Any political party that becomes the only party in power will lose its soul - Democrat or Republican. And that's when the Devil will take over. Hello, Scott Wiener.
What has happened to humanity in America? How is it that thousands of Americans will protest and riot in the streets to support far away contestants in foreign wars, yet will not stand up publicly in the streets in thousands to protest the deliberate poisoning with drugs and irreversible mutilation with scalpels, of American children and teenagers?
How have the laws of childhood protection by parents, until the ages of 18 or 21 been thwarted by other adults engaged in satisfying their desire for personal power and money?
Katy Grimes is a brave, common-sense person on these issues. We should follow her lead.
By and large, the writers and readers of Santa Barbara Current are highly intelligent people.
Is this not an issue on which we should take action and provide support for efforts against politicians like Senator Scott Wiener and the psychologists and surgeons who make money providing the diagnosis decisions, the irreversible drugs, and the surgeries they use to butcher children in this state?
The Democratic Party might have a super-majority government in California, but they are not our masters and we are not their subservient supplicants
"But never before have I been surrounded by alligators, leopards, and other predators—except perhaps when I am testifying before Congress. Of course, predators lurk not only here on Jungle Island or in the broader animal kingdom. We also find them among our fellow human beings. Some people will always look to make a dishonest dollar by preying on another person’s trust or by cheating the system. And their crimes affect all of us."
Welcome to Santa Barbara "The Home of the T-Rex Predators Who Prey on Others Trust and Cheat the System, and their crimes in Santa Barbara and CALI affects us all"
Yep, Howard. If CA were a two-party state these politicians would still be evil, but they'd at least have to give the appearance of caring what we voters want.
Great Article Andy. In regards to Planned Parenthood,SB is lucky to have another organization, for pro-life options and past abortion counseling called Network Medical. I hope readers and the community can use this resource instead of Planned Parenthood. They've saved 43 babies so far.
As far as Transgenderism, I believe it is a larger issue,as you stated,than what the Drs want to make it be.
Should the parents also be analyzed to see why they would ever do that to their child?
Growing up we had girls and boys that didn't fit into the stereotypical activities. A girl who played sports was called a Tomboy but once they reached puberty they changed and metamorphised like the butterfly, into a beautiful girl who was usually the prom queen.
Yep! “Should the parents also be analyzed to see why they would ever do that to their child?” No one teaches how to be a parent? Child advocacy requires training. Ignorant parents insecure with their low level knowledge trust professionals, who too often take advantage of their ignorance.
It’s official, CNN Pollster claims “Democrats image is garbage.” Truer words have never been spoken by the failing network, once the leader in cable news.
What’s really surprising is the local, lefty rank and file hasn’t gotten the memo! No, local libs continue to back losing (80/20) causes and doubling down on stupid!
Hopefully the voting public will finally wake up and stop backing these losers. Mention ANY metric;
education, energy, taxes, crime, homelessness, immigration or transgender lunacy, the left continues to fan the flames of the dumpster fire they created!
One would think the local “media” would point out the utter disaster Democrats have created, but no, they continue covering the incompetence and corruption, while telling the rest of us nothing to see here, keep moving. It’s almost like children playing dress up and fantasizing about an alternative reality!
BTW, why hasn’t our Police Chief given a news conference about the local heinous murder on State St? No perp mugshots, nada, zip. What about immigration status? Gang affiliation? No, it’s buried because unveiling the facts could undermine the narrative/fairytale of ICE going after maids and gardeners.
LT, a Nuclear Exchange with Russia is not a thing you want to make comments about on Twitter or Truth Social notwithstanding this Countries inability to elect
Solid Leaders. Biden maybe bad and Trump degrees Better than Bad. Having
the lower level of Bad to aspire from is digging your way out of a Hole.
Face it this Country has had terrible leaders for some time.
Let's see if Trump is working behind the scene to "EXTRACT" Crazy Zelenski
Howard, your comment, "Having the lower level of Bad to aspire from is digging your way out of a Hole," sums up my concerns from local to national politics.
Thomas, I agree COMPLETELY with you. It Scares-the-Hell-Out-of-Me
what Trump is OPENLY SAYING NOW on Truth Social and Twitter.
Look at this Utube creator Alex C. some accurate assessments some not but he has connections, father was Diplomat. He was just in Moscow, then Turkey and Armenia. I think it is obvious who he is.
