Turn California Around
by Ed Sachs

Republican voter registration declines. Perhaps Republicans are leaving the state.

Martin Wisckol writes in the Orange County Register, Democrats look to grow from grassroots, (Sun., Aug. 18, 2013) on how Democrats are making inroads in voter registrations in O.C. At one time the gap between the Rs and the Ds in the county was 22 percent, and now the gap is around 10 percent. Many of those previously registered Republican voters have opted to register as “Decline To State.” That, by itself, does not account for the shrinking size of Republican voter registrations in the county. Is this a result of the party’s policies and local leadership? Is it a result of churning the same old tired termed-out politicians running for other offices? Could it be due to an old “boys club” GOP that allows for no new thinking, or outsiders participating in the politics of the county?

It could be any or all of these. I offer that it may be mostly attributed to the exodus of registered Republicans from not only the county, but from the state itself! We also must include the exodus of business, families and factories from the Golden State. In a recent article of Joel Kotkin, “The Road Back,” Mr. Kotkin offers that L.A.- Orange County ranked dead last in everything from unemployment, job creation, congestion and housing costs, as compared to incomes.

Between 2007 and 2011, more than 2,500 employers have left California. The list includes small business from dry cleaners, to large box stores shuttering locations in the state. With these closures go thousands of jobs. Beyond small business decline, and national brands leaving the state, California has lost 158 healthy companies so far this year alone (2013-July) to other states and even overseas. From 2009-2012 it is estimated that 855,000 jobs have left California. From 2009-2011, we have witnessed 507 companies wave goodbye to California. In 2011, 28 of those companies were headquartered in Orange County. Examples are Hyundai Capital transferring 71 jobs to Georgia and Texas; Wells Fargo sending 59 jobs to India. Tickets.com moved to Texas. San Diego County has passed Orange County in population. California is not a state known for being a financial center or home to many fortune 1000 companies. California was the golden example of the American dream and small independent business. These dreams are now found in Texas, Idaho, Florida and Arizona.

Intel has moved a manufacturing site to Arizona and now a new factory in Oregon. The factory in Oregon means 6,000 to 8,000 construction jobs and 800-1000 high-tech factory jobs. In electricity costs alone, Intel will see a savings of 60 percent. And when the full effect of AB32 takes hold, they could see their electric bill fall 80 percent! Why Oregon? They have state income tax and horrific property taxes. It all has to do with a welcoming of business to the State. Capital if fluid and will always seek the highest rate of return.

In 2009, California was rated as No. 6 of all states as having the heaviest tax burden in the country. That was before passage of Prop. 30 raising personal income tax to 13.5 percent and the impact we will start to feel due to AB32. California is annually trading position as having the worst business climate between New York and New Jersey depending on the year. The same can be said about the regulatory environment of these same three states having the highest worker’s compensation costs in the nation.

The policies of the ruling class in this state are destroying everything from agriculture to education. Turning off water for agriculture, to Common Core educational philosophy. This includes a minority party that protects their elites at the same time that allows for over 3,000 new legislative laws and regulations a year in the state. Who can sit around and come up with 3,000 ideas? A limited government would be hard put to come up with 30 actions a year. All the while, elected officials concern themselves in financing their next political race beginning immediately after being sworn in to their current office.

Many voters feel they have lost a national voice living in California. National candidates only come here to pick up campaign checks. If we could focus on local politics, where you have both a voice and a vote, the outcome would begin to change. City councils, county commissioners, school boards, water districts, and certainly even the GOP Central Committee, have all been running from constituents and listening to the voice of the voting public. If you write a letter/email to your Congressman or Senator, what do you get in return, a form letter? Which statewide legislators and Congressmen have held town hall meetings during their August recess? How many of you, with children in K-12, know what Common Core is? Why was it adopted? Do you favor the philosophy or oppose it? Have you taken a look at candidates running for county offices? What do they support and what have they done while in government? Have they voted for themselves or for their community?

Turning around California starts with your involvement and turning around local directions. A dog park in Mission Viejo that will cost more than $1,000,000 was approved by one vote of the city council. We all love dogs, but is this the best use of money in the city? I offered to push for three dog parks in the city for under $300,000 total. Again, by one vote, the Mission Viejo City Council is set to proceed with fining residents for loud parties at their homes. How loud is loud? Who decides? Ever attend a 12-year-old’s birthday party? Why are negotiations between the city and its employees managed in private? Why do the same vendors continue winning city contracts year after year? Are there no competitive bids? Do you vote for politicians heavily funded by outside interests? You may even support those interests, but are you aware of how much they are funding a candidate and what are their motives? Can you name a city in Orange County that can pay for their current pension liabilities? Who is looking out for Mello-Roos overpayments and abuse in your city? 

You may argue that none of these are Republican or Democrat issues. But we easily understand the platforms of these two parties and Libertarians as well. Residents and businesses are leaving the state because of taxes, regulations and better business conditions elsewhere. They are not leaving because of better weather or beauty of nature. Orange County will face more and more legislation and regulation running our lives as long as we remain uniformed as for whom we are voting.  I was shocked to find out how many Mission Viejo residents knew little to nothing about the goings on in the city where they live. An informed population holds all the power. Know what is going on in the city. You are ceding your power to a vocal few. During the last city council campaign your loud voice played an integral role in stopping garish electronic billboards lighting up Kaleidoscope and neighborhoods in the city. Paying attention does not take a lot of time but it results mostly from a desire to educate oneself on issues in the community. Those of us who remain here in Mission Viejo need to participate in local government. No one leaves his or her children, or pets, with a stranger. Why then would you vote for one to run your community?