Note: Content heavy site, with long-term solutions to our complex problems.
Hey California! Why does the richest, most powerful state in the USA have so many 3rd world problems?
Why are so many Californians angry or checked out? Worried about their future? Trying to make an honest living but falling behind?
The small business owner, trying to make ends meet, find workers and keep up with Sacramento’s regulations.
The working mom, struggling to keep up with expenses. She had to move 1 hour away from work because the rent just went up again.
The young adult, who just graduated college with a massive student loan that they can not pay off. The whole paycheck, and more, is spent on living expenses.
The farmer in Central Valley, who just pulled out half of the almond trees because there is no water this year.
Big businesses eyeing other states that offer business-friendly environments, lower taxes, and a lower cost of living for their workers.
Why are so many Californians leaving the state?
Here’s the Real Reason:
This is a home. Let’s call it The Golden State.
Folks love this home. Family is growing. Cousins are moving in. A home built for 5 has 25 living in it now.
But no money is being spent on the plumbing or on strengthening the foundation.
Deep underground, the ground is shifting. The foundation is starting to crack. But no one can see it.
There are 2 experts, who keep fighting about the visible problems. Put more rooms. Stop adding rooms. Fix the roof. Paint it a different color. No one allocates money for the hidden real problem.
Welcome to today’s California.
California’s current situation is directly due to our Unexpected, Huge but Unequal Success over the past 75 years.
High Growth Industries like Technology, Entertainment, and Agriculture have seen amazing wealth creation. People have migrated into the state in big numbers. We are the largest state (40mn), and the richest (5th/7th largest economy in the world).
The FEW are rich and getting richer. They drive up the price of everything.
THE MAJORITY of the population is struggling to keep up.
Trends like globalization, automation, other business-friendly states, changing weather patterns,.. are widening the cracks further.
The house still stands tall because previous generations built a nice home for us. It is still the land of opportunity for someone with a dream and willingness to work hard. But not for long.
Here are some symptoms of overcrowding, unequal wealth and not fixing the foundation:
Rapidly increasing Homelessness • Wildfires • Blackouts • Water shortages • Broken roads • Unaffordable housing • Increased taxes • Small businesses weighed down under regulations
Illegal immigration • Increased Crime • Vaccine hesitancy • Increased frustration and anger in general population • Accusations of incompetence • Mistrust of the Establishment • Other states offering better options
Why has no one been working on the Real Problem?
Because in the short-term it is always easier to remain popular (or get re-elected) by giving the voters (aka homeowners) quick solutions.
Sacramento is busy creating policies to help the ones left behind. But the gap is too big. The solution is not addressing the underlying, unseen problem.
We are missing Vision and Leadership.
It is not like no one understands the problem. There are a lot of brilliant people in the Government.
But sometimes, success itself is a problem. Most of us start playing defense when we succeed. Instead of going for a bigger goal, we cling to what we have.
The Democrats’ success in Sacramento makes them do more of what they think got them elected.
The current Republican candidates seem more focused on making angry statements about things that won’t solve the real problem. Maybe that is why no candidate has been endorsed by the Republican leadership in the state.
Here is what we need: A few good leaders at different levels in Sacramento who want to lift California, and the US, to the next level of success. We need leaders who can start communicating and working on the underlying problem, We need leaders who understand that we are Grizzlies, Eagles, and Lions, not Sheep.
We need to fix the Real Problem. We need a New California Blueprint for 2031 and beyond.
THE SOLUTION: LET’S FIX THE REAL PROBLEM
Hey California.
My name is Vivek Mohan.
I am a first-generation immigrant from India who was welcomed to this amazing land by wonderful, decent, and trusting people.
I am running for Governor this September as a write-in candidate.
As a first-generation immigrant from an emerging country, it breaks my heart to see the 3rd world style political theater in our great state and country.
As someone who had the good fortune of living and working across the world, I can say hand-on-heart there is still no other country even close to us.
We have problems. Big, urgent problems. And Sacramento seems to have lost its way. Good folks of this state are losing hope that anyone will listen to them.
But don’t believe the naysayers. There are a lot of voices telling us the sky is falling, and that California or the USA is done. They are wrong. As a wise man said, “Don’t ever bet against the US (or California)!”
Our problems can be solved, but we need to focus on the REAL PROBLEM, not politics as usual.
Here’s good ol’ Dr. Albert Einstein: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
We need real problem solvers, not problem-spinners.
Please vote for me if you want a Get-Things-Done person focused on the right problems. Vote for me if you are tired of the shouting and finger-pointing. Vote for me if you want to live in an Inclusive, Caring, Capitalist California that is again the role model for the rest of the country and the world. A California that we will be proud to hand over to our kids and future generations.
THE SOLUTION: LET’S FIX THE REAL PROBLEM
Let’s Make California Work. For All.
I would love it if you send me your thoughts and feedback. @LetsMakeCaWork on Twitter or via email contact@letsmakecawork.com