Peak absurdity of CA gov

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sac Arrow said:
So, politics and stupidity aside...

I think a common misconception about California is that is entirely comprised of surfers and hippies. And tech magnates. It has its share of those, but there are large sectors of the state that are every bit redneck as Texas, without exaggeration. You go slightly north of where I live, and the rice farmers are pretty much what you would find in Kansas except it is rice and not corn. And a lot of corn is produced in California. You go to the Central Valley and you have cowboys and ranchers that produce more beef than the next two states combined. California is the leading agricultural producer for several crops.
Click to expand...
So...lop off a few cities and form a new state. West California?
 
It's amazing that California is the 4th largest economy withouy selling or buying anything outside their borders. Its almost like outside forces contribute to it. I wonder what the economy would be with 0 exports and 0 imports.
 
EdFred said:
It's amazing that California is the 4th largest economy withouy selling or buying anything outside their borders. Its almost like outside forces contribute to it. I wonder what the economy would be with 0 exports and 0 imports.
Click to expand...
It's interesting to note that Texas is the largest exporting state with more than 22% of all US exports, almost 2.5x the #2 state (California).

California likes to brag about rhe size of their economy, but Texas brings a LOT more export trade income to US GDP than California does.
 
StraightnLevel said:
It's interesting to note that Texas is the largest exporting state with more than 22% of all US exports, almost 2.5x the #2 state (California).

California likes to brag about rhe size of their economy, but Texas brings a LOT more export trade income to US GDP than California does.
Click to expand...
What does Texas export and to where?
 
Long time observer, first time poster. Never have I felt compelled to post until this thread because of how ridiculous some of the comments are. I still can't believe how agitated people get over a label. Let alone a label that voters passed because they just wanted to be aware of what's in their stuff.

If the warning label gets your so riled up, I can only wonder how upset you are when you see on the back of food the warning 'packaged in a facility that processes peanuts' especially if you personally are not allergic. I mean, heck that's nationwide, not just in California. It must be a tough life, wasting so much energy on such benign things, to the point it brings you such heartache.

Do you get this upset when they show you how to buckle your seatbelt on a plane? Do the "Do Not back up for severe tire damage" warnings set you off this much? If so, I hope you are no where near a pay parking lot. Come on...those spikes are huge! Everybody can see 'em. I can only imagine how upset you get when you see before a movie the warning "flashing lights may cause seizures." I hope you walk out in protest, especially since those aren't just California specific. Heck, I bet the "wash rinse and repeat" instructions on a shampoo bottle probably really get under your skin. I mean, seriously, don't you know how to wash your hair????? Do you really need instructions telling you that?? The nerve of those people, putting warnings on things that could possibly hurt us, or instructions on things we already know how to do! Gosh....I can't believe how offensive this world is, especially out in California.

Get a grip. Grow some skin. Peak absurdity is the original post.
 
Last edited:
BigghHauss78 said:
Long time observer, first time poster...
Click to expand...
I miss when it was assumed the common person knew peanut butter was made in a facility that processed peanuts, that mattresses were not made to be consumed, and that sawdust is best kept out of the lungs. The labels have nothing to do with consumers or voters (and why should everyone have to do what the voters of California want, anyway?!) and everything to do with lawyers who take ridiculous cases and courts who hear them and award obscene amounts of money for no reason.
 
StraightnLevel said:
Technology, primarily, as well as energy.
Click to expand...
Backward.

Primarily energy (and other petroleum related products/chemicals), as well as technology.

"In 2021, the top five Texas exports were oil and gas (28.6 percent); petroleum products (14.7 percent); chemicals (13.7 percent); computer and electronics products (13.4 percent); and transportation equipment (6.2 percent)."
 
BigghHauss78 said:
Long time observer, first time poster. Never have I felt compelled to post until this thread because of how ridiculous some of the comments are. I still can't believe how agitated people get over a label. Let alone a label that voters passed because they just wanted to be aware of what's in their stuff.

If the warning label gets your so riled up, ...
Click to expand...

Your post is really strange ... you come with a 1st post that is a rant at all the folks that get twisted over a label and begin by admitting that you got twisted by them enough that you had to rant yourself! It's Friday and it's joke day too! Bonus ... :biggrin:
 
Sac Arrow said:
So, politics and stupidity aside...

