Wow! The Feds Must Hate California

Photo taken by author; all rights reserved
Laguna Woods, California
January 4, 2018 8:47pm CST
It seems as if there is a full assault on California by the federal government. This is a shame for three reasons: 1. Over 10% of ALL Americans live in California, which means the Feds are making life more difficult for a large segment of the US population. 2. Approximately ONE-HALF of ALL the fruits, vegetables and nuts which Americans eat are grown in California. 3. California has the 8th largest economy in the world and gives more money to the Federal government and other states than it receives. Anything that hurts the California economy will hurt the entire US. How are the Feds making life difficult for California? 1. The recent tax bill will cause taxes to go up for many affluent California, NOT down, because of the limit on the amount of state taxes which can be deducted from federal returns. 2. Farmers are watching crops rot in the fields because they cannot get enough farm workers to harvest the crops. According to an article in the LA Times today, the farmers have tried raising wages and giving bonuses to get Americans to harvest the crops, but have been unsuccessful. Since half of our farm workers have historically been illegals, who are now unwilling to come to the U.S., the crops will continue to rot and the situation is expected to get worse. Remember, HALF of all the veggies, fruit and nuts eaten by Americans come from California, so this isn't good for anyone. 3. The feds announced today there will be more permits given for oil wells off our coasts. This is expected to hurt tourism and has the potential for more expenses and environmental damage due to oil spills. 4. Three days after California legalized marijuana, partially to increase tax revenue and keep our economy running, the Attorney General announced more aggressive enforcement of federal marijuana laws. Remember, we SEND money to the rest of the country. The less we have, the less we can help out the poorer states. Again, this hurts everyone. As you can see, the Feds seem to hate California. Unfortunately, it appears they are shooting themselves in the foot. If they hurt the California economy, it will affect the entire United States.
15 people like this
13 responses
@sallypup (57897)
• Centralia, Washington
5 Jan 18
The leader is sick therefore the government is sick. Just terrible.
4 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 18
You are absolutely right. The rot starts at the top.
3 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Jan 18
right o n
3 people like this
@sallypup (57897)
• Centralia, Washington
5 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane If this doesn't quit we could too easily have another civil war on our hands.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118449)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan 18
Poor California, you guys just can't seem to catch a break. You should just secede from the United States and become your own country! lol If California did it, I guarantee Texas would be next!
3 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Jan 18
Ha ha! There are people who would like both California and Texas to secede. I would just rather be part of the loyal opposition and go our own way! LOL
2 people like this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Jan 18
I completely agree with all of this. Hurt us - and everyone else in the US will get hurt too . . . still there are people who just don't get this concept (shaking my head).
2 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 18
Yes, it amazes me that there are so many people who do not understand that hurting California also hurts the rest of the U.S. Once, when I wrote a post about the California drought, someone commented that they didn't think the rest of the country would feel much sympathy for California. I was amazed. Where the heck do they think their food comes from?
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
5 Jan 18
Point 2 about illegals working in farms, is the reason that is causing a bad economic moment to Italy. Half of the fruits and vegetables supplied to Europe came from Italy, now they come from Spain, where they can have low wage workers. The Italian laws (after they entered the EU) are too strict and farmers cannot make money if they respect the law. The Trump tax "reform" will do not good to your country.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
6 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane In Italy the situation of farmers is now ridiculous. They must go thorough an official organization to hire people to work in the farms, they cannot choose, they cannot employ the members of their family. Then they complain that people do not want to be farmers anymore.
2 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 18
@LadyDuck - We are fortunate to have a country next door, like Mexico, where some of its citizens are willing and able to work on our farms. However, they are not coming because they are afraid of the risk of being jailed and deported, without having the opportunity to work. Some of them even die when they try to come here. We need to work out a better system to allow them to work so our vegetables do not rot. It is a ridiculous situation and Trump is making it worse. I agree the tax reform will not help our country in the long run.
3 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Jan 18
@LadyDuck - I'm afraid we are going to be stuck with a similar situation here in the United States, if we do not work out a fair migrant farm worker program for Mexican workers. I have always thought it was ridiculous that they have to sneak across our border in order to work for us. We should have a rational program, which allows farmers to openly hire the migrants and leave the workers free to go back to Mexico whenever they want. Even Republican President Bush wanted us to create a guest worker program, but ultra-conservatives in his own party would not support it.
