I disagree with your thinking about Horowitz and his ilk leading us down the drain. He is not responsible for the rotten decisions coming from our politicians. He is not the reason our debt has skyrocketed and our credit worthiness has plummeted. Mr Horowitz is not in a power position and able to make decisions about wars and debts in our nation. It seems that your racism is showing. Mr. Horowitz's interest may not lay in an allegiance with America, but should he be forced into it? His booklet on important, decision-wielding members of our political class is responsible for educating many about our government's makeup. I, for one, am thankful that a person who was formerly immersed in radicalism, can now throw some light on it for us.

I believe that "IntheKnowOG" IS in the know. I can not find many individual in my extended family or friends that even hint they are in favor of "bailing out" CA after the Lefties have voted in other Lefties. Bad decisions abound in CA and we are not interested in bailing CA out only to watch you continue to fail. Trickyblain, stop defending all the weirdo things that CA does and is responsible for, and put yourself in another state citizen's place. In my state, even though it turned a bright blue in 08, it is now a nice magenta color. We voted out those non-performers and leftists after a long stretch of bad decisions. Now, we are waiting for the 2012 elections to finish the job. Come on...you sound like a nice person. Open up your mind and put yourself in our places.

"The rest of the country thinks we're completely insane" nails it. Unfortunately for Californians, Diane is right.

There's "trickyblain" again trying to justify his life in CA. I would think that being accosted by Matt Damon would be a highlight in his/her life, even if Matt doesn't come from CA. CA schools used to be considered the best, until their campuses were overrun with libs. People in the rest of the USA are leery of CA universities. Saving a smelt, that only lives for a few days, in lieu of providing water to farmers who keep this country fed is ridiculous. Taking away the farm workers? Pay a decent wage and hire citizens and protect out borders. Gun laws- I would not feel secure with some people owning the "the most effective combat rifle ever". Who needs to be combatted besides the gangs and outlaws who also enjoy your state?
CA has elected and encouraged their "nuts and berries" much to the amazement of a lot of the population in the other 49 states.

"California, is a better place to live than the Midwest or the South"? Perhaps it used to be the better place but, not anymore. Who wants to fight 10 lanes of traffic and 50 miles to go to work? Who wants to wait and watch their home fall into the abyss, as a mudslide takes it? Who wants to watch a wild fire destroy all they have owned in their lives? I haven't even mentioned the inflationary living conditions or the threat of an eathquake hanging over one's head?

Diane I am enjoying your article. I sense your sadness underneath your truths. Don't worry, not a bleeding heart lib. I am just a common sense person trying to understand the madness that takes over at times. It seems to happen in CA more often than in other places. "trickyblain" is another example of the CA madness, IMO. If people like him/her would spend more time trying to see the entire picture of what's happening in CA, maybe, just maybe, a part of the state can be saved from itself.