Hello LT, well this is more interesting. Trump stated 50 days for Russia
to reply then quickly changed it down to 10 days. Trump got it that the
frontlines are completely collapsing, and time is running out for Ukraine
and for Trump to get out. This quick Alaska Meeting was by Trumps request via Witkoff and if successful there will be another one in Russia or close by in Japan. Witkoff meetings alone with Putin was the Big Back-Up and Get-Out Plan for US. Remember Trumps says, "Ukraine War is Bidens Mess."
Problem is Trump inherited Bidens Mess, and he now owns it.
Russia has already prevailed on the battleground and the assessment now is Ukraine has got maybe a few months to complete capitulation. If Russia opens another front from the North, they have placed more troops in Belarus, well that, is it. And Zelensk has got a serious problem, extending no elections again and again, stopping all Corruption Investigations in Ukraine and extending age to fight at 60. Desertions on the battlefront increasing,
cannot get supplies to the front, our get wounded out all accelerating.
Here is a talk on the New Meeting >>>Another side on this >>>
Thank you Andy! Isn’t that the way it always is, throw money at it, that will solve it. Make people dependent not independent. Twenty-four billion untracked says it all doesn’t it?
The phrase "A danger to themselves or others" haunts me when I look at the dregs on the sidewalks, drifting. That's the qualifier to get SSI, enough money to stay drunk or high for a few weeks before you try to panhandle to make it through the end of the month. Looking at the number of empty storefronts on State Street speaks volumes, as locals have no reason to go downtown and tourists are disappointed. My clients' companions go off for the day, and even though I give them hearty tourism suggestions most think shopping for Chinese drek is the way to experience the City. They report back that nothing is as they remember it or expected it to be. I thoroughly support re-establishing the equivalent of the old mental institutions, to warehouse those burnouts who cannot take care of themselves. And state orphanages too, to save the childhoods of those the State leaves in often abusive circumstances, with deficient parents or those paid to care for them. Look at videos online of other cities and know it is going to get a lot worse here unless major changes are made. With our perfect weather look to see the parks and beaches filled with tents, and the police unable to respond to anything beyond emergency management of the crowds of people with nothing to lose.
A Party with a soul would not need to be deceptive in its arguments and in its words. My comments follow:
1. Radical Gender Related Surgeries and Drugs
The forced terminology "gender affirming healthcare" begs the questions. First, it is not affirming the biological sex of the child, but rather the current delusion of a child with gender dysphoria who has been convinced by others that he or she was born in the "wrong" body. Second, it is not "healthcare" but rather an abuse of the child and of the medical profession.
The term "gender affirming healthcare" should never be used again.
2. Homelessness
Once again, the Party uses a term, "homelessness", to deflect and obscure the real issue. If the absence of a "home" were the real problem, the problem would have been solved years ago in light of the billions of dollars spent (grifted by the homeless industrial complex). The problem is drugs and alcohol and mental illness, resulting in these people being incapable of taking care of themselves.
The term "homeless" should never be used again to describe people experiencing substance abuse or mental illness causing them to be unable to care for themselves.
3. Abortion
The terms "reproductive rights" and "planned parenthood" are deceptive. The groups using the term "reproductive rights" really mean the right NOT TO REPRODUCE. And it can be forcefully argued that once a child is conceived, reproduction has been completed.
Next, the name "Planned Parenthood" is a misnomer; the real goal of this organization is to avoid becoming a parent.
Your homelessness section blames the victims. For a Libertarian-Republican (LR) AG/business lobbyist like Mr. Caldwell to only blame Dems for homelessness is hypocrisy. Mass immigration created most of the homeless we see nowadays. Some LRs claim to oppose illegal migration, but with a caveat that we need "reform" to "fix" and "streamline" our "broken immigration system", i.e. amnesty euphemisms (e.g. self-deport & return legally) or replace illegals with even more legals.
U.S. homelessness jumped >=36% from 2019-24. Did folks suddenly discover drugs? NO! Did mental illness magically surge 36%? NO!
So how come folks can no longer make it who were hanging in there? What changed? Mainly, housing cost jacked up & real wages crushed by Biden's invasion of 20m illegals, plus probly another 20m legals (chain migration) which the biz crowd approves & then some.
What happens when 20m illegals try to rent apts? Rents skyrocket. Citizens who can no longer afford studio hovels get evicted, replaced by illegals who can afford it. How? They jam 6 illegals in & are still better off than in the S-holes they came from. Where do the citizens go?
Old-school CalCommie blameshifters read about the housing crisis they helped create and demand rent control, which makes it even worse.
