From the LA Times, an Op-Ed article by Kerry Jackson of the Pacific Research Institute:

"Why is liberal California the poverty capital of America?"

Guess which state has the highest poverty rate in the country? Not Mississippi, New Mexico, or West Virginia, but California, where nearly one out of five residents is poor. That’s according to the Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure, which factors in the cost of housing, food, utilities and clothing, and which includes noncash government assistance as a form of income.

Given robust job growth and the prosperity generated by several industries, it’s worth asking why California has fallen behind, especially when the state’s per-capita GDP increased approximately twice as much as the U.S. average over the five years ending in 2016 (12.5%, compared with 6.27%).

It’s not as though California policymakers have neglected to wage war on poverty. Sacramento and local governments have spent massive amounts in the cause. Several state and municipal benefit programs overlap with one another; in some cases, individuals with incomes 200% above the poverty line receive benefits. California state and local governments spent nearly $958 billion from 1992 through 2015 on public welfare programs, including cash-assistance payments, vendor payments and “other public welfare,” according to the Census Bureau. California, with 12% of the American population, is home today to about one in three of the nation’s welfare recipients.

The generous spending, then, has not only failed to decrease poverty; it actually seems to have made it worse. <emphasis added>

Article continues at link below

http://www.latimes.com/opinion...-20180114-story.html

My wife had a great job offer in California about 18 months ago, but after looking into the economics of it, as well as the government and Second Amendment issues, we were fortunate to pass. Now someone writes what I found and believed when we were looking at the offer.

Well, clearly this is the fault of the rich and famous in California not doing their part to raise the standard of living and prosperity for all Californians.

It doesn't matter how much or how little people make in CA, as long as they vote for Democrats.

As to all the money spent in CA to hlep the needy, how much was to provide a temporary safety net, how much to provide a permanent hammock? How much of the total budget was eaten by politicians and bureaucrats vs how much actually got into the hands of the needy. For the dollars that did get into needy pockets, how much was spent on fancy cars, big screen TV's, etc, how much for basic food-clothing-shelter-health.

Kerry Jackson is the Pacific Research Institute's fellow in California studies. This essay was adapted from the winter issue of City Journal.

This is an important article... and the City Journal is an awesome publication.

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Originally posted by Rightwire:
Well, clearly this is the fault of the rich and famous in California not doing their part to raise the standard of living and prosperity for all Californians.

Not true. One has only to read the comments following the article to find gems such as

"One of the endless features that make right-wingers so contemptible is their disingenuousness, e.g., pinning poverty rates on liberal policies."

Clearly, the plight is the fault of sinister conservative plots despite the valiant efforts of the democrats.

California: how to turn a once-glorious state into a shithole, one leftist policy at a time.

Let's see...generous welfare spending on top of a high cost of living on top of a regulatory structure that makes it damned hard to get a buisness off of the ground equals a middle class exodus. There aren't that many filthy rich people in California, so with the middle class moving out and the already-absurd cost of living going up, the overall proportion of people living in poverty is both relatively huge and growing with every passing year. What's so hard to understand about that?

What's the Matter with California?

By Michael Walsh January 14, 2018

This just in from what was once the best state in the Union:

Guess which state has the highest poverty rate in the country? Not Mississippi, New Mexico, or West Virginia, but California, where nearly one out of five residents is poor. That’s according to the Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure, which factors in the cost of housing, food, utilities and clothing, and which includes noncash government assistance as a form of income.

Given robust job growth and the prosperity generated by several industries, it’s worth asking why California has fallen behind, especially when the state’s per-capita GDP increased approximately twice as much as the U.S. average over the five years ending in 2016 (12.5%, compared with 6.27%).

The Left's first, last and only instinct is to throw more money at the problem, but California's already done that. and guess what?

It’s not as though California policymakers have neglected to wage war on poverty. Sacramento and local governments have spent massive amounts in the cause. Several state and municipal benefit programs overlap with one another; in some cases, individuals with incomes 200% above the poverty line receive benefits. California state and local governments spent nearly $958 billion from 1992 through 2015 on public welfare programs, including cash-assistance payments, vendor payments and “other public welfare,” according to the Census Bureau. California, with 12% of the American population, is home today to about one in three of the nation’s welfare recipients.

