California in Danger: Why the Dream is Dying and How We Can Save It — Environmental Progress

California in Danger: Why the Dream is Dying and How We Can Save It — Environmental Progress: California today is frequently held up as a progressive model — but is it?
California’s high cost of living is a major factor behind the state having
the country’s highest rate of poverty and inequality. When the cost of
living is taken into account, California still spends less on K-12
education than all but four other states.  In truth, California is neither
progressive nor a model for other states. What’s behind California’s high
cost of living are tax, regulatory, and other policies that are regressive
and parasitical. California has routinely reformed its government in the
past and must do so again today. This begins with a vision of a
high-productivity and high-wage economy.

— Curb corruption with a New Sunshine Act that requires transparency into
government contracting, permitting, regulating and other activities, and
break up the corrupt California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC);

— Build abundant housing by up-zoning all cities and suburbs to allow
modestly taller buildings, and by closing the loophole in the state’s most
important environmental law (CEQA) that allows interest groups to file
expensive and frivolous lawsuits anonymously and repeatedly;

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