BTW: Santa Barbara City’s and County’s voting majority support a bigger, even more powerful government. In 2026, the Santa Barbara City Council’s 3 open seats could go to ‘endorsed allies’ of the Santa Barbara Democratic Socialists of America (SBDSA). D1 Rep Wendy Santamaria was SBDSA’s recent candidate victory. SBDSA is emboldened and postured for wins in Districts 4,5,6.
Our elected registered Democrat leaders favor unions. Do you? If not, what are you willing to do— to contribute — to change our local reality? Take a close look at TransparentCalifornia.com.
Help inform the uninformed too busy working, earning to survive. Reach out to registered No Party Preference (NPP) voters, and those who rarely vote who will determine 2026 electoral outcomes.
Thank You Justin! You’re a highly valued community asset; a proven leader who for starters we need in the CA Assembly or Senate!
Indeed, the entire Democratic Party is making a metamorphic change into socialism. First Pelosi, then Schumer, all the dead wood soon to be gone! Replaced with young, hip, snappy, Gen Z candidates like Zohran Mamdani. Focus is on providing massive government jobs, for which they gain union members and lifelong voters and supporters.
We must each do what we can to elect Bob Smith to US Congress D-24! He’s competent, prepared, experienced, a man with integrity. Bob Smith is a stellar candidate: he’s electable. Help introduce Bob to other conservatives and moderates to ensure Bob goes to Washington to send socialist Salud packing. Imagine how real representation in DC will benefit us.
LT and others: Bob is tirelessly campaigning, he’s a serious FT Candidate meeting others from SLO to Ventura, plus making about 100 phone calls a day! Raising money requires many calls, and hosted Meet & Greets. Are you willing to host a coffee or other event?
If he/we Bob Smith supporters don’t raise $250,000 by year end — and the next two quarters thereafter before June Primary — Bob’s campaign is ineligible for matching dollars. As a military career veteran, Bob can apply to veteran PACs also to benefit from statewide and national mailings. Please help make this possible.
Every dollar counts! Whether people send $20 or hundreds or up to $7000, we must do what we can.
Salud has done nothing to benefit our District-24 from affordability and jobs to increasing the supply of essential energy. Absolutely NOTHING!
I'm here! I did the Veterans event in Solvang this weekend. I stopped by some churches on Sunday.
I'll be at the Veteran's Day event at SB cemetery tomorrow. Steve Hilton's event on Wednesday. YAF events Fri/Sat. And Fenkner's presentation at SBCR Club on Saturday.
I have still been getting around to the 3 counties, but slightly less than before. The consulting firm has me dialing for dollars nationally every day. They want me to call 1000 people per week to make up for how far behind funds are, so I generally split that half/half in the district and out. We need to raise 300k by January to enact the media campaign. We have a very structured plan to get the necessary votes, which requires funding. There's a trade-off. The less time I spend on fundraising, the more time I have to attend events, knock on doors, visit organizations and businesses, etc. Every dollar helps!
With Prop 50 passing, a Republican congressional candidate may not top a primary anywhere in CA. There are only 4 red districts now. Because of the gerrymander, Rep incumbents will be competing against each other in their districts, diluting their primary %. If we can generate enough buzz to get voters out for the primary, we could make a big attention splash by posting a high turnout.
Kiley is in a tough spot. His district was heavily reshaped in the redistricting, dividing it into six different districts. He hasn't announced which of the six he will run in yet, only that he will run in one of them. McClintock's district is one of them.
Justin: Please describe “Right Wing Populism”. Won’t those against socialism and increased taxes be motivated to vote for Bob Smith? What introductions to Bob would win over a populist voter?
We need a follow up article, a tutorial, your advice on how to win in 2026, beyond only donating money. I’m aware Bob needs $250,000 this quarter for PAC matching funds, and each voter can give up to $7000. I certainly appreciate learning from you.
Right Wing populism champions “the people” against elites; nationalism, economic protectionism, and cultural conservatism. Trump’s 2024 win embodied this, mobilizing voters disillusioned with globalization, bureaucracy, and identity politics. DOGE, Prosecuting Corruption, Strong Borders, America First. Obviously the elites have fought him like a caged animal because he is an existential threat. Socialism is the easy path for politicians who want power.
