California Doing California Things

[Politesse]

Oh no, socialism, so unprofitable, we gotta burn all the books so we can make money....

https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/s/oA98Upq5oA

Morons. California is the best.

Shouldn't the rest of the 49 states combined be included as a "country" on the map?

That would demote us to fourth place.

 

[bilby]

Oh no, socialism, so unprofitable, we gotta burn all the books so we can make money....

https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/s/oA98Upq5oA

Morons. California is the best.

Shouldn't the rest of the 49 states combined be included as a "country" on the map?

That would demote us to fourth place.

Well I am pretty sure that the USA is a country, and I am struggling to think of a way its economy could be smaller than that of California.

Unless some of the other states have economies with negative size.

Has anyone audited Alabama recently?

 

[Politesse]

Oh no, socialism, so unprofitable, we gotta burn all the books so we can make money....

https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/s/oA98Upq5oA

Morons. California is the best.

Shouldn't the rest of the 49 states combined be included as a "country" on the map?

That would demote us to fourth place.

Well I am pretty sure that the USA is a country, and I am struggling to think of a way its economy could be smaller than that of California.

Unless some of the other states have economies with negative size.

Has anyone audited Alabama recently?

I was assuming that Mr Beaver meant the other 49 together, perhaps as a sad little nation that the Golden State has very hypothetically and definitely peacefully seceded from. If he meant to include them all as independent nations, they're all chumps compared to the finest state in the union.

 

[thebeave]

Oh no, socialism, so unprofitable, we gotta burn all the books so we can make money....

https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/s/oA98Upq5oA

Morons. California is the best.

Shouldn't the rest of the 49 states combined be included as a "country" on the map?

That would demote us to fourth place.

Well I am pretty sure that the USA is a country, and I am struggling to think of a way its economy could be smaller than that of California.

Unless some of the other states have economies with negative size.

Has anyone audited Alabama recently?

I was assuming that Mr Beaver meant the other 49 together, perhaps as a sad little nation that the Golden State has very hypothetically and definitely peacefully seceded from. If he meant to include them all as independent nations, they're all chumps compared to the finest state in the union.

You got it right in the first sentence. I thought it was pretty obvious, myself.

 

[TSwizzle]

lol, after going through four mayors in a year (I think) the city of Oakland just elected this numbskull as mayor

Former congresswoman Barbara Lee says the results are clear: she is Oakland's new mayor. In her first remarks since winning the election, she reminded voters that she represented all of Oakland in Congress. And promises to do the same as mayor. When asked how Oakland would implement some of Lee's polices if there is no money, Oakland City council member responded: "The reality is that Oakland brings a lot of money. I think the investigation and the audit she is calling for will reveal more resources than people actually believe exist."

News

This is the numbskull who ran for governor of California and said the minimum wage should be $50.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Perhaps you should explain to them that you’d rather spend 4x the cost of a home to put them up in jail. That should clear up their confusion.

As far as I can see, there are broadly two categories of homeless people.

• People hard on their luck, lost job, medical debt, what have you.
  They would indeed benefit from getting housing.

So far so good.

• People who are on the streets because of addiction and/or mental health problems, especially refractory mental illness.
  They don't just need homes, they need treatment. Sometimes, involuntary commitment would be necessary, but that's hard to do these days. Jordan Neely for example should have been committed.

But what you fail to understand is that you can't compel treatment. It does not work.

Some certainly do need confinement.

I think we need a middle ground but I don't know what it would look like.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Perhaps you should explain to them that you’d rather spend 4x the cost of a home to put them up in jail. That should clear up their confusion.

As far as I can see, there are broadly two categories of homeless people.

• People hard on their luck, lost job, medical debt, what have you.
  They would indeed benefit from getting housing.
• People who are on the streets because of addiction and/or mental health problems, especially refractory mental illness.
  They don't just need homes, they need treatment. Sometimes, involuntary commitment would be necessary, but that's hard to do these days. Jordan Neely for example should have been committed.

What would you estimate to be the proportions of each class amongst homeless persons as a whole, and why?

My feeling is that those in the latter group are few in number, to the point where nations and jurisdictions where the former group are provided with adequate assistance have a very low number of homeless people, almost all from the latter category.

There are three groups, not two:
1) The economic.
2) The non-dangerous mental cases.
3) The dangerous mental cases.

I don't have the numbers on this, but it seems likely that the latter group is of fairly invariable size in any given population, while variation in homelessness rates is driven almost entirely by variation in the numbers from the former category.