New-school CalCom blameshifters read about the crisis they created & demand Cali preempt local codes so developers can pave every inch of unpaved land with hi-density housing & we all live like rats racing in a sardine can. To hell with the natural & human environments.
LR blameshifters read about the crisis they created; demand the same as new-school CalComs, plus fire sale of our public land to pave that too. To hell with the natural & human environments.
Citizens with compassion for citizens read about the crisis we tried to prevent & demand DEI: Deport Every Illegal. Slash legal immigration too, back to beneficial, assimilable, pre-1960s levels.
Another hill Democrat choose to die on has been blocking all government employee pension reform measures. Which had AG Kamala Harris's fingerprints all over it in California.
Blocking government pension reform measures became a necessary issue for California Democrats, simply to support sustaining their own government employee union membership. SCOTUS ruled in favor of open shop government employment, thus Democrats needed this government pension protection cause just to retain their current and future dues-paying membership numbers.
Your article coincided with the timing of my own research on other counter-productive Democrat issues that continue to affect us all, but are under the radar for many. For those wanting to explore the topic of unsustainable government employee pensions, I offer the following.
Going to GROK first, here starts the investigative process:
"Overview: California’s public pension systems, primarily CalPERS and CalSTRS, cover millions of public employees. CalPERS manages pensions for state and local workers, while CalSTRS serves public school teachers. These defined benefit plans provide lifetime retirement benefits based on service years, age, and final compensation.
Reforms: The Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013 reduced benefits for new hires, increased contribution requirements, and capped pensionable compensation to address unfunded liabilities.
Challenges: Unfunded liabilities remain significant, with estimates of $150 billion for CalPERS and $74 billion for CalSTRS as of recent reports. These gaps strain state and local budgets, prompting ongoing reform debates.
Relevant California Pension Reports
1. Little Hoover Commission Reports:
The Little Hoover Commission, California’s independent oversight agency, has produced several reports on public pension sustainability. A notable one is Public Pensions for Retirement Security (February 2011), which examines California’s pension challenges, including unfunded liabilities and reform options.
Where to Find: Available on the Little Hoover Commission’s website at lhc.ca.gov. Search for “Public Pensions for Retirement Security” or browse their reports section.
2. CalPERS and CalSTRS Actuarial Reports:
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) publish annual actuarial valuations and financial reports detailing pension obligations, funding ratios, and unfunded liabilities.
Where to Find:
3. CalPERS: Visit www.calpers.ca.gov and navigate to “Reports” or “Actuarial Information.” For example, the 2020–21 CalPERS Annual Report notes $469 billion in assets and $150 billion in unfunded liabilities.
4. CalSTRS: Access reports at www.calstrs.com under “Financials” or “Actuarial Valuations.” The 2013 fiscal year report cited $74 billion in unfunded liabilities for CalSTRS.
5. Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC):
PPIC has published analyses like Public Pensions in California (2019) and Public Pension Liabilities in California (2018), which provide snapshots of pension obligations, unfunded liabilities (e.g., $185.1 billion in 2019), and the impact of reforms like PEPRA.
Where to Find: Available at www.ppic.org. Search for “public pensions” or specific report titles.
6. Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO):
The LAO has reviewed California’s pension systems, including a 2013 analysis of a constitutional initiative on state and local pensions and reports on PEPRA’s impacts.
Where to Find: Visit www.lao.ca.gov and search for “pension reform” or “public pensions.”
7. Transparent California:
This site provides data on individual pension plans, salaries, and compensation for California public employees, useful for understanding specific pension benefits.
The Little Hoover Commission, California’s independent oversight agency, has produced several reports on public pension sustainability. A notable one is Public Pensions for Retirement Security (February 2011), which examines California’s pension challenges, including unfunded liabilities and reform options.
--Where to Find: Available on the Little Hoover Commission’s website at lhc.ca.gov. Search for “Public Pensions for Retirement Security” or browse their reports section.
2CalPERS and CalSTRS Actuarial Reports:
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) publish annual actuarial valuations and financial reports detailing pension obligations, funding ratios, and unfunded liabilities.
Where to Find:
--- CalPERS: Visit www.calpers.ca.gov and navigate to “Reports” or “Actuarial Information.” For example, the 2020–21 CalPERS Annual Report notes $469 billion in assets and $150 billion in unfunded liabilities.
.--- CalSTRS: Access reports at www.calstrs.com under “Financials” or “Actuarial Valuations.” The 2013 fiscal year report cited $74 billion in unfunded liabilities for CalSTRS.
3. Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC):
PPIC has published analyses like Public Pensions in California (2019) and Public Pension Liabilities in California (2018), which provide snapshots of pension obligations, unfunded liabilities (e.g., $185.1 billion in 2019), and the impact of reforms like PEPRA.
--Where to Find: Available at www.ppic.org. Search for “public pensions” or specific report titles.
4. Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO):
The LAO has reviewed California’s pension systems, including a 2013 analysis of a constitutional initiative on state and local pensions and reports on PEPRA’s impacts.
--Where to Find: Visit www.lao.ca.gov and search for “pension reform” or “public pensions.”
5. Transparent California:
This site provides data on individual pension plans, salaries, and compensation for California public employees, useful for understanding specific pension benefits.
One of your comments makes me a little nervous: “in other words, the ability to put people who are a danger to themselves or others in institutions, even against their will.” Reminds me of the “Soviet Union who notoriously used psychiatric institutions to suppress political dissent, labeling dissidents as mentally ill (e.g., ‘sluggish schizophrenia’).” I would worry that people like Donald Trump are making these decisions.
M. Callahan, your thoughts bring us right back to the beginning of the homeless problem that started many years ago and has failed: people are free to be left alone. What is your answer to this first amendment situation when the subject is ill (druggie, mental, etc.)?
Until they were “deinstitutionalized” several years ago many of these people went into institutions on their own or with family or doctor recommendations. And, of course, people who committed crimes due to mental illness could be committed to a mental institution. I don’t like the idea of some outside agency, like the government, making this decision without due process. My analogy would be deporting illlegal or legal aliens without due process.
Thank you for giving a voice to those harmed by reckless policies. Layla Jane’s testimony should be a wake‑up call for every parent and policymaker. Allowing kids to be medically altered instead of addressing abuse, autism, and mental health is beyond negligent.
You’re also spot‑on about the tragedy of enabling addiction and mental illness on our streets under the guise of “compassion,” and about the deep moral cost of treating unborn life as disposable.
Hard truths, but necessary ones—thank you for standing up for dignity, accountability, and common sense when so many others stay silent.
On October 8, 2024, The New York Post published an article that stated, " Researchers were able to identify a total of 13,994 minors across the USA who received medical treatment for "Gender Dysphoria" over the course of 4 years" Over 40% were reported to have occurred in just 4 states. California, New York, Washington and Ohio. California had the highest number." "Over 5,700 children had "trans surgery" between 2019 and 2023." The researchers at "Do No Harm" opted to be as cautious as possible in counting cases and, therefore, were probably understating the nature of the problem.
Any political party that becomes the only party in power will lose its soul - Democrat or Republican. And that's when the Devil will take over. Hello, Scott Wiener.
Hello Polly Frost, you are dead on that the Devil has taken over especially here in Santa Barbara see my post above>
THE TRUMP PARTY SHOULD BE THE ONLY PARTY IN POWER
You mean like taco and the Republicans are in power now? And you’re right you can tell they are souless.
What has happened to humanity in America? How is it that thousands of Americans will protest and riot in the streets to support far away contestants in foreign wars, yet will not stand up publicly in the streets in thousands to protest the deliberate poisoning with drugs and irreversible mutilation with scalpels, of American children and teenagers?
How have the laws of childhood protection by parents, until the ages of 18 or 21 been thwarted by other adults engaged in satisfying their desire for personal power and money?
Katy Grimes is a brave, common-sense person on these issues. We should follow her lead.
By and large, the writers and readers of Santa Barbara Current are highly intelligent people.
Is this not an issue on which we should take action and provide support for efforts against politicians like Senator Scott Wiener and the psychologists and surgeons who make money providing the diagnosis decisions, the irreversible drugs, and the surgeries they use to butcher children in this state?
The Democratic Party might have a super-majority government in California, but they are not our masters and we are not their subservient supplicants
I read this article titled "The Party That Forfeited Its Soul" By Andy Caldwell
Of course, I have another title "Politicians That Forfeited Their Souls For Power and Money"
I quote from same "With respect to the Democrat Party choosing hills to die on, there are too many to list." I provide THE LIST BELOW>
For your Sunday reading on the "Evil of Politicians" below>
"How Evil Are Politicians? This Book Says “Very”"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/artcarden/2022/10/17/how-evil-are-politicians-this-book-says-very/
"The Evil of Politics and the Ethics of Evil"
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/290471
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller III stated it the best in his Miami Jungle Island Speech>
https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/speeches/its-a-jungle-out-there-taking-on-todays-financial-predators
"But never before have I been surrounded by alligators, leopards, and other predators—except perhaps when I am testifying before Congress. Of course, predators lurk not only here on Jungle Island or in the broader animal kingdom. We also find them among our fellow human beings. Some people will always look to make a dishonest dollar by preying on another person’s trust or by cheating the system. And their crimes affect all of us."
