A “Letter to the Editor” contribution from a reader. This will probably not make their local paper, but I think it’s interesting enough for us:
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President Harris
Some are concerned that if Joe Biden wins the presidency he will be unable to complete his first term(1). Nancy Pelosi is already preparing 25th amendment legislation for this possibility(2), which would leave Kamala Harris as President of the United States. But do you really want a California politician as President?
California’s failed policies are well documented. For instance:
California’s poverty rate, at 18.2%, is the highest of any state(3)
California is ranked as 4th for greatest tax burden on residents(4)
California ranks in the top 5 worst states for income equality(5)
California ranks 37th for pre-K through 12 education(6)
California is home to 53% of the nation’s homeless population(7)
But, you might ask, aren’t these the very issues that California’s politicians claim their polices fight against? Why, then, have they been so unsuccessful? Could it be that their policies simply don’t work?
Yes, Virginia, it is true – their policies don’t work. But when failed policies doom Californians to a marginal education, poverty, income inequality and homelessness the people of California can simply leave – as they have been doing for the past seven years(8). But what will happen when these failed policies are exported to the nation? Where will you go then when taxes spike and services dwindle or disappear? When the school system fails to educate your children, but instead indoctrinates them in political dogma? Will you be one of those living in poverty, or one of the few left footing the bill?
California’s attempt at developing a socialist utopia has failed and we should not stand idly by as its methods are exported to the rest of the country. So I ask again: Do you really want a California politician as President?
1) Jacobs, Emily. “Over Half of Likely Voters Don’t Believe Joe Biden Will Finish First Term: Poll.” New York Post, August 11, 2020. https://nypost.com/2020/08/11/over-half-of-likely-voters-dont-believe-biden-will-finish- term-poll/.
2) Shabad, Rebecca. “Pelosi to Introduce Legislation Related to the 25th Amendment.” NBC News, August 8, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pelosi-we-re-going-be-talking-about-25th-amendment- n1242629.
3) Finch II, Michael. “California’s Poverty Rate among Highest in Nation Once Again, New Census Figures Show.” The Sacramento Bee, September 10, 2019. https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article234920662.html.
4) Murphy Jr, Bill. “50 U.S. States Ranked in Order of Tax Burden (Guess Which 1 Is Worst).” Inc., March 11, 2019. https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/all-50-states-ranked-by-tax-burden-there-are-some-real-surprises.html.
5) Picchi, Aimee. “Income Inequality in America Is at Its Highest Level in More than 50 Years.” CBS News, September 26, 2019. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/income-inequality-in-america-is-at-its-highest-level- in-more-than-50-years-census-report-today-shows/.
6) Morad, Renee. “States With The Best Public School Systems.” Forbes, July 31, 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/reneemorad/2018/07/31/states-with-the-best-public-school-systems/.
7) McCarthy, Niall. “The American Cities With The Highest Homeless Populations In 2019 [Infographic].” Forbes, January 14, 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2020/01/14/the-american-cities-with-the- highest-homeless-populations-in-2019-infographic/.
8) Martichoux, Alix. “691,000 People Moved out of California Last Year. Here’s Where They Went.” SFGate, November 5, 2019. https://www.sfgate.com/expensive-san-francisco/article/move-california-where-to-go- cheap-states-best-14811246.php.