Agree with your definition Justin, but has Trump become too preoccupied with the Nobel Peace Prize sweepstakes, while voters are concerned about the economy and affordability? Eggs, bread, fuel are real America First issues, NOT the Sudan!
California Legislators and Newsom will do their best so we do not feel any benefits of the Trump Presidency. Trump’s first term was throttled by impeachments and the Russia Hoax. His second by activist judges. Unfortunately Left Wing Socialism is the preferred vehicle for our corrupt elites because it increases dependency and provides them the Human Shields needed to blackmail us.
Well written Justin. A back of the envelope calculation indicates that the funds available from the euphemistically named "Infrastructure" and "Inflation reduction" bills passed during the time the blue states limited private employment, was used to increase the federal workforce by about 50%. To serve whom?
In California the vote on Prop 50 indicates that the trend is eliminate input from anyone besides Democrats.
Agreed. I think giving to NGO's is the gift that keeps on giving as my bet is that these NGO's are never audited so the flow is for some of those funds to flow back to the people, or their relatives, of those who authorized the original payments to the NGO's.
The GOP Congress needs to act rather than continue to ignore California, and blue state needs. We were warned in 2013 of the 2016 impending government-favored voter crossover point: tax beneficiaries would outnumber non-beneficiaries. Isn’t it time for Congress to: 1) End public employee unions for all government, K-12 public school, university and workers compensated by taxpayers. 2) Eliminate tax exempt 501(c)(3) property tax exempt status. Every NGO, NPO, and housing authority needs to pay for municipal services from fire, police, and roads to hospitals, schools. 3) Address the huge cash underground economy — estimated at 40% — by creating an incentive to report what has been paid to others in cash. 4) Count citizens separate from non-citizens in the 2030 census.
Address affordability! There’s no time like now to examine the fiscal impacts of eliminating income taxes on Californians reporting incomes under $90,000 regardless of household size; allowing a housing deduction for renters. It’s beyond time to reexamine eligibility requirements for the countless federal and local socialist entitlement programs. Eligibility workers know the many abuses and scams.
Excellent summation Justin. You correctly described the CR battle as a “manufactured crisis,” but then again, this is what Democrats do. They concoct a “crisis,” whereby their constituents become the “victims.” All based on a staged hoax and employee walk out.
The entire CR manufactured crisis is from a page right out of the SEIU playbook. Claim victimization and then walk off the job with little or no consequences. Happens repeatedly at UCSB. Speaking of UCSB, I witnessed first hand how representatives from the Deans office would drop in handing out Dem activist literature, all while on the clock.
Nothing to see here folks.
Yes, you rightfully point out that the pension piggy bank is running empty. High courts have already ruled that public pensions cannot be renegotiated, despite municipalities going broke!
The 5 or so Democratic senators who have courageously voted to re-open the government will have hell to pay. Already, there are calls by the DSA to primary these outcasts!
The government shutdown is nothing more than a national strike being called by the Democrats. In essence, the left has defunded our entire economy and government!
I read this Money Bail-Out Article titled "Three Million Public Sector Workers Pad California’s Democrat Party" By Justin Shores I have a simpler title "Public Corruption Systemic in CALI"
It is not just "Three Million Public Sector ... Padding ..." it is in the Billions folks>
In SB County, the public payroll/benefits exceeds 20% of County GDP. Public job growth is also exceeding private job growth by 5%. It’s unhealthy to fall below 2:1 private/public ratio - well below this.
In summary, the county is completely unhealthy in tax producer to tax user, by all accepted metrics. Would be nice to see a Rupert analysis of this.
Thank you Justin for the detailed and thorough description of what is being done. On a similar note, I would posit that the most important goal of Democrats/Progressives is to create and maintain constituency groups. In California, they are, inter alia:
(1) public employees and their unions;
(2) people dependent on government benefits and largesse;
and (3) people who are the beneficiaries of industry directed minimum wages I.e. health care workers, fast food workers, and hospitality workers. The last group of minimum wage workers is especially nefarious and devious because it allows the workers to vote for the people who decide their pay.
The Democrats/Progressives will do nothing to reduce the dependency or size of these constituencies. Berney
Thank you again for laying out your concerns. You highlight systemic problems in California politics — the growth of the public sector, taxpayer-funded activism, and political structures that reward insiders. These issues don’t fall on any one person, but they do echo patterns seen across many offices, including Rep. Salud Carbajal’s political environment.
