wind from any major cities.
" So are we Californians, for California is still very much America—and worth fighting for!"
Real Californians have always been loyal to the constitution and represent the best America has to offer in terms of innovation, diversity, empathy, education, investment capital, high paying jobs, environmental protections and eco-friendly tourism. The handful of counties with the four million Trump supporters are experiencing hard times because they refuse to join the rest of California in the 21st century. They are the small backwater rural hollars that look much like those found across the south that ridicule higher education, indoctrinate their children in idiotic conspiracy theories of some imaginary "deep State", gin up fear of minorities, push white nationalist and white supremacist ignorance and pretend to be cowboys. There are 39 million Californians, that means there are 35 million of us who are the driving engine of a $2.4 trillion GDP in spite of the 4 million dragging their feet, bitching and moaning over environmental regulations that help keep our State green but limit their ability to irresponsibly sell off our resources to fracking, logging and destructive strip mining operations like many in the Midwest have done. Those across the Midwest who have abandoned their responsibility to the environment for their 30 pieces of silver are now reaping what they've sown in terms of air pollution, tap water you can light on fire, sick children and ever shrinking populations. Well California's are smarter than that and have consistently voted against such irresponsible and destructive methods which is what pisses the ignorant opportunists off who can't wait to sell out our limited resources for their own gain.
Are they? Really? If they were loyal to the Constitution, why have they elected politicians who thumb their noses at the Constitution and keep electing them? For instance, the 2nd Amendment contains these words "shall not be infringed", yet Diane Feinstein, Gov. Brown, nearly the entire California legislature, Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters, etc. all try to infringe the 2nd Amendment by proposing gun control. Then, on top of that the mayor of Oakland tells every single illegal immigrant about an ICE operation to arrest illegal immigrants, particularly violent illegal immigrants; along with the Sanctuary laws passed by the California legislature and signed by Brown in violation of the Supremacy clause of the US Constitution and the 10th Amendment since immigration is given directly to the Federal government not to the States by the Constitution.
Even Justice Scalia ruled that the 2nd amendment IS NOT UNLIMITED. Reasonable, sensible gun safety and gun control measures are NOT unconstitutional. Only half wits and ammosexuals believe that nonsense. We have lots of laws banning certain types of guns and if a majority wants to add AR-15's or any other sort of gun they can as long as they aren't banning all guns. When was the last time you were denied the right to buy a gun Tom? Please do regale us with your tales of being denied your constitutional right to bear arms, if you can't then quit lying about Democrats.
As for the sanctuary city laws, they DO NOT REGULATE IMMIGRATION thus they do not in any way violate the constitution. They merely allow local law enforcement to do their jobs instead of also working as an ICE officer for which they don't get paid. It does not set any immigration law.
Of course to be fair to DP he did say "real" Californians. I am not 100% sure those you mentioned are even real Americans.
Could it be that Scalia stated that the 2nd Amendment is not unlimited because of the beginning wording: "A well-regulated militia"? That means as long as government defines what the militia is and its role, then the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited. However, preventing or restricting members of the militia from keeping and bearing any arms no matter the type is prohibited by the "shall not be infringed". This is where Title 10 of the US Code comes in to play as it defines the duties and composition of the militia; which means any able-bodied male between ages 17 and 45 and women in the National Guard cannot be restricted in their ownership and possession of any type of armament.
As for the Sanctuary city laws, they do regulate the ENFORCEMENT of immigration law, which is not an elective of the state or local government as per the Supremacy Clause. The Supremacy Clause does not state, and neither does any of the Amendments, that Federal laws shall only be enforced by Federal agents and state and local governments can pick and choose which laws to enforce. IF you don't believe me, read it:
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.
That is Article VI and its second paragraph taken from
Note, it states that the Federal law must be enforced by EVERY state.
That's just ridiculous. There are hundreds of "armaments" that are illegal to own, even for military personal outside the confines of military service. From rocket propelled grenades, plastic explosives, tanks with working large caliber cannons, automatic machine guns, literally anything that could be defined as "dangerous and unusual" for civilian use.