No. Because the former category tends not to stay homeless. The majority on the streets are mental or drugs.

 

[bilby]

Perhaps you should explain to them that you’d rather spend 4x the cost of a home to put them up in jail. That should clear up their confusion.

As far as I can see, there are broadly two categories of homeless people.

• People hard on their luck, lost job, medical debt, what have you.
  They would indeed benefit from getting housing.
• People who are on the streets because of addiction and/or mental health problems, especially refractory mental illness.
  They don't just need homes, they need treatment. Sometimes, involuntary commitment would be necessary, but that's hard to do these days. Jordan Neely for example should have been committed.

What would you estimate to be the proportions of each class amongst homeless persons as a whole, and why?

My feeling is that those in the latter group are few in number, to the point where nations and jurisdictions where the former group are provided with adequate assistance have a very low number of homeless people, almost all from the latter category.

There are three groups, not two:
1) The economic.
2) The non-dangerous mental cases.
3) The dangerous mental cases.

I don't have the numbers on this, but it seems likely that the latter group is of fairly invariable size in any given population, while variation in homelessness rates is driven almost entirely by variation in the numbers from the former category.

No.

Really?

Because the former category tends not to stay homeless.

That's an argument for "yes". Did you read what I wrote before disagreeing with me?

The majority on the streets are mental or drugs.

That's both extremely implausible, and not a claim that in any way contradicts my hypothesis, whether true or false.

Re-read my post. It says that the number of people with mental illness or drug issues will change less over time than does the number who are down on their luck.

Unemployment and poverty vary with economic cycles; Mental illness and drug use should vary far less - nutters are nutty and addicts stay addicted, regardless of the availability (or not) of work.

I would also expect mental illness and addiction levels to be far less variable from place to place, as well as from time to time, so the existence of places with low levels of homelessness would strongly suggest that the places with high levels have more poverty/unemployment instances per capita, while having a very similar per capita instance of craziness or drug addiction. But that's not the argument you flatly contradicted, it's just a refutation of your irrelevant but likely flawed assertion.

 

[Elixir]

Mental illness and drug use should vary far less

Hard to be sure because people complain less when times are good, and that can mask mental illness. Stress brings out more crazy. Wars, natural disasters and people like trump can drive people crazy, so to speak. So can unemployment or poverty.

 

[bilby]

Mental illness and drug use should vary far less

Hard to be sure because people complain less when times are good, and that can mask mental illness. Stress brings out more crazy. Wars, natural disasters and people like trump can drive people crazy, so to speak. So can unemployment or poverty.

Maybe, but if you are crazy because you are unemployed, and you are homeless because you are unemployed, then it makes little sense to declare that you are homeless because you are crazy.

 

[Elixir]

Maybe, but if you are crazy because you are unemployed, and you are homeless because you are unemployed, then it makes little sense to declare that you are homeless because you are crazy.

As a general principle, yeah. But insane/sane isn’t a binary thing, it’s a (to use another word that has been worn out) spectrum. Circumstances can push an individual one way or the other to dramatic effect.

 

[Politesse]

California is now the 4th largest economy in the world​

“California isn’t just keeping pace with the world—we’re setting the pace. Our economy is thriving because we invest in people, prioritize sustainability, and believe in the power of innovation. And, while we celebrate this success, we recognize that our progress is threatened by the reckless tariff policies of the current federal administration. California’s economy powers the nation, and it must be protected.”

Governor Gavin Newsom

Just doin' California things.

 

[TSwizzle]

Where do California public schools rank compared to other states? Where does California rank in poverty compared to other states? Where does California rank for taxes compared to other nations? California's reputation for business friendliness is poor. Newsom is an incompetent, corrupt, authoritarian buffoon. Why do you adore Newsom so much? You think California's economy is down to anything that insufferable prick has done? lol. You are delusional.

 

[TV and credit cards]

Where do California public schools rank compared to other states? Where does California rank in poverty compared to other states? Where does California rank for taxes compared to other nations? California's reputation for business friendliness is poor. Newsom is an incompetent, corrupt, authoritarian buffoon. Why do you adore Newsom so much? You think California's economy is down to anything that insufferable prick has done? lol. You are delusional.

