Prager: Here’s why CA left is indifferent to economic misery
The news that the U.S. is now the world’s no. 1 oil and no. 1 natural gas producer is almost unbelievable, given the decades of America fretting about its energy dependence. And the reason is fracking. Yet here in California, Democrats have convinced themselves fracking is evil — even though there is so much oil in the Monterey Shale that it could create millions of middle-class jobs if North Dakota-style drilling were allowed, and even though the Obama administration says fracking is safe:
Why? I think Dennis Prager is on to something with his theory about what’s driving this thinking:
Yes, of course, as individuals with a heart, most people, right and left, care about people losing their jobs. But in terms of what matters to the left and the policies they pursue, they don’t care. The left and the political party it controls do not care if their policies force to companies to leave the state (or the country). They don’t care about the … job-depressing effects of high taxes, or energy prices that hurt the middle class, or compelling businesses to leave.
They don’t care because the left is not interested in prosperity; the left is interested in inequality and in the environment. Furthermore, the worse the economic situation, the more voters are likely to vote Democrat. The worse the economic situation, the greater the number of people receiving government assistance; the greater the number of people receiving government assistance, the greater the number of people who will vote Democrat.
Therefore, both philosophically and politically, the left has no reason to be troubled by bad economic news. And it isn’t. It is troubled by inequality and carbon emissions.
–In the last 20 years, about 4 million more people have left California than came in from other states. Most of those leaving are young families.
–In the last 15 years, one-third of California’s industrial employment base has disappeared. That’s 600,000 jobs that have disappeared.
–California has the 48th-worst business tax climate. (The Tax Foundation)
–California’s electricity prices are 50 percent higher than the national average.
–Middle-class workers, those who earn more than $48,000, pay a top income tax rate of 9.3 percent. That’s higher than what millionaires pay in 47 other states.
–California’s unemployment rate is fourth highest in the nation.
–From 2010-13, California produced fewer than 8,000 jobs, while the country added 510,000.
3 comments
Write a commentRelated Articles
Early warning on big 2014 story: CA trial lawyers’ power play
In an unusually tart warts-and-all Sac Bee profile of Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, reporter Chris Cadelago gives early notice on
CalWatchdog Morning Read – June 27
How far can a third party candidate go? Cops lost almost 1,000 guns Democratic leaders say spend Rainy Day Funds
Dem Mayors tell Reed to drop pension reform initiative
Many can agree on the need for thoughtful and serious pension reform measures. Yet labor unions, and now Democratic mayors
Though I believe the 99.9% (Occupy Wall Street, the TEA Party, and many others) versus the .1% (the oligarch Koch Brothers, the oligarch convicted felon George Soros, elite federal politicians…) is a much more useful distinction than left versus right, I don’t dispute anything you write above regarding “the left.”
But regarding “…there is so much oil in the Monterey Shale that it could create millions of middle-class jobs if North Dakota-style drilling were allowed…”:
‘U.S. officials cut estimate of recoverable Monterey Shale oil by 96%’
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-oil-20140521-story.html
Los Angeles Times
20 May 2014
^ includes map of California Monterey Shale formations
People also need to understand (as they’re certainly not going to be informed of this by the industry or the government) that the decline rate of fracked wells is unprecedented; in the Bakken, legacy decline is 71% of new production. So the economic benefits, if any, can be “flash in the pan,” but environmental damages can be forever.
This article, which includes four charts, details this (in regard to fracking in the Bakken):
‘The Coming Bust of the Great Bakken Oil Field’
http://srsroccoreport.com/the-coming-bust-of-the-great-bakken-oil-field/the-coming-bust-of-the-great-bakken-oil-field/
There’s also this, posted two days ago, regarding a Cornell University study:
‘New Research Strengthens Link Between Shale Drilling And Earthquakes’
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-07-07/new-research-strengthens-link-between-shale-drilling-and-earthquakes
“-From 2010-13, California produced fewer than 8,000 jobs, while the country added 510,000.”
Unbelievable.
Literally, not believable.
And the unproductive nature of service jobs is leading to inflation, dead end futures and social welfare dependency on government.