Joel Kotkin grossly misleads about California's problems

Posted Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 9:32 am

At Forbes, Joel Kotkin offers "Who Killed California's Economy? /There are five suspects, from the governor to the constituents themselves" (link).

I left the comment below. More could be said about the gross dishonesty he exhibits in the article, and I suggest going there and leaving a comment (quick, free registration required).

Comment follows:

This article is beyond dishonest: it completely fails to note the role that massive illegal immigration played in CA's problems. That lead to increased spending and to a large part of the middle class fleeing the state. Not only that, but it built up a power base for the far-left legislators, and they used that to push for more spending.

Without the massive immigration that hacks like Joel Kotkin support, the far-left wouldn't have as much power as they do.

Kotkin misleads about the problem the CA GOP has. It isn't because they're seen as "anti-tax and anti-immigration zealots", but because a) they tend to be socially conservative in a state that generally isn't, and b) they're generally stupid and have a habit of making unforced errors.

Kotkin fails to note that a good portion of the farm-related unemployed are here illegally, and the situation could be lessened if we enforced our laws.

You just can't trust what Joel Kotkin tells you. For a discussion of something else he wrote earlier this year, see this.

UPDATE: Apparently Jay Leno isn't returning his calls, so Kotkin appeared in a segment of "InstaVision" with Glenn Reynolds of Pajamas Media (pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/81569). Seriously, at 16 minutes you'd have to pay me serious money to watch it; I made it through four minutes but that's all I could take. So, I'm calling for volunteers who'll watch segments of it. Convert your last name's initial letter into a number based on its alphabetic ordering and then multiply that number by 8/16. Watch that minute, then report whether Kotkin mentioned illegal immigration's role or not.

Tags: 
california
joel kotkin
forbes
fiscal con

Comments

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Wed, 07/08/2009 - 05:07

Its over.

Anonymous (not verified)

Wed, 07/08/2009 - 08:21

Despair flows as fields go dry and unemployment rises San Joaquin Valley farms are laying off workers and letting fields lie fallow as their water ration falls. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-drought6-2009jul06,0,3172131.story You mean you can't have unlimited population growth and still have enough water for agriculture? What's gonna be--population growth or agriculture? And the answer is not "BOTH! via 'smart growth'." Water is a limiting factor and California is hitting the limit now. Unfortunately, the state is projected to add tens of millions more people, all foreign on a net basis. Lonewacko is right about about the California politicians but it's not just moving left but anti-sovereignty. For instance, the state's 'don't ask' housing rental law which is effectively a statewide sanctuary for renting to illegal aliens.

Mary (not verified)

Wed, 07/08/2009 - 14:33

MA has the same no ask policy on housing which is why Obamas auntie resides there once again after moving to Chicago for a little while. Meantime Americans are on very long waiting lists. Doncha just love our politicians who are traitors and treasonous to a fault!

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Thu, 07/09/2009 - 14:14

Mary is right. but its still over! the only way back home now is in blood.

TL Winslow (not verified)

Fri, 07/10/2009 - 02:11

The age-old pesky U.S.-Mexico border problem has taxed the resources of both countries, led to long lists of injustices, and appears to be heading only for worse troubles in the future. Guess what? The border problem can never be solved. Why? Because the border IS the problem! It's time for a paradigm change. Never fear, a satisfying, comprehensive solution is within reach: the Megamerge Dissolution Solution. Simply dissolve the border along with the failed Mexican government, and megamerge the two countries under U.S. law, with mass free 2-way migration eventually equalizing the development and opportunities permanently, with justice and without racism, and without threatening U.S. sovereignty or basic principles. Click url to read solution.

Leave it to Beaner (not verified)

Sat, 07/11/2009 - 01:51

Oh thats a great idea........that should solve everything, huh winslow? My God! WTF are liberals smoking.....I want some!

Mary (not verified)

Sat, 07/11/2009 - 23:16

Yeah Winslow let's hurry the Third World USA even quicker than it's headed for now.......The stupidity of some people defies explanation...

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Mon, 07/13/2009 - 03:28

TL Winslow is in fact a hispanic male bent on making this nation hispanic. the real racists is the people of mexico and the third world who hate our freedom and danced in the streets of mexico city on 9-11-2001. the only solution that i can see is in blood and the big D Word for 50 to 100 million people living here and the end game must be a third world war its will happen one way or the other, and it is justice for fools who would not listen to truth 50 years ago.

Mary (not verified)

Mon, 07/13/2009 - 13:33

Check out NUMBERSUSA.COM as they gather signatures to make sure they honor the e-verify amendamnets the senate passed last week preserving AMERICAN jobs FOR Americans! Obama and his treasonous frineds are planning to pull it from the bill!

Fred Dawes (not verified)

Tue, 07/14/2009 - 04:44

as always Mary is right.