Welcome to Santa Barbara "The Home of the T-Rex Predators Who Prey on Others Trust and Cheat the System, and their crimes in Santa Barbara and CALI affects us all"
Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family
Yep, Howard. If CA were a two-party state these politicians would still be evil, but they'd at least have to give the appearance of caring what we voters want.
Roger that Polly Frost
TRUMP LOCK EVIL GAVIN NEWSOME UP SO HE CAN GET THIS STATE UNDER CONTROL
Great Article Andy. In regards to Planned Parenthood,SB is lucky to have another organization, for pro-life options and past abortion counseling called Network Medical. I hope readers and the community can use this resource instead of Planned Parenthood. They've saved 43 babies so far.
As far as Transgenderism, I believe it is a larger issue,as you stated,than what the Drs want to make it be.
Should the parents also be analyzed to see why they would ever do that to their child?
Growing up we had girls and boys that didn't fit into the stereotypical activities. A girl who played sports was called a Tomboy but once they reached puberty they changed and metamorphised like the butterfly, into a beautiful girl who was usually the prom queen.
Yep! “Should the parents also be analyzed to see why they would ever do that to their child?” No one teaches how to be a parent? Child advocacy requires training. Ignorant parents insecure with their low level knowledge trust professionals, who too often take advantage of their ignorance.
Agree. The "Drs" have been misleading us for many years now.
And of the boys? Did they "metamorphose"?
Yes
It’s official, CNN Pollster claims “Democrats image is garbage.” Truer words have never been spoken by the failing network, once the leader in cable news.
What’s really surprising is the local, lefty rank and file hasn’t gotten the memo! No, local libs continue to back losing (80/20) causes and doubling down on stupid!
Hopefully the voting public will finally wake up and stop backing these losers. Mention ANY metric;
education, energy, taxes, crime, homelessness, immigration or transgender lunacy, the left continues to fan the flames of the dumpster fire they created!
One would think the local “media” would point out the utter disaster Democrats have created, but no, they continue covering the incompetence and corruption, while telling the rest of us nothing to see here, keep moving. It’s almost like children playing dress up and fantasizing about an alternative reality!
BTW, why hasn’t our Police Chief given a news conference about the local heinous murder on State St? No perp mugshots, nada, zip. What about immigration status? Gang affiliation? No, it’s buried because unveiling the facts could undermine the narrative/fairytale of ICE going after maids and gardeners.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-data-guru-says-democrats-messier-than-hoarders-basement-partys-image-garbage.amp
LT it ain't too good looking for the Republicans either and their "Gaslighting" on Ukraine
as we get closer and closer to WWIII with Russia>
https://x.com/businessbasiics/status/1951327175761862989
Trump Deploys Ohio Class Submarines Closer to Russia????>
https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/1951908394828288419
Trumps Statements on same>>>>
https://x.com/langbad__1588_/status/1951329764498690510
I have spent alot of time on the Ohio Class and this is utter Nonsense
"I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to the appropriate regions"
Notice the very vague words above, Ohio Class goes no-where near Russia.
Lets Play Nuclear Submarine Games By Twitter with Russia Folks.
As opposed to what Howard? Biden/Harris impotence with the Russians? No, neither Party is perfect, but at least we now have a decisive leader.
LT, a Nuclear Exchange with Russia is not a thing you want to make comments about on Twitter or Truth Social notwithstanding this Countries inability to elect
Solid Leaders. Biden maybe bad and Trump degrees Better than Bad. Having
the lower level of Bad to aspire from is digging your way out of a Hole.
Face it this Country has had terrible leaders for some time.
Let's see if Trump is working behind the scene to "EXTRACT" Crazy Zelenski
from what I have heard.
Howard, your comment, "Having the lower level of Bad to aspire from is digging your way out of a Hole," sums up my concerns from local to national politics.
Thomas, I agree COMPLETELY with you. It Scares-the-Hell-Out-of-Me
what Trump is OPENLY SAYING NOW on Truth Social and Twitter.
