Siskiyou, California County, Votes To Secede From State

A while back when the idea surfaced, I thought it was pretty dumb.  But lately, I've changed my mind.  I think counties seceding from CA is a great idea.

From the Huffington Post:

Citing overregulation and a perceived lack of representation at the state capitol, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 in favor of a declaration of secession, the Record Searchlight of Redding reported.

"I haven't had one contact in regard to this issue that's in opposition," Supervisor Michael Kobseff told the San Francisco Chronicle about the secession declaration.

According to the Record Searchlight, more than 100 people attended the meeting to show support for the move. The county reportedly urged other Northern California and Southern Oregon counties to join in the attempt to create a new state.

Recession Reverses California Airport’s Growth

Makes you wonder why all the optimism at CA improving economy.  Looks like it's got a LONG way to go.

As airports show slow but steady signs of recovery, with passenger traffic nearing pre-recession levels nationally, the passenger traffic at Ontario has plummeted 40 percent since its 2007 peak of 6.9 million, according to Federal Aviation Administration figures. The decline, fed by a confluence of economic misfortune, a change in airline business practices and local political turf wars, is projected to continue through the end of the year. It has left Ontario with traffic levels around four million, about what they were in the mid-1980s, a decade before construction of two modern terminals that were supposed to make this airport a linchpin of the region’s economic growth.

The Buzz: Live microphone broadcasts California lawmakers' views on failed bill

Yup!  And the lady was RIGHT.  But God forbid, they tell a straight story to US!  No, we have to find out by accident.

"I'm like, 'Nah, I'm not going to do that,' " Weber is heard saying about SB 491, adding later, "This will be the second-tier health care program for black communities."

Three minutes into the discussion, Weber looked down and said, "Oh, my mic is hot."

UCLA student government resolution bans ‘derogatory’ term ‘illegal immigrant’

It's pretty clear that the US is headed to shackled speech.  BAN the phrase illegal immigrant?  BAN IT?  Are you kidding me?

The UCLA Undergraduate Students Association wants the term “illegal immigrant” banned because, its members say, the phrase is a violation of the human rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

Last week’s resolution emphasizes the student council’s desire to prevent journalists, media organizations and various campus partners from identifying illegal aliens as “illegal immigrants,” explains the Daily Bruin, UCLA’s campus rag.

The resolution flatly states that “illegal immigrant” is “racially derogatory language.” Such language “has historically bolstered the foundation for racially harmful actions including racial profiling practices, punitive policies targeting socially marginalized groups, hate crimes and violence,” the resolution proclaims.

Racially derogatory? Is that a joke? The term "illegal immigrant" is a racially NEUTRAL term. It could apply to Mexicans illegally entering the country or Irishmen doing the same.  We know all about the Irish illegal immigrants.  The LA Times wrote about them:

Originally from County Antrim in Northern Ireland, Therese (who did not want to disclose her last name) has been living in the U.S. illegally for more than 13 years. She is one of approximately 50,000 undocumented Irish living in the five boroughs.

"Most of the people I know came on student visas, or on vacation, and they stayed. It's a hard decision to make. It's a risk," Therese said.

If I were a parent paying these kids' way through college, I'd ask the college for my money back.  It's obvious they are aren't being taught ANYTHING.

California's Union-Sponsored War on Farmers

I just don't know why we put up with this sort of stuff.  It always ends the same way.  Fewer jobs.  Poorer people.

Mr. Gerawan says an imposed contract would hurt his ability to manage staff and resources and could ultimately force the farm out of business. In addition to the dues, the United Farm Workers general counsel Mario Martinez says the union wants full-blown pension plans and more expensive medical benefits.

The Gerawans and their workers have been resisting the union power grab. First, the Gerawans complained to the state's Agricultural Labor Relations Board that the union had abandoned Gerawan workers two decades ago, and therefore mediation was inappropriate. The five-member board, dominated by left-leaning academics and labor attorneys, rejected the complaint because the union was never officially decertified. Most of the current workers were unaware that the union was ever certified, since 95% of them weren't around in 1990 when the vote took place.

I would shut the farm down and burn the fields if this happened to me.

U-Haul Index for September

One thing is for sure, it's not getting cheaper to leave CA.  Especially if you're trying to leave San Francisco.

To bring you up to speed, I've been keeping a monthly track of the cost of renting a U-Haul truck to haul furniture from both San Francisco and Fresno to San Antonio, TX.  Here are the results since April when I started:

Date		Fresno=>SA	SA=>Fresno		ratio	SF=SA	SA=>SF		ratio
4/8/2013		2156	653		3.302	1493	862		1.7320
5/7/2013		2156	576		3.743	1617	862		1.8759
7/9/2013		1728	576		3.000	1395	862		1.6183
8/6/2013		1728	614		2.814	1674	616		2.7175
9/5/2013		1728	614		2.814	1883	616		3.0568

The cost of renting a  U-Haul in San Fransisco to move to San Antonio has gone up 25% in 5 months.

Costs are based on a 14 foot truck to move 2 bedroom apt's worth of furniture.

Federal government now requiring churches to get permits for Baptisms

One of my posits was to get the Federal Government completely out of property ownership.  Land and buildings should belong to the people. Here's yet another reason why.

As if it wasn’t involved in enough of people’s private lives, the federal government wants to regulate baptisms. Baptizing in public waters requires a special use permit, a policy recently enforced by the National Park Service.

But spontaneity aside, the Park Service also requires a 48 hour advance notice of upcoming baptisms, according to Todd Starnes at Fox News.

Luckily, after a few well placed letters from Congressmen, the Feds back off the requirement.

How utterly, utterly. stupid.