‘And without Wolfe, we would not understand California-or the California-ized modern world. At the time of his most frequent visits the state was undergoing a profound change, one that affects it to this day and whose every aspect has been exported throughout the country and the globe. Both have become much more like California over the last 40 years, even as California has drifted away from its old self, and Wolfe has chronicled and explained it all.’
Well, he chronicled some of it pretty well.
See Tom Wolfe’s Radical Chic: That Party At Lenny’s for a rich account of the 60’s. A New Yorker review of Wolfe’s new book Back To Blood, with Miami as its subject, here.
The question looms larger at the moment: So goes California, so goes the nation?
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-A link for Michael Lewis’ article about California politics, public pensions and Schwarzenegger’s time in office.
-A map from Immodest Proposals on how to divide California. Topographic crime map of San Francisco.
-California’s anti-immigration, anti-union Democrat: Full video and background on Mickey Kaus here.
Related On This Site: Neo-conservatism partially came out of the increasingly liberal trends in our society, as folks get ‘mugged by reality,” and the response to those liberal trends. There is always a sharp edge to people, their affairs, and the groups they form: Victor Davis Hanson Via Youtube Via Uncommon Knowledge: ‘The New Old World Order’…Victor Davis Hanson At The City Journal: ‘California, Here We Stay’…
Did Leo Strauss offer a useful analysis?: Update And Repost- From YouTube: Leo Strauss On The Meno-More On The Fact/Value Distinction?’…How did Robert Bork see the 60’s?: Repost-A Few Thoughts On Robert Bork’s “Slouching Towards Gomorrah”it’s always the people who aren’t happy with their lives who want to control yours: Repost-Via Youtube: Eric Hoffer-’The Passionate State Of Mind’
Dream big: Via Reason: ‘California’s Public Transportation Sinkhole’ A great city deserves great art extravaganzas…: L.A.’s New Public Art Piece ‘The Levitated Mass,’ Or As The American Interest Puts It: ‘A Moving Rock’
…California Dreamers From The Atlantic-A Brief Review Of Kevin Starr’s History Of California
The people who promise solutions to poverty and homlessness seem to be engaged in a utopian cost-shifting exercise which favors their interests and overlooks crime, violence and personal responsbility…hardly a way to balance the budget: Repost-Heather MacDonald At The City Journal: ‘The Sidewalks Of San Francisco’…
Some concentrated wealth on top, a stalled legislature with members who know how to play the game…and a service sector beneath…that probably can’t go on forever: …From The WSJ: ‘Joel Kotkin: The Great California Exodus’…
