General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: 5 Reasons to Stop Talking Sh*t About People From the South and Midwest [View all]JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)That is over 50 years ago. We wised up and now have a Democratic governor.
The demographics in our state have changed drastically since 1974. And our political representatives reflect it. Two Democratic senators both with safe seats. My congressman is one of the most liberal in the House.
In the 1960s, grass-roots Democrats in California led a sort of revolt to give power to local Democratic Clubs, power equal to the state organization and the representation of elected officials. The Democratic Party was reformed. We still went Republican in some elections and have had to deal with some very conservative developments. But we are way out of the league of southern and some midwestern states.
We have emission standards on our cars. I suspect there are more Priuses and other low gas mileage cars in California than any other state. We have a very sensitive, difficult environment and we cherish it. Los Angeles bans flimsy grocery market plastic bags. We live on the ocean (I don't literally live on the beach, but we are within 30 miles of the Pacific) and we take our responsibility to care for it seriously. I'd like to see other states get as fired up about the environment as we are in California.
We raised our minimum wage in Los Angeles. Let's see other states do likewise.
Southerners should be looking to California for ideas. California is setting a far from perfect but fairly good example for the rest of the country. Sorry. But states that elect the likes of Ron Paul, Sessions, the Texas Republicans, etc. need to think about changing their attitudes and ways of life.