The generous spending, then, has not only failed to decrease poverty; it actually seems to have made it worse.

The progressives who control every aspect of the state's government are not necessarily stupid people, but they are malign. They understand that increasing welfare spending only encourages the arrival of more recipients on whom to spend it, and the high likelihood that those new constituents will vote Democrat as soon as they are able, legally or otherwise. Already, some 55 percent of "immigrants" receive means-tested benefits, while only 30 percent of native Californians do so.

The Tragic Decline of California

California's army of bureaucrats contributes as well, as does the state's highly restrictive land-use ordinances and environmental restrictions, which drive up the cost of housing in what is already the nation's most expensive real-estate market:

With 883,000 full-time-equivalent state and local employees in 2014, California has an enormous bureaucracy. Many work in social services, and many would lose their jobs if the typical welfare client were to move off the welfare rolls.

Further contributing to the poverty problem is California’s housing crisis. More than four in 10 households spent more than 30% of their income on housing in 2015. A shortage of available units has driven prices ever higher, far above income increases. And that shortage is a direct outgrowth of misguided policies.

They're not "misguided" -- in fact, they're doing exactly what the progressives designed them to do. Higher housing prices means more money in the pockets of Angelenos and San Franciscans when they go to sell, high energy prices have a disproportionate impact on the poor, generous welfare "benefits" mean an endless supply of new Democrats and permanent employment for the public-employee unions who actually run the state.

It's a perfect racket, and one that will continue unless and until the California Republicans get their act together and begin vigorously contesting what has become a one-party state designed to enrich those at the top, beggar the middle class, and keep those on the bottom in permanent penury.

https://pjmedia.com/trending/whats-matter-california/

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Originally posted by Tn226....Clearly, the plight is the fault of sinister conservative plots despite the valiant efforts of the democrats.

Democrats, like all good socialisits, feed themselves first, the "poor" get the leftovers.

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Originally posted by rusbro:
California: how to turn a once-glorious state into a shithole, one leftist policy at a time.

It doesn't matter if your description is accurate, you used that forbidden/racist/ugly/evil word, therefore, you are wrong and you are to blame for the problem.

My guess is that the 40% or so of the population of SoCal being illegal aliens doesn't help.

flashguy

I heard a talking head say that blacks now only make up 6% of the population in CA. Is that correct or is it BS?

Interesting to read the comments on the OpEd. I hope all those defending the Golden State, stay there the rest of their lives.

As a CA native, there's a bit of truth to both sides of the argument. What you can't argue are facts - increasing welfare rolls, high taxes, poorly performing schools, impoverished San Joaquin valley towns, etc.

The DEMs have controlled the executive and legislature for decades. You can't blame poor performance on REPs. These are your policies and you get to own the outcome/consequences.

Just once I'd love to have some DEM from Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Santa Barbara or the Bay Area travel out to Fresno, Modesto, Stockton, Tulare, etc. Explain to these poor souls why we have to raise taxes, divert water from agriculture, install special bathrooms for the 0.001%, and pay the highest utility costs in the nation.

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Originally posted by Scoutmaster:

quote:

Originally posted by rusbro:
California: how to turn a once-glorious state into a shithole, one leftist policy at a time.

It doesn't matter if your description is accurate, you used that forbidden/racist/ugly/evil word, therefore, you are wrong and you are to blame for the problem.

Once the shitholification is complete, I have no doubt they'll keep digging, and likely redouble their efforts.

The worst part is "educated" liberals have moved to Phoenix, Portland, Austin, Colorado Springs, etc. and brought their desires for big government with them. Don't worry, when the parasite kills the host the parasite will move again.

I heard something on Rush today that San Francisco publishes a feces map, so you can avoid area where the streets have large piles of crap in the sidewalks and streets. I thought it was a joke till I looked it up, it’s true, they do have it, with a little crap emoji too. Quite a special place.

More good news from SF......regarding the poop maps.

https://thecitizenpress.com/sa...s-avoid-human-waste/

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Originally posted by rusbro:...Once the shitholification is complete...

I think that is a fairly concise and accurate description. Maybe we can have Wikipedia put it in their database, give Chicago, Venezuela, CA as examples.