Posts From John Seiler
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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]
CA jobs growth continues — with caution signal
California continues to enjoy fairly strong jobs growth — but new data released today (not yet online) by the A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research at Chapman University suggest caution may be warranted moving forward. The report’s headline: “California unemployment
Read MoreEx-Brown adviser: ‘powerful interests’ run state
Most Californians sense that special interests, not voters, run the state. That’s why voter turnout hit record lows last November. And it’s why the Legislature scores so low on opinion polls. A PPIC survey last year found only 36 percent
Read MorePowerball grabs just $1 for each kid
Back when the California Lottery was introduced in 1985, it was advertised as a way to bring a lot more funding to schools, almost effortlessly. No tax increases or budget manipulations were needed. In that, it’s only been partly successful.
Read MoreAZ not CA nabs giant new Apple center
As noted in my article today, “CA tech juggernaut jumps above rest of state,” the Silicon Valley wizards are doing well — even as manufacturing jobs have been halved since 1990. This is emphasized by a new development: Apple is
Read MoreCA tech juggernaut jumps above rest of state
Apple Inc. continues to lead California’s high-tech economy — with no end in sight for now. The earnings it rang up for the last quarter of 2014, a record for any company, were based on selling 74.5 million iPhones worldwide. That’s a
Read MorePointless death-penalty ruling
As I noted in my blog last week, “Rose Bird’s ghost will kill death penalty,” there aren’t going to be any more executions in California. Future Gov. Jerry Brown appointments to the California Supreme Court will prevent that. So this
Read MoreParks Forward calls for ‘transformation’ of CA system
California parks are the wonder of the world. But citizens also have been aware of fundamental problems since a 2012 scandal found the California Department of Parks and Recreation kept a $20 million “slush fund” — while crying poor mouth
Read MoreCA Dems also splitting on social-services spending
As noted in a previous blog, “CA Dem vs CA Dem on taxes,” California’s virtual one-party state is developing fissures. One is over taxes. Another is over spending on social programs. New Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los
Read MoreJerry Brown’s $24 million campaign war chest
Being close to a one-party state is distorting California politics in unpredictable ways. The latest: According to the Los Angeles Times, Gov. Jerry Brown still holds almost $24 million in his 2014 war chest for governor. The reason is his Republican
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