Look at this Utube creator Alex C. some accurate assessments some not but he has connections, father was Diplomat. He was just in Moscow, then Turkey and Armenia. I think it is obvious who he is.
https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/alex-christoforou.html
Ya like that’s going to happen Howard. Putin is on his way to Alaska now, in order to kiss Trump’s ass and beg for forgiveness!
Hello LT, well this is more interesting. Trump stated 50 days for Russia
to reply then quickly changed it down to 10 days. Trump got it that the
frontlines are completely collapsing, and time is running out for Ukraine
and for Trump to get out. This quick Alaska Meeting was by Trumps request via Witkoff and if successful there will be another one in Russia or close by in Japan. Witkoff meetings alone with Putin was the Big Back-Up and Get-Out Plan for US. Remember Trumps says, "Ukraine War is Bidens Mess."
Problem is Trump inherited Bidens Mess, and he now owns it.
Russia has already prevailed on the battleground and the assessment now is Ukraine has got maybe a few months to complete capitulation. If Russia opens another front from the North, they have placed more troops in Belarus, well that, is it. And Zelensk has got a serious problem, extending no elections again and again, stopping all Corruption Investigations in Ukraine and extending age to fight at 60. Desertions on the battlefront increasing,
cannot get supplies to the front, our get wounded out all accelerating.
Here is a talk on the New Meeting >>>Another side on this >>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t3QvKAgTGc&ab_channel=HindustanTimes
Thank you Andy! Isn’t that the way it always is, throw money at it, that will solve it. Make people dependent not independent. Twenty-four billion untracked says it all doesn’t it?
The phrase "A danger to themselves or others" haunts me when I look at the dregs on the sidewalks, drifting. That's the qualifier to get SSI, enough money to stay drunk or high for a few weeks before you try to panhandle to make it through the end of the month. Looking at the number of empty storefronts on State Street speaks volumes, as locals have no reason to go downtown and tourists are disappointed. My clients' companions go off for the day, and even though I give them hearty tourism suggestions most think shopping for Chinese drek is the way to experience the City. They report back that nothing is as they remember it or expected it to be. I thoroughly support re-establishing the equivalent of the old mental institutions, to warehouse those burnouts who cannot take care of themselves. And state orphanages too, to save the childhoods of those the State leaves in often abusive circumstances, with deficient parents or those paid to care for them. Look at videos online of other cities and know it is going to get a lot worse here unless major changes are made. With our perfect weather look to see the parks and beaches filled with tents, and the police unable to respond to anything beyond emergency management of the crowds of people with nothing to lose.
Yep
Good Article, perhaps article should be entitled ‘The Party That SOLD Its Soul’
I don’t believe in killing, especially infant life for profit
[1]
https://apnews.com/ec121b3d9db53764f0468c012b6813c2
[2]
https://twitter.com/LilaGraceRose/status/1278072413499068416
Why would [D]s block a bill that stops infanticide [allow ABORTIONs up to point of birth] and does not provide new restrictions on ABORTION itself?
How is taxpayer funded [Planned Parenthood] allowed to donate [large sums] of taxpayer funds to select members of [D] party?
Is this about a woman's right to choose OR SOMETHING ELSE?
PS…Great to watch the systematic destruction of the [D] Party con…August is typically a very hot month… https://x.com/drawandstrike/status/1950248451553579378?s=61
https://x.com/genflynn/status/1951998706569367934?s=61
PP & Progressive Dems DO worship Moloch. They DO urge infant/child/human sacrifice.
They are the epitome of evil narcicism.
Thank you Andy.
A Party with a soul would not need to be deceptive in its arguments and in its words. My comments follow:
1. Radical Gender Related Surgeries and Drugs
The forced terminology "gender affirming healthcare" begs the questions. First, it is not affirming the biological sex of the child, but rather the current delusion of a child with gender dysphoria who has been convinced by others that he or she was born in the "wrong" body. Second, it is not "healthcare" but rather an abuse of the child and of the medical profession.
The term "gender affirming healthcare" should never be used again.
2. Homelessness
Once again, the Party uses a term, "homelessness", to deflect and obscure the real issue. If the absence of a "home" were the real problem, the problem would have been solved years ago in light of the billions of dollars spent (grifted by the homeless industrial complex). The problem is drugs and alcohol and mental illness, resulting in these people being incapable of taking care of themselves.
The term "homeless" should never be used again to describe people experiencing substance abuse or mental illness causing them to be unable to care for themselves.
3. Abortion
The terms "reproductive rights" and "planned parenthood" are deceptive. The groups using the term "reproductive rights" really mean the right NOT TO REPRODUCE. And it can be forcefully argued that once a child is conceived, reproduction has been completed.