Public Schools - California public schools rank 24th. Costanza teaches this is "Right in that meaty part of the curve. Not showing off, not falling behind."
Poverty - The poor flock to California as they see it as their best shot at the American Dream.
Taxes - Taxes are high enough to provide for the people of California.
Poor Business Climate - Yet California continues to grow as an economic powerhouse. See savvy California governance knows they need not fork over your precious tax dollars to incentivize businesses. You should be thankful.

 

[bilby]

Maybe, but if you are crazy because you are unemployed, and you are homeless because you are unemployed, then it makes little sense to declare that you are homeless because you are crazy.

As a general principle, yeah. But insane/sane isn’t a binary thing, it’s a (to use another word that has been worn out) spectrum. Circumstances can push an individual one way or the other to dramatic effect.

The part I bolded makes the idea that, once crazy, a homeless person is beyond help, and that therefore nothing should be done to help the homeless, an obvious falsehood.

The entire argument that "Giving homeless people homes (or even paying their rent) would be ineffective in reducing homelessness because the issue isn't homelessness but rather mental illness and/or drug addiction" is exposed as a comforting lie used to justify inaction.

 

[TSwizzle]

The savvy California governance is begging for federal money to cover healthcare costs spent on illegals.

 

[Elixir]

Maybe, but if you are crazy because you are unemployed, and you are homeless because you are unemployed, then it makes little sense to declare that you are homeless because you are crazy.

As a general principle, yeah. But insane/sane isn’t a binary thing, it’s a (to use another word that has been worn out) spectrum. Circumstances can push an individual one way or the other to dramatic effect.

The part I bolded makes the idea that, once crazy, a homeless person is beyond help, and that therefore nothing should be done to help the homeless, an obvious falsehood.

The entire argument that "Giving homeless people homes (or even paying their rent) would be ineffective in reducing homelessness because the issue isn't homelessness but rather mental illness and/or drug addiction" is exposed as a comforting lie used to justify inaction.

Au contraire! Who among us is not a button or two from insanity? Giving people housing - even conditionally - can forestall insanity. Make that especially conditionally, if the conditions can be readily met. (Don’t ask them to deliver what they cannot).
“One way or the other” means either way. Let’s create conditions that are conducive to sane behavior.

 

[Politesse]

Where do California public schools rank compared to other states? Where does California rank in poverty compared to other states? Where does California rank for taxes compared to other nations? California's reputation for business friendliness is poor. Newsom is an incompetent, corrupt, authoritarian buffoon. Why do you adore Newsom so much? You think California's economy is down to anything that insufferable prick has done? lol. You are delusional.

Why are you so lazy as to post all these questions, rather than the easily googled answers to them? I'm certainly not interested in doing a half hour of research and writing just so you can stamp a rollseyes smiley on yet another substantive post. If you think the numbers support your dumbass opinion, post some of those numbers and we can talk.

 

[bilby]

Why are you so lazy as to post all these questions, rather than the easily googled answers to them?

Google didn't want to play for the last two questions, so I asked Perplexity AI:

"Why do you adore Newsom so much?":

People often admire Gavin Newsom for his progressive policies, leadership experience, and efforts to address social issues in California. He has a long political career, including serving as mayor of San Francisco, lieutenant governor, and governor of California. Newsom is known for advocating same-sex marriage early on, pushing for universal health care in San Francisco, and initiatives to help the homeless, such as Care Not Cash and supportive housing programs. Supporters also appreciate his focus on public health, urban development, and clemency efforts for immigrants.
However, his leadership has also faced criticism, especially regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and some controversies over personal behavior. His political style includes attempts at bipartisanship and a moderate approach within the Democratic Party, which some find intriguing or frustrating.
In summary, admiration for Newsom often stems from his progressive vision, experience in governance, and specific policy achievements, balanced against some controversies and criticisms of his leadership style.

"You think California's economy is down to anything that insufferable prick has done?":

California’s economy is currently strong, having recently overtaken Japan to become the fourth-largest in the world, with a 2024 growth rate of 6%—outpacing the U.S., China, and Germany. This growth is driven by sectors like advanced technology, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence, as well as robust consumer spending and strategic investments in workforce development.
While Governor Gavin Newsom has introduced statewide economic plans and invested in job creation and innovation, California’s economic performance is shaped by a combination of global trends, industry strengths, and collective efforts across regions—not just the actions of one individual. Challenges remain, such as housing affordability and business costs, but the state’s overall economic outlook remains positive, with continued expansion projected into 2025.

 

[Politesse]

California has been a major economic engine for the country since 1848, so no, that is not creditable to Gavin Newsom personally.