While there is no evidence of personal wrongdoing by Congressman Carbajal, some similarities exist between the statewide trends you mentioned and the way long-entrenched political networks operate on the Central Coast:
• A strong reliance on public-sector unions and publicly funded nonprofits.
Carbajal’s political base has traditionally included government employee unions, public-sector advocacy groups, and nonprofits that receive state or federal grants. This mirrors the larger statewide dynamic where public institutions and publicly funded organizations form a reliable political coalition.
• Heavy overlap between “community organizations” and political operations.
As in many California districts, the same nonprofit networks that advocate for policies also mobilize voters. Carbajal has long benefited from civic organizations that align with his agenda — similar to how you described taxpayer-funded activism feeding into political infrastructure statewide.
• Growth-focused government policy over private-sector relief.
Carbajal’s voting record tends to prioritize expanded federal programs, environmental regulatory structures, and additional public-sector funding. Supporters see this as investment; critics view it as contributing to the same government-as-dominant-employer trend you highlighted in California.
• A tendency toward large public spending without equal attention to long-term cost sustainability.
This is not unique to Carbajal — it’s common throughout the state’s political class — but the pattern overlaps with your point about California’s pension pressures, long-term liabilities, and expansion of government responsibilities without matching structural reform.
These parallels do not imply misconduct. Instead, they reflect a broader political culture in California where public-sector growth, taxpayer-funded institutions, and loyalty networks create a reinforcing cycle.
Your concern seems less about individuals and more about a system that rewards expansion, discourages reform, and leaves taxpayers carrying liabilities for decades. In that sense, the trends you described are visible in many districts, including those represented by Congressman Carbajal.
Not only do the Democrats rely on a large public sector to gain votes and mandate power over the residents of California. The Democrats allowed million of illegal aliens into California. To create an obligatory generation voting class from the illegal aliens, and their children. While jobs and resources are removed from the citizens of California. With the intrusion of illegals and AI removing jobs. The citizens of California are going to be sacrificed. For the maintaining the power of Democrats here in California. Many who are currently employed. Will become unemployed and dependent on the Democrats bureaucracy. Becoming dependent voters.
Very well laid out Justin. Californians need to open their eyes and take the time to understand why this formula being used by our state and local government will in the end, strangle the goose laying the golden egg, i.e., the taxpayers that are funding this charade.
It seems like a lost cause based on what we have seen with the reaction to DOGE. The first step would be to stop the bleeding, end pensions for new government workers and have them contribute to 401k retirement plans.
Great article Justin: and you say, "Democrats have mastered the art of job creation, not through innovation or market forces, but through a massive public sector that employs one in seven workers statewide."
Of course, the Dems recognize the more of themselves, the easier for Dems to conquer control of our lives ... along with taking our money and wasting it. Dems in CA have built an enormous, pyramid-structure in an organizational sense. I've seen it occur in the lower levels of management in corporations. But in industry, these organizational pyramids are occasionally trimmed by the higher corporate levels because they recognize waste which translates to less profits and concerns to stockholders. Neither the Dem electors nor the Dem politicians care about waste; it's all about power and hoarding money.
California could secede. DSSC. Democrat Socialist State of California. Half the state is federal land. It would be half the size. Sound outlandish? So did Prop 50.
BTW: Santa Barbara City’s and County’s voting majority support a bigger, even more powerful government. In 2026, the Santa Barbara City Council’s 3 open seats could go to ‘endorsed allies’ of the Santa Barbara Democratic Socialists of America (SBDSA). D1 Rep Wendy Santamaria was SBDSA’s recent candidate victory. SBDSA is emboldened and postured for wins in Districts 4,5,6.
Our elected registered Democrat leaders favor unions. Do you? If not, what are you willing to do— to contribute — to change our local reality? Take a close look at TransparentCalifornia.com.
Help inform the uninformed too busy working, earning to survive. Reach out to registered No Party Preference (NPP) voters, and those who rarely vote who will determine 2026 electoral outcomes.
Thank You Justin! You’re a highly valued community asset; a proven leader who for starters we need in the CA Assembly or Senate!