Next, the name "Planned Parenthood" is a misnomer; the real goal of this organization is to avoid becoming a parent.
Berney
Your homelessness section blames the victims. For a Libertarian-Republican (LR) AG/business lobbyist like Mr. Caldwell to only blame Dems for homelessness is hypocrisy. Mass immigration created most of the homeless we see nowadays. Some LRs claim to oppose illegal migration, but with a caveat that we need "reform" to "fix" and "streamline" our "broken immigration system", i.e. amnesty euphemisms (e.g. self-deport & return legally) or replace illegals with even more legals.
U.S. homelessness jumped >=36% from 2019-24. Did folks suddenly discover drugs? NO! Did mental illness magically surge 36%? NO!
So how come folks can no longer make it who were hanging in there? What changed? Mainly, housing cost jacked up & real wages crushed by Biden's invasion of 20m illegals, plus probly another 20m legals (chain migration) which the biz crowd approves & then some.
What happens when 20m illegals try to rent apts? Rents skyrocket. Citizens who can no longer afford studio hovels get evicted, replaced by illegals who can afford it. How? They jam 6 illegals in & are still better off than in the S-holes they came from. Where do the citizens go?
Old-school CalCommie blameshifters read about the housing crisis they helped create and demand rent control, which makes it even worse.
New-school CalCom blameshifters read about the crisis they created & demand Cali preempt local codes so developers can pave every inch of unpaved land with hi-density housing & we all live like rats racing in a sardine can. To hell with the natural & human environments.
LR blameshifters read about the crisis they created; demand the same as new-school CalComs, plus fire sale of our public land to pave that too. To hell with the natural & human environments.
Citizens with compassion for citizens read about the crisis we tried to prevent & demand DEI: Deport Every Illegal. Slash legal immigration too, back to beneficial, assimilable, pre-1960s levels.
Another hill Democrat choose to die on has been blocking all government employee pension reform measures. Which had AG Kamala Harris's fingerprints all over it in California.
Blocking government pension reform measures became a necessary issue for California Democrats, simply to support sustaining their own government employee union membership. SCOTUS ruled in favor of open shop government employment, thus Democrats needed this government pension protection cause just to retain their current and future dues-paying membership numbers.
Your article coincided with the timing of my own research on other counter-productive Democrat issues that continue to affect us all, but are under the radar for many. For those wanting to explore the topic of unsustainable government employee pensions, I offer the following.
Going to GROK first, here starts the investigative process:
"Overview: California’s public pension systems, primarily CalPERS and CalSTRS, cover millions of public employees. CalPERS manages pensions for state and local workers, while CalSTRS serves public school teachers. These defined benefit plans provide lifetime retirement benefits based on service years, age, and final compensation.
Reforms: The Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013 reduced benefits for new hires, increased contribution requirements, and capped pensionable compensation to address unfunded liabilities.
Challenges: Unfunded liabilities remain significant, with estimates of $150 billion for CalPERS and $74 billion for CalSTRS as of recent reports. These gaps strain state and local budgets, prompting ongoing reform debates.
Relevant California Pension Reports
1. Little Hoover Commission Reports:
The Little Hoover Commission, California’s independent oversight agency, has produced several reports on public pension sustainability. A notable one is Public Pensions for Retirement Security (February 2011), which examines California’s pension challenges, including unfunded liabilities and reform options.
Where to Find: Available on the Little Hoover Commission’s website at lhc.ca.gov. Search for “Public Pensions for Retirement Security” or browse their reports section.
2. CalPERS and CalSTRS Actuarial Reports:
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) publish annual actuarial valuations and financial reports detailing pension obligations, funding ratios, and unfunded liabilities.
Where to Find:
3. CalPERS: Visit www.calpers.ca.gov and navigate to “Reports” or “Actuarial Information.” For example, the 2020–21 CalPERS Annual Report notes $469 billion in assets and $150 billion in unfunded liabilities.
4. CalSTRS: Access reports at www.calstrs.com under “Financials” or “Actuarial Valuations.” The 2013 fiscal year report cited $74 billion in unfunded liabilities for CalSTRS.
5. Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC):
PPIC has published analyses like Public Pensions in California (2019) and Public Pension Liabilities in California (2018), which provide snapshots of pension obligations, unfunded liabilities (e.g., $185.1 billion in 2019), and the impact of reforms like PEPRA.