“We also recognize another important limitation on the right to keep and carry arms. ‘Miller’ said, as we have explained, that the sorts of weapons protected were those ‘in common use at the time.’ 307 U.S., at 179, 59 S.Ct. 816. We think that limitation is fairly supported by the historical tradition of prohibiting the carrying of ‘dangerous and unusual weapons. ’” Justice Scalia
" So rather than saying “assault weapons,” in the future perhaps we should say “the kinds of weapons that Justice Antonin Scalia has defined as ‘dangerous and unusual’ and subject to regulation or an outright ban under the Second Amendment.”
You are wrong. With the proper licences and permits, a private citizen is legally able to possess any of the weapon systems you mentioned.
It's actually on par with the 30-06 hunting rifle, but has less kinetic energy as shown by the last column in the chart in the following article:
And, you ignore his hedge of:
It may be objected that if weapons that are most useful in military service — M-16 rifles and the like — may be banned, then the Second Amendment right is completely detached from the prefatory clause.
You should have read the entire article before posting it.
He goes on to say that today's militia in order to be as effective as 18th century militias would need to have modern arms. Remember at the time of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, the militias had the exact same weapons as the standing British army.
California's priorities lie in Plastic Straws and Cancer Labels on Coffee Cups.................
Enough Said.
Yes, I would say you have said enough to be understood.
Having the most industry is not all that makes a state. California is a beautiful state in many ways, but they have the highest per person state tax of any other state. I think they have the highest per person homeless population of any state as well. There are good things and bad things in each of our 50 states. Some states are blessed to have a good environment and others aren't so fortunate. Some states have 100s of miles of ocean which make them more available for shipping and receiving goods while others are stuck in the middle of nowhere surrounded and enclosed by mountains that are much more difficult to navigate to, from and within. Some states have little to worry about when it comes to climate or earthquakes while others are located in places where there are these dangers.
Glad to see North Carolina, where I live, isn't beside an orange number, but I wouldn't want to live in Florida either and certainly not New Jersey. We have the Mountains, the Piedmont (hilly), the Sand Hills (pretty flat with lots of my least favorite trees (Pine Trees) and the Coastal Areas. We have the hurricanes to deal with and sometimes we have tornadoes (something I really fear). Every state has its good and bad. I'm relatively happen living where I do. Grown tired of Charlotte. I grew up barefoot and a pair of shorts on and long for a lot less crime and traffic which Charlotte doesn't offer any longer.
There is an interactive map and article about the information above at this link .
And since we also want to talk about guns, here are some quotes by our Founding Fathers.....
George Washington Gun Quotes
“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined…”
– George Washington, First Annual Address, to both House of Congress, January 8, 1790
“And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; or to raise standing armies, unless necessary for the defense of the United States, or of some one or more of them; or to prevent the people from petitioning, in a peaceable and orderly manner, the federal legislature, for a redress of grievances; or to subject the people to unreasonable searches and seizures of their persons, papers or possessions.”
-George Washington, Debates of the Massachusetts Convention of February 6, 1788
Thomas Jefferson Gun Quotes
“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.”
– Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Constitution, Draft 1, 1776
“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”
– Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, January 30, 1787
“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.”
– Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, December 20, 1787
“The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes…. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.”
– Thomas Jefferson, Commonplace Book (quoting 18th century criminologist Cesare Beccaria), 1774-1776
Benjamin Franklin Gun Quotes
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
– Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!”
-Benjamin Franklin
George Mason Gun Quotes
“To disarm the people…[i]s the most effectual way to enslave them.”
– George Mason, referencing advice given to the British Parliament by Pennsylvania governor Sir William Keith, The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adooption of the Federal Constitution , June 14, 1788
“I ask who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers.”
– George Mason, Address to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 4, 1788
Noah Webster Gun Quotes
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops.”
– Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution , October 10, 1787
James Madison Gun Quotes
“Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of.”
– James Madison, Federalist No. 46 , January 29, 1788
William Pitt Gun Quotes
“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.”
– William Pitt (the Younger), Speech in the House of Commons, November 18, 1783
Patrick Henry Gun Quotes
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined…. The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun.”
– Patrick Henry, Speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 5, 1778
“Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?”
-Patrick Henry, Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution
Many More....
How can anyone doubt what the purpose of the 2nd Amendment was and is?
Liberal/moonbeam California is located primarily in the coastal cities and it’s the coastal cities that are hellbent on overrunning the state with illegal aliens. Give moonbeam California back to Mexico and then build a wall between moonbeam and the United States. That way, we could get rid of the illegal aliens and the liberals who harbor them at the same time.