February 13, 2017
I am pleased to see that a number of essayists and journalists continue to use my ideas — most recently, a Dr. Katherine Smith — who explored \”the conspiracy theorist\” in much more detail, and, more lucidly than I ever could.
In another essay — written-years-ago — I discussed one of the main reasons for my move to California: which was to escape the rampant racism I experienced in my home state of Michigan — where I heard the \”N\” word used so often I would literally feel sick-to-my-stomach at-some-point each-and-every-day.
In California I experienced a more temperate racial climate — for which my sensibilities were much better suited.
Depending on what statistics you read — California cast 4.5-to-6 million more votes for Hillary than we did for The Donald. So, with California removed from the \”popular vote\” equation (as 1-in-8 Americans is a Californian) — The Donald DID win the national popular vote!
And judging by interviews I\’ve heard lately — in which Americans feel free to publically voice their prejudices and racism (again) — I gather that much of the country is feeling comfortable in expressing the racism that I fled some 33 years ago.
So why shouldn\’t we Californians secede?! Our voting habits don\’t seem to be in step with the rest of the country; and, the ethnicity considered an undesirable minority to the other 49 — happens to be the majority here. We don\’t need tacos from the other 49: Our Cali-Mex is the best there is.
And when we hear threats about losing federal dollars — we must realize that such threats are all bluster. We send the feds about $370 billion per year and often don\’t receive our full contribution back! Some say we only get 79 cents of-our-dollar, while others suggest we get it all back. I-would-just-as-soon not give any of our tax dollars to the feds — who probably use our tax dollars to help floundering Red States. I don\’t think WE should ever be reduced to begging to get our money back.
We\’ve heard the nonsense rationale that terrorists hate US because they are jealous of what we have. I believe most non-Californian Americans hate US because THEY ARE JEALOUS. We Californians know what our State affords US (besides miserable traffic).
Sometimes the other 49 suggest that we Californians are all crazy — living on the Left Coast. After watching The Donald\’s first month in office — I wonder who is crazier? I see Goebbels and Goering in Stephen Miller (why don\’t his irises move?) and Stephen Bannon, respectively (and I am NOT the first to notice these resemblances, either [I got late to the party on this one]).
One of my current sociology students, a two-term Iraqi vet asked me who would protect US if we went it alone…I could only think to say that our national guard would have to become The Californian Republic Army.
If CalExit unfolded like BrExit — we could leapfrog the Brits and slide into the 5th largest GDP; and all the folks who have endured that tired old cliche of \”love it or leave it\” would finally have a choice between Blue and Red — since the The Donald did get quite a few votes here…his supporters will find their place in the sun in the-other-49!