Indeed, the entire Democratic Party is making a metamorphic change into socialism. First Pelosi, then Schumer, all the dead wood soon to be gone! Replaced with young, hip, snappy, Gen Z candidates like Zohran Mamdani. Focus is on providing massive government jobs, for which they gain union members and lifelong voters and supporters.
We must each do what we can to elect Bob Smith to US Congress D-24! He’s competent, prepared, experienced, a man with integrity. Bob Smith is a stellar candidate: he’s electable. Help introduce Bob to other conservatives and moderates to ensure Bob goes to Washington to send socialist Salud packing. Imagine how real representation in DC will benefit us.
Got it, but where is Bob? Is it me, or has he lately been as scarce as a California Condor!
Carbajal is winning the messaging battle, with the standard victimization virtue signaling.
Bob has been working very hard.
LT and others: Bob is tirelessly campaigning, he’s a serious FT Candidate meeting others from SLO to Ventura, plus making about 100 phone calls a day! Raising money requires many calls, and hosted Meet & Greets. Are you willing to host a coffee or other event?
If he/we Bob Smith supporters don’t raise $250,000 by year end — and the next two quarters thereafter before June Primary — Bob’s campaign is ineligible for matching dollars. As a military career veteran, Bob can apply to veteran PACs also to benefit from statewide and national mailings. Please help make this possible.
Every dollar counts! Whether people send $20 or hundreds or up to $7000, we must do what we can.
Salud has done nothing to benefit our District-24 from affordability and jobs to increasing the supply of essential energy. Absolutely NOTHING!
Sounds like a whale tale to me! Never mind the whales, what has Carbajal done to lower our cost of living?
I'm here! I did the Veterans event in Solvang this weekend. I stopped by some churches on Sunday.
I'll be at the Veteran's Day event at SB cemetery tomorrow. Steve Hilton's event on Wednesday. YAF events Fri/Sat. And Fenkner's presentation at SBCR Club on Saturday.
I have still been getting around to the 3 counties, but slightly less than before. The consulting firm has me dialing for dollars nationally every day. They want me to call 1000 people per week to make up for how far behind funds are, so I generally split that half/half in the district and out. We need to raise 300k by January to enact the media campaign. We have a very structured plan to get the necessary votes, which requires funding. There's a trade-off. The less time I spend on fundraising, the more time I have to attend events, knock on doors, visit organizations and businesses, etc. Every dollar helps!
With Prop 50 passing, a Republican congressional candidate may not top a primary anywhere in CA. There are only 4 red districts now. Because of the gerrymander, Rep incumbents will be competing against each other in their districts, diluting their primary %. If we can generate enough buzz to get voters out for the primary, we could make a big attention splash by posting a high turnout.
Glad to hear it, and will certainly support you!
Kiley is in a tough spot. His district was heavily reshaped in the redistricting, dividing it into six different districts. He hasn't announced which of the six he will run in yet, only that he will run in one of them. McClintock's district is one of them.
Voters want Right Wing Populism or Left Wing Socialism - we will get one or the other.
Justin: Please describe “Right Wing Populism”. Won’t those against socialism and increased taxes be motivated to vote for Bob Smith? What introductions to Bob would win over a populist voter?
We need a follow up article, a tutorial, your advice on how to win in 2026, beyond only donating money. I’m aware Bob needs $250,000 this quarter for PAC matching funds, and each voter can give up to $7000. I certainly appreciate learning from you.
Right Wing populism champions “the people” against elites; nationalism, economic protectionism, and cultural conservatism. Trump’s 2024 win embodied this, mobilizing voters disillusioned with globalization, bureaucracy, and identity politics. DOGE, Prosecuting Corruption, Strong Borders, America First. Obviously the elites have fought him like a caged animal because he is an existential threat. Socialism is the easy path for politicians who want power.
Agree with your definition Justin, but has Trump become too preoccupied with the Nobel Peace Prize sweepstakes, while voters are concerned about the economy and affordability? Eggs, bread, fuel are real America First issues, NOT the Sudan!
California Legislators and Newsom will do their best so we do not feel any benefits of the Trump Presidency. Trump’s first term was throttled by impeachments and the Russia Hoax. His second by activist judges. Unfortunately Left Wing Socialism is the preferred vehicle for our corrupt elites because it increases dependency and provides them the Human Shields needed to blackmail us.
