By Timothy D. Naegele[1]

Some of us were born and raised in the state, before living elsewhere.  We were proud of our California heritage; and we have defended the state against "jealous naysayers," who after all were uneducated and didn't know any better.[2]  But today it's harder and harder to do that.

Its two principal cities, Los Angeles and San Francisco, are overrun with crime and drugs.  Lesser areas like Oakland and Stockton are to be avoided like the plague.  Fire-devastated Los Angeles still hasn't dealt with debris removal; and permits are required to travel on the Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu.

Businesses haven't reopened and may never do so.[3]  There is the increasing possibility of a major earthquake, rivaling or surpassing the Northridge Quake; and uncertainties galore exist.[4]  In one prominent county alone, the roads are so bad that they rival or surpass those of third-world countries.[5]

A bullet train up the spine of California is estimated to be $350 billion over budget, with few riders if it was ever completed.[6]. Some are calling for a cancelation of the upcoming summer Olympics in Los Angeles because of cost overruns, congestion, scandals and apathy.[7]

The state's legal system is a shambles, with its State Bar being unable to administer a bar exam.[8]  This is consistent with putting the State Bar out of business, which was done by a previous governor.[9]  Yet, Gavin Newsom still fancies himself as being a future President of the United States.

Both his relative Nancy Pelosi and the late Dianne Feinstein and their spouses enriched themselves at the public trough, as a result of feeding on inside information.[10]. The Mayor of Los Angeles and its recent District Attorney faced increasing calls to resign.

California is a mecca for the homeless, because of its climate and its natural beauty, which are unsurpassed.[11]  But the cost of gasoline in California is approximately double that of other states, owing to mandated additives, transportation costs and taxes.

If California was a separate country, it would be the fifth largest in the world.[12]. Like him or not, Elon Musk is a national hero for saving astronauts who were supposed to spend eight days in space, but were there for nine months.  He believes that civilization's future is tied to that of the United States . . . and perhaps implicitly that of California.[13]

Lastly, is free speech dead and buried at Berkeley and other California college campuses?[14]

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© 2025, Timothy D. Naegele

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[1]  Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass).  See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6  and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/   He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at The Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service).  Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams.  He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com

[2]  See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2025/02/11/what-california-means-to-some-of-us/ ("What California Means To Some Of Us")

[3]  See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2025/01/11/fire-and-ice-2/ ("Having Lived Through California’s Fires And Earthquakes") and https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/malibu-businesses-struggling-after-la-fires-20267786.php ("'We're down over a million dollars': Malibu businesses are cratering")

[4]  See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/earthquakes-the-big-one-is-coming-to-at-least-los-angeles/ ("Earthquakes: The Big One Is Coming To At Least Los Angeles")

[5]  See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2025/03/17/theres-a-county-in-california-where-the-government-officials-should-be-jailed/ ("There’s A County In California Where The Government Officials Should Be Jailed")

[6]  See, e.g., https://youtu.be/kIzyGKQgveY?si=8QRjb_86fSWJPjqq ("Watch 'What happened to funding for California's high-speed rail?' on YouTube")

[7]  See, e.g., https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13620961/casey-wasserman-married-2028-la-olympics-serial-cheater.html ("Casey Wasserman, 50 - the married LA 2028 Olympics chief and music mogul behind Billie Eilish and Coldplay - is a 'serial cheater' who slept with a string of female staff") and https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-14599279/gavin-newsome-la-2028-olympics-disaster-costs-skyrocket.html ("Gavin Newsom catching heat again as LA's 2028 Olympics headed for DISASTER with costs skyrocketing  and sponsors pulling out")

[8]  See, e.g., https://capitolweekly.net/bill-calls-for-audit-of-state-bars-disastrous-february-exam/ ("Bill calls for audit of State Bar's disastrous February exam")

[9]  See, e.g., https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/california-state-bar-lawyer-exits-role-following-exam-chaos ("California State Bar Lawyer Exits Role Following Exam Chaos") and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2014/09/08/the-state-bar-of-california-is-lawless-and-a-travesty-and-should-be-abolished/ ("The State Bar Of California Is Lawless And A Travesty, And Should Be Abolished") and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2025/02/16/two-criminals-have-been-lurking-in-our-midst/ ("Two Criminals Have Been Lurking In Our Midst")

[10]  See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2025/03/31/how-do-government-officials-make-so-much-money/ ("How Do Government Officials Make So Much Money?")

[11]  See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2025/01/07/homelessness-2/ ("It Is Your Destiny, Ben Carson")

[12]  See supra n.2.

[13]  See https://youtube.com/shorts/qod_albyIXA?si=aATg_Rr_aeYIuB65 ("Watch 'Elon What Worries You' on YouTube") and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2025/03/19/americans-need-to-thank-elon-musk/ ("Americans Need To Thank Elon Musk")

[14]  See
https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2023/10/19/is-free-speech-dead-and-buried-at-berkeley-and-elsewhere/ ("Is Free Speech Dead And Buried At Berkeley, And Elsewhere?")

Berkeley's law school dean is a miserable hack, who should have been fired years ago.