John Seiler, Author at CalWatchdog.com

Posts From John Seiler

John Seiler

John Seiler has been writing about California for 25 years. That includes 22 years as an editorial writer for the Orange County Register and two years for CalWatchDog.com, where he is managing editor. He attended the University of Michigan and graduated from Hillsdale College. He was a Russian linguist in U.S. Army military intelligence from 1978 to 1982. He was an editor and writer for Phillips Publishing Company from 1983 to 1986. He has written for Policy Review, Chronicles, LewRockwell.com, Flash Report and numerous other publications. His email: [email protected]

High-speed rail incompatible with current tracks

One reason the American South lost the Civil War was it had numerous incompatible railroad track systems, requiring supplies to be unloaded, then loaded again, for each different segment. By contrast, the Northern rail networks were more uniform, although not

Low taxes bring CA high tech to Luxembourg

John Seiler December 14, 2014

Luxembourg is a small, low-tax duchy that’s attracting European centers for high-tech firms from California and elsewhere. FT reported: In short order Apple’s iTunes division set up its European home in Luxembourg and was then joined by Microsoft, Cisco and

Cartoon: California rainin’

John Seiler December 14, 2014

Should U.C. be ‘independent’?

John Seiler December 13, 2014

As I’ve noted in two recent posts, here and here, 50 years after the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, there’s no more academic freedom or free speech at California universities. Only politically correct repression. Meanwhile, costs are soaring for students and

High cost of living sours holiday spirit

John Seiler December 12, 2014

The drop in gas prices certainly is welcome. Especially during this holiday season. But seemingly everything else is going up in price — as you probably noticed at the grocery store or when shopping for housing. And health care? My

Berkeley shuts down Thiel’s free speech

John Seiler December 11, 2014

As I detailed earlier, this month marks the 50th anniversary of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement. I noted that, today, free speech largely has been extinguished at the University of California, Berkeley and other American campuses. They’re now just centers

Did tax rise help CA, tax cuts hurt KS?

John Seiler December 10, 2014

Editor’s note: See correction at the bottom. Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore. We’re in California, where the winter weather is in the 70s and the high taxes are imposed by the Great and Powerful Oz.

Sen. de Leon defends kingly swearing-in ceremony

John Seiler December 9, 2014

Being king means never having to say you’re sorry. That’s sure the attitude of new California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles. He’s still defending the lavish swearing-in ceremony, paid for with private funds (from those hoping to

Are Democrats still relevant?

John Seiler December 8, 2014

Ronald Reagan became a lame duck after his 1984 election landslide. His Republican Party, thanks to the incompetent leadership of Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, even lost control of the U.S. Senate in 1986, leaving Democrats in charge of both houses of