Well written Justin. A back of the envelope calculation indicates that the funds available from the euphemistically named "Infrastructure" and "Inflation reduction" bills passed during the time the blue states limited private employment, was used to increase the federal workforce by about 50%. To serve whom?
In California the vote on Prop 50 indicates that the trend is eliminate input from anyone besides Democrats.
Agreed. I think giving to NGO's is the gift that keeps on giving as my bet is that these NGO's are never audited so the flow is for some of those funds to flow back to the people, or their relatives, of those who authorized the original payments to the NGO's.
The GOP Congress needs to act rather than continue to ignore California, and blue state needs. We were warned in 2013 of the 2016 impending government-favored voter crossover point: tax beneficiaries would outnumber non-beneficiaries. Isn’t it time for Congress to: 1) End public employee unions for all government, K-12 public school, university and workers compensated by taxpayers. 2) Eliminate tax exempt 501(c)(3) property tax exempt status. Every NGO, NPO, and housing authority needs to pay for municipal services from fire, police, and roads to hospitals, schools. 3) Address the huge cash underground economy — estimated at 40% — by creating an incentive to report what has been paid to others in cash. 4) Count citizens separate from non-citizens in the 2030 census.
Address affordability! There’s no time like now to examine the fiscal impacts of eliminating income taxes on Californians reporting incomes under $90,000 regardless of household size; allowing a housing deduction for renters. It’s beyond time to reexamine eligibility requirements for the countless federal and local socialist entitlement programs. Eligibility workers know the many abuses and scams.
Excellent summation Justin. You correctly described the CR battle as a “manufactured crisis,” but then again, this is what Democrats do. They concoct a “crisis,” whereby their constituents become the “victims.” All based on a staged hoax and employee walk out.
The entire CR manufactured crisis is from a page right out of the SEIU playbook. Claim victimization and then walk off the job with little or no consequences. Happens repeatedly at UCSB. Speaking of UCSB, I witnessed first hand how representatives from the Deans office would drop in handing out Dem activist literature, all while on the clock.
Nothing to see here folks.
Yes, you rightfully point out that the pension piggy bank is running empty. High courts have already ruled that public pensions cannot be renegotiated, despite municipalities going broke!
https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_55faf935-81b3-457e-9cb3-006fd895dbdf.amp.html
The Art of the Human Shield
The 5 or so Democratic senators who have courageously voted to re-open the government will have hell to pay. Already, there are calls by the DSA to primary these outcasts!
The government shutdown is nothing more than a national strike being called by the Democrats. In essence, the left has defunded our entire economy and government!
Most, if not all, of those democrats are not as brave as it appears as they have already announced that they are not running for re-election.
I read this Money Bail-Out Article titled "Three Million Public Sector Workers Pad California’s Democrat Party" By Justin Shores I have a simpler title "Public Corruption Systemic in CALI"
It is not just "Three Million Public Sector ... Padding ..." it is in the Billions folks>
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/federal-aid-by-state
https://balancingeverything.com/most-federally-dependent-states/
https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO00/20250305/117980/HHRG-119-GO00-20250305-SD039.pdf
The five states that received the most federal aid were:
California ($162.9 billion) CORRUPT
New York ($110.2 billion) CORRUPT
Texas ($105.8 billion) CORRUPT SORT-OF
Florida ($58.8 billion) CORRUPT CLEANED UP
Pennsylvania ($57.1 billion) CORRUPT
Which States above are the most CORRUPT in the US??
BIG-GOV-MONEY = BIG CORRUPTION
Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family
In SB County, the public payroll/benefits exceeds 20% of County GDP. Public job growth is also exceeding private job growth by 5%. It’s unhealthy to fall below 2:1 private/public ratio - well below this.
In summary, the county is completely unhealthy in tax producer to tax user, by all accepted metrics. Would be nice to see a Rupert analysis of this.
Thank you Justin for the detailed and thorough description of what is being done. On a similar note, I would posit that the most important goal of Democrats/Progressives is to create and maintain constituency groups. In California, they are, inter alia:
(1) public employees and their unions;
(2) people dependent on government benefits and largesse;
and (3) people who are the beneficiaries of industry directed minimum wages I.e. health care workers, fast food workers, and hospitality workers. The last group of minimum wage workers is especially nefarious and devious because it allows the workers to vote for the people who decide their pay.
