Ya know what, HNC? I am a very rare breed indeed--that of the NATIVE Californian. Yes, say that word again, "NATIVE." Allow it to roll off the tongue. That means I know how California USED to be, what it was before it became a giant pool of tanned and botoxed shit, where the three most important words are 1--ME, 2--ME, 3--ME.
I remember days when you could actually get on a freeway between the hours of 7am to 10 am, or 3 pm to 8 pm, and not worry about how many "Sigalerts" you'd encounter between you and your 10-miles distant destination, or whether or not it would take more than an hour. I never worried about whether or not some asshole would go road rage on my ass for some transgression, real or perceived. I never worried about being ass-ended by some ****er who would either 1--run off because they had no driver's license insurance, 2--plead, "no habla" and of course have no license or insurance.
I remember the California of the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, and The Mamas and the Papas, not the one of Tupac, Snoop Dogg, The Offspring, and a hundred other angry, angst-ridden memes.
I remember unbridled hedonistic liberalism was confined to a few bastions in Hollywood, San Francisco, etc, and the rest of the state was steadfastly conservative. Now there's a very good reason why it's called, "The Orange Curtain." California has gone from the land of Nixon and Reagan to the land of Babs Boxer, Governor Moonbeam (again, REALLY?) and Botox San Fran Nan.
I remember when jobs were plentiful and paid well, if not luxuriously. The middle class could exist, and indeed thrive. These days a seven-figure home is what most people in flyover country refer to as "crackerbox."
Businesses were drawn to California by the eager, well-educated labor force. Today they're driven out by the taxes and onerous regulation.
I remember when California was called, "The Golden State." Today, the government--which the PEOPLE of California elect into office time and time again--has killed that golden entity. The only glow coming from California these days is from your once vaunted paradise burning itself to the ground.
I remember a California where I thought I could spend my life, make a living, raising a family, growing old. Then I woke up. The best part of California I saw was five years ago, in my rear view mirror.
I'm told by my relatives, "Well, the weather is nice!" Great--enjoy your sunshine while you starve, can't find a job, can't/won't leave, and are crushed by the oppression around you.
I "went Galt." I kick Californians in the balls because I saw what California REALLY was even just a few short decades ago, and how it's fallen, and how it seems hell bent on falling farther still. Like an alcoholic or drug-addicted family member, you feel sad, but deep down you know there's little if anything that can be done before they hit bottom. I hear people bitch, then keep on doing the same shit that got them into the mess they're in. I don't "hate" SoCal, dude. I hate what it's become, because it really WAS better back in the day. Here's hoping someone, ANYONE, can pull that place out of the nosedive, but as for me, I don't see it happening. C'est la dommage, bud.
****in sad.