2 people like this
@shivamani10 (11038)
• Hyderabad, India
5 Jan 18
I think you are talking about California alone not about the entire U.S. Is California not a part of the U.S? This type of attitude prevailing more in Indian states only. Now, I am seeing this attitude among American states also. This is a poison and speaks of an even leads of fragmentation of states slowly one by one. India is already suffering from this. Each and every state at the time of Elections pick up quarrel on some pretext or the other with the Center and try to retain their identity. The point No.1 is not clear to me. Will you please explain it clearly? If illegals are not ready to enter this is a good sign for solving the problem of unemployment. One can engage natives to work for harvesting. Native Americans...don't want to work? In India, due to rapid urbanization, the Agriculture labor is drifting to settle down cities and there is any work in the Agri. fields. The farmers are unable to get, what I call 'The minimum price and supporting prices for their Agriculture Crops and produce. They are leaving the villages to earn Rs.400 to Rs.600 per day as laborers under a labor contractor, the amount which a farmer cannot pay for them.
2 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 18
Yes, California is part of the United States, but the federal government is treating California as though it is an enemy. The problem in keeping out the illegal farm workers is that we have very low unemployment in our country and especially in California. Native Americans can find much easier work that does not require them to stand outside in the sun. If they are willing to work outside, they can get much better paying jobs than being a farm worker by working for utility companies or construction companies. As a result, native Americans do not want to work on the farms. When food prices go up, people will be sorry that we no longer have the Mexican farm workers who have traditionally picked our crops.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 18
@josie_ - Farming in the U.S. is highly mechanized. However, real people have to do a lot of the physical work. Since most native American citizens can find other types of jobs, very few want to do the labor in the field. Thousands of Mexicans are willing to do the work, but not if they have to risk their life to come to our country. We need to treat these people better, if we want them to come pick our vegetables.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
5 Jan 18
@shivamani10 _Is the agriculture sector of your country subsidize by the National gov't? It is labor intensive and gov't should help the farmers mechanize the farming process.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129482)
• Israel
16 Mar 18
Deborah-Diane, it is very sad but welcome to our world.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
16 Mar 18
@Hannihar - Ha ha! Yes, that seems to be the way the world is going.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
16 Mar 18
@Hannihar - I'm sorry it has been so difficult for the Jewish people in so many ways for so many years. It must be very frustrating.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129482)
• Israel
16 Mar 18
@DeborahDiane The world for us has been that way towards us all the time Deborah-Diane. People thought we were good scapegoats when we got our own State and started to fight back we were and are still blamed.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Jan 18
hats just awful as a r esidet I hate all of what they are trtg ti di to us
@marguicha (215469)
• Chile
5 Jan 18
The feds seem to be the same people that elected the actual president.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Jan 18
Yes, I am talking about the current president, Congressional majority party, and the people who voted for them.
@jstory07 (134465)
• Roseburg, Oregon
5 Jan 18
That is just wrong. The crops will rot and that will make everything higher for all of us.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 18
Yes, that is exactly what is happening. Because of the government actions on immigration, food prices will go up across the U.S. It is the "law of unintended consequences."
@RasmaSandra (73444)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jan 18
That is like the government being a great big apple with more and more worms eating it up.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Jan 18
That is a good comparison.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205776)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Feb 18
Gee, maybe if more of vote Republican...
@Deepizzaguy (94552)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
7 Jan 18
And I thought that the Federal Government dropped the ball when Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana area and flooded New Orleans. The help did not come to the people in New Orleans for a very long time.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Jan 18
I honestly believe that the federal government is very incompetent. I don't disagree with those who believe we need to make improvements. I have heard that there are parts of New Orleans that still have not recovered from Katrina.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
9 Jan 18
@Deepizzaguy - I tend to agree with that talk show host. The Federal government does seem to be incompetent, at least partly because partisan politics and career politicians make it so difficult to reach reasonable agreements.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (94552)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
8 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane A former New Orleans talk show host named Robert Namer said on his radio show that the Federal government is incompetent.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
5 Jan 18
Trump's tax "reform" will also hit State and local public services and social programs.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 18
I agree. People in some states may save a little money on their taxes for a few years, but the price they will pay is having fewer services and social programs. That is such a shame!
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 18
@josie_ - I pray the Democrats are able to take control after the mid-terms and put a halt to this crazy agenda.
2 people like this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
5 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane _Hopefully the US Congress will be Democrat-dominated after the mid-term elections.
2 people like this