The Democrats/Progressives will do nothing to reduce the dependency or size of these constituencies. Berney
Thank you again for laying out your concerns. You highlight systemic problems in California politics — the growth of the public sector, taxpayer-funded activism, and political structures that reward insiders. These issues don’t fall on any one person, but they do echo patterns seen across many offices, including Rep. Salud Carbajal’s political environment.
While there is no evidence of personal wrongdoing by Congressman Carbajal, some similarities exist between the statewide trends you mentioned and the way long-entrenched political networks operate on the Central Coast:
• A strong reliance on public-sector unions and publicly funded nonprofits.
Carbajal’s political base has traditionally included government employee unions, public-sector advocacy groups, and nonprofits that receive state or federal grants. This mirrors the larger statewide dynamic where public institutions and publicly funded organizations form a reliable political coalition.
• Heavy overlap between “community organizations” and political operations.
As in many California districts, the same nonprofit networks that advocate for policies also mobilize voters. Carbajal has long benefited from civic organizations that align with his agenda — similar to how you described taxpayer-funded activism feeding into political infrastructure statewide.
• Growth-focused government policy over private-sector relief.
Carbajal’s voting record tends to prioritize expanded federal programs, environmental regulatory structures, and additional public-sector funding. Supporters see this as investment; critics view it as contributing to the same government-as-dominant-employer trend you highlighted in California.
• A tendency toward large public spending without equal attention to long-term cost sustainability.
This is not unique to Carbajal — it’s common throughout the state’s political class — but the pattern overlaps with your point about California’s pension pressures, long-term liabilities, and expansion of government responsibilities without matching structural reform.
These parallels do not imply misconduct. Instead, they reflect a broader political culture in California where public-sector growth, taxpayer-funded institutions, and loyalty networks create a reinforcing cycle.
Your concern seems less about individuals and more about a system that rewards expansion, discourages reform, and leaves taxpayers carrying liabilities for decades. In that sense, the trends you described are visible in many districts, including those represented by Congressman Carbajal.
With Jerry Roberts advising them it is doomed to be the status quo.
Not only do the Democrats rely on a large public sector to gain votes and mandate power over the residents of California. The Democrats allowed million of illegal aliens into California. To create an obligatory generation voting class from the illegal aliens, and their children. While jobs and resources are removed from the citizens of California. With the intrusion of illegals and AI removing jobs. The citizens of California are going to be sacrificed. For the maintaining the power of Democrats here in California. Many who are currently employed. Will become unemployed and dependent on the Democrats bureaucracy. Becoming dependent voters.
Great thanks for truth!!
Very well laid out Justin. Californians need to open their eyes and take the time to understand why this formula being used by our state and local government will in the end, strangle the goose laying the golden egg, i.e., the taxpayers that are funding this charade.
Nice write up. What alternative solutions does the author had? Don't see the one party giving up power.
It seems like a lost cause based on what we have seen with the reaction to DOGE. The first step would be to stop the bleeding, end pensions for new government workers and have them contribute to 401k retirement plans.
Thought the part about Goleta Council was interesting. These were unpaid volunteer positions at one point.
Now it’s just enough to boost income for public sector/NGO employee who is given flexibility to play politics but not enough to support an outsider.
Great article Justin: and you say, "Democrats have mastered the art of job creation, not through innovation or market forces, but through a massive public sector that employs one in seven workers statewide."
Of course, the Dems recognize the more of themselves, the easier for Dems to conquer control of our lives ... along with taking our money and wasting it. Dems in CA have built an enormous, pyramid-structure in an organizational sense. I've seen it occur in the lower levels of management in corporations. But in industry, these organizational pyramids are occasionally trimmed by the higher corporate levels because they recognize waste which translates to less profits and concerns to stockholders. Neither the Dem electors nor the Dem politicians care about waste; it's all about power and hoarding money.
The post in Next-door was erased.
California could secede. DSSC. Democrat Socialist State of California. Half the state is federal land. It would be half the size. Sound outlandish? So did Prop 50.
1. Freedom
2. Capitalism
3. Accountability/Transparency
4. Prosperity