Where to Find: Available at www.ppic.org. Search for “public pensions” or specific report titles.
6. Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO):
The LAO has reviewed California’s pension systems, including a 2013 analysis of a constitutional initiative on state and local pensions and reports on PEPRA’s impacts.
Where to Find: Visit www.lao.ca.gov and search for “pension reform” or “public pensions.”
7. Transparent California:
This site provides data on individual pension plans, salaries, and compensation for California public employees, useful for understanding specific pension benefits.
Where to Find: Access at transparentcalifornia.com.
Context on California Public Defined Benefit Pensions "
Full content (continued):
1. Little Hoover Commission Reports:
The Little Hoover Commission, California’s independent oversight agency, has produced several reports on public pension sustainability. A notable one is Public Pensions for Retirement Security (February 2011), which examines California’s pension challenges, including unfunded liabilities and reform options.
--Where to Find: Available on the Little Hoover Commission’s website at lhc.ca.gov. Search for “Public Pensions for Retirement Security” or browse their reports section.
2CalPERS and CalSTRS Actuarial Reports:
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) publish annual actuarial valuations and financial reports detailing pension obligations, funding ratios, and unfunded liabilities.
Where to Find:
--- CalPERS: Visit www.calpers.ca.gov and navigate to “Reports” or “Actuarial Information.” For example, the 2020–21 CalPERS Annual Report notes $469 billion in assets and $150 billion in unfunded liabilities.
.--- CalSTRS: Access reports at www.calstrs.com under “Financials” or “Actuarial Valuations.” The 2013 fiscal year report cited $74 billion in unfunded liabilities for CalSTRS.
3. Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC):
PPIC has published analyses like Public Pensions in California (2019) and Public Pension Liabilities in California (2018), which provide snapshots of pension obligations, unfunded liabilities (e.g., $185.1 billion in 2019), and the impact of reforms like PEPRA.
--Where to Find: Available at www.ppic.org. Search for “public pensions” or specific report titles.
4. Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO):
The LAO has reviewed California’s pension systems, including a 2013 analysis of a constitutional initiative on state and local pensions and reports on PEPRA’s impacts.
--Where to Find: Visit www.lao.ca.gov and search for “pension reform” or “public pensions.”
5. Transparent California:
This site provides data on individual pension plans, salaries, and compensation for California public employees, useful for understanding specific pension benefits.
--Where to Find: Access at transparentcalifornia.com.
Andy, you are absolutely right on! 100%
One of your comments makes me a little nervous: “in other words, the ability to put people who are a danger to themselves or others in institutions, even against their will.” Reminds me of the “Soviet Union who notoriously used psychiatric institutions to suppress political dissent, labeling dissidents as mentally ill (e.g., ‘sluggish schizophrenia’).” I would worry that people like Donald Trump are making these decisions.
M. Callahan, your thoughts bring us right back to the beginning of the homeless problem that started many years ago and has failed: people are free to be left alone. What is your answer to this first amendment situation when the subject is ill (druggie, mental, etc.)?
Until they were “deinstitutionalized” several years ago many of these people went into institutions on their own or with family or doctor recommendations. And, of course, people who committed crimes due to mental illness could be committed to a mental institution. I don’t like the idea of some outside agency, like the government, making this decision without due process. My analogy would be deporting illlegal or legal aliens without due process.
It may have forfeited its soul but unfortunately not its voters statewide and in Santa Barbara. Why that is the case is above my pay grade.
Powerful piece, Andy.
Thank you for giving a voice to those harmed by reckless policies. Layla Jane’s testimony should be a wake‑up call for every parent and policymaker. Allowing kids to be medically altered instead of addressing abuse, autism, and mental health is beyond negligent.
You’re also spot‑on about the tragedy of enabling addiction and mental illness on our streets under the guise of “compassion,” and about the deep moral cost of treating unborn life as disposable.
Hard truths, but necessary ones—thank you for standing up for dignity, accountability, and common sense when so many others stay silent.
I wonder Walt, how Layla Jane’s parents were “coerced” to have her transitioned.
On October 8, 2024, The New York Post published an article that stated, " Researchers were able to identify a total of 13,994 minors across the USA who received medical treatment for "Gender Dysphoria" over the course of 4 years" Over 40% were reported to have occurred in just 4 states. California, New York, Washington and Ohio. California had the highest number." "Over 5,700 children had "trans surgery" between 2019 and 2023." The researchers at "Do No Harm" opted to be as cautious as possible in counting cases and, therefore, were probably understating the nature of the problem.