Trying to compile a list of failures in the recent history of the state of California takes hours.

It’s been years in the making, but after the election of Gov. Gavin Newsom, every outcome in California started to decline, precipitously. Statewide, at a city level, at a county level. With few exceptions, everywhere you go, everywhere you look, there are massive, structural issues impacting quality of life in the state.

Crime has risen, substantially. As the Pacific Research Institute explained, violent crimes and murders increased from 2019 onward. And in fact, no one really knows the extent of the increase or the number of crimes, because of the state’s absurd reporting system. Not to mention the proportion of crime committed by people in the country illegally, an unknowable number because of insane state laws.

“In fact, no one really knows how much crime is committed in California by individuals who are in the state illegally, because under state law (SB 54, the “California Values Act” or sanctuary state law) prohibits collecting those statistics,” they write.

As of 2023, California’s violent crime rates were still increasing, with a 15.1% jump from 2018-2023, and 3.3% from 2022-2023. That doesn’t account for 28 jurisdictions who did not send their statistics to the Department of Justice. Including the San Jose Police Department, one of the largest in the state.

Electricity prices average roughly 30.3 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to 17 cents per kilowatt hour. Unsurprisingly, those prices are essentially the highest, or second highest, in the country. Those prices have risen 96% since 2014.

Californians pay the highest gas prices in the country, thanks in large part to 71 cents per gallon in additional state-imposed taxes and added costs. Hilariously, as the state continues to push “green” initiatives, the majority of the state’s oil comes from foreign sources. Adding emissions to save the planet. Makes sense.

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Gavin Newsom’s Legacy Is Failure

Under Newsom, authoritarian lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic harmed millions of children, setting back their educational attainment, and destroying their social lives and emotional development. Mask mandates proved utterly useless, as did the litany of other policies Newsom and his public health director initiated. Lockdowns, curfews, business capacity restrictions, all of it failed in spectacular fashion as California had similar or in some cases, worse age-adjusted outcomes than states like Florida, which had far fewer restrictions.

San Francisco became a national laughingstock, particularly after the debate between Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis brought out a map of the city’s streets indicating where uh, human waste was found. It was extensive. Quality of life in the city had disintegrated, thanks to lax progressive policies. Crime went unpunished. Drug use was encouraged by city officials. Jaw dropping failure from what should be one of the United States’ best cities.

Then Newsom presided over one of the most destructive urban fires in recent memory. The Pacific Palisades, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the LA area, the state, and the country, effectively burned to the ground. Due in part to state-level incompetence, helped on by local incompetence from LA officials.

Taxes are among the highest anywhere. Cost of living has exploded. Housing prices have pushed millions of people out of the state. In every way, California is an example of what not to do.

Now, we have a series of revelations and stories on fraud sweeping through the state and once again, the LA area. Hospice, medicare, state programs, adult daycares. On and on and on.

This is just a sampling of the many problems the state has created or exacerbated with insane policies built up over decades of electing some of the worst politicians in US history.

So here’s the question: why doesn’t it matter more?

This is the example. California is a progressive paradise. There is no organized opposition. The left runs every major city. Democrats can effectively do whatever they want with new laws and regulations. Yet nearly two million people moved to other states in just six years. It’s overrun by fraud. Despite incredible natural advantages, weather advantages, huge industries and formerly desirable cities, California is shrinking.

This should be the biggest story in the country. What once was the signature state, the “Golden” state, is the epitome of failure, due in large part to decades of one party governance. Instead, it’s mostly passed over. Right wing influencers, based in other parts of the US, focus their attentions on other issues that might be more profitable.

But this is it. This is the future of politics in the United States, that California has failed and continues to fail. That Democrats have run this state into the ground, with clear demonstrable examples of their policies and decision-making turning paradise into a declining mess.

School districts hiding gender transitions from parents, with the full support of the state. Boys in girls sports, with the full support of the state. Rampant fraud, crime, high taxes, high cost of living, declining quality of life, the highest poverty rate in the country, and some of the worst educational outcomes.

It’s a shorter list of things the state does well: enjoy natural advantages that have nothing to do with politics. If only we’d focus more attention on it.