I think a common misconception about California is that is entirely comprised of surfers and hippies. And tech magnates. It has its share of those, but there are large sectors of the state that are every bit redneck as Texas, without exaggeration. You go slightly north of where I live, and the rice farmers are pretty much what you would find in Kansas except it is rice and not corn. And a lot of corn is produced in California. You go to the Central Valley and you have cowboys and ranchers that produce more beef than the next two states combined. California is the leading agricultural producer for several crops.
Click to expand...
NY is similar, in that once you separate out NYC it's a pretty normal place.

As to CA, I get why they passed the law, what I don't get is why everyone else permitted it. Putting restrictions on the sale of items legally produced in other states sounds like an interstate commerce violation to me. And I know that mostly interstate commerce is used to restrict things, it really should be interpreted the other way. As an example, we're all lucky that automobiles didn't first take off in this century rather than the last, because otherwise some states wouldn't permit them...and the sadder thing is that some reading this probably feel like that would be a good idea.
 
Albany Tom said:
NY is similar, in that once you separate out NYC it's a pretty normal place.

As to CA, I get why they passed the law, what I don't get is why everyone else permitted it. Putting restrictions on the sale of items legally produced in other states sounds like an interstate commerce violation to me. And I know that mostly interstate commerce is used to restrict things, it really should be interpreted the other way. As an example, we're all lucky that automobiles didn't first take off in this century rather than the last, because otherwise some states wouldn't permit them...and the sadder thing is that some reading this probably feel like that would be a good idea.
Click to expand...
Its like if California had/has a must wear a motorcycle helmet law, and everyone not in California has to follow it - while NOT in California.
 
BigghHauss78 said:
Long time observer, first time poster. Never have I felt compelled to post until this thread because of how ridiculous some of the comments are. I still can't believe how agitated people get over a label. Let alone a label that voters passed because they just wanted to be aware of what's in their stuff.

If the warning label gets your so riled up, I can only wonder how upset you are when you see on the back of food the warning 'packaged in a facility that processes peanuts' especially if you personally are not allergic. I mean, heck that's nationwide, not just in California. It must be a tough life, wasting so much energy on such benign things, to the point it brings you such heartache.

Do you get this upset when they show you how to buckle your seatbelt on a plane? Do the "Do Not back up for severe tire damage" warnings set you off this much? If so, I hope you are no where near a pay parking lot. Come on...those spikes are huge! Everybody can see 'em. I can only imagine how upset you get when you see before a movie the warning "flashing lights may cause seizures." I hope you walk out in protest, especially since those aren't just California specific. Heck, I bet the "wash rinse and repeat" instructions on a shampoo bottle probably really get under your skin. I mean, seriously, don't you know how to wash your hair????? Do you really need instructions telling you that?? The nerve of those people, putting warnings on things that could possibly hurt us, or instructions on things we already know how to do! Gosh....I can't believe how offensive this world is, especially out in California.

Get a grip. Grow some skin. Peak absurdity is the original post.
Click to expand...
So you gonna chip in for the cost thrown on everyone outside of CA?

If not, then put a Prop 65 sticker on your mouth.
 
BigghHauss78 said:
Long time observer, first time poster. Never have I felt compelled to post until this thread because of how ridiculous some of the comments are. I still can't believe how agitated people get over a label. Let alone a label that voters passed because they just wanted to be aware of what's in their stuff.

If the warning label gets your so riled up, I can only wonder how upset you are when you see on the back of food the warning 'packaged in a facility that processes peanuts' especially if you personally are not allergic. I mean, heck that's nationwide, not just in California. It must be a tough life, wasting so much energy on such benign things, to the point it brings you such heartache.

Do you get this upset when they show you how to buckle your seatbelt on a plane? Do the "Do Not back up for severe tire damage" warnings set you off this much? If so, I hope you are no where near a pay parking lot. Come on...those spikes are huge! Everybody can see 'em. I can only imagine how upset you get when you see before a movie the warning "flashing lights may cause seizures." I hope you walk out in protest, especially since those aren't just California specific. Heck, I bet the "wash rinse and repeat" instructions on a shampoo bottle probably really get under your skin. I mean, seriously, don't you know how to wash your hair????? Do you really need instructions telling you that?? The nerve of those people, putting warnings on things that could possibly hurt us, or instructions on things we already know how to do! Gosh....I can't believe how offensive this world is, especially out in California.

Get a grip. Grow some skin. Peak absurdity is the original post.
Click to expand...

A lot of us are friends who meet in real life. We enjoy laughing about things that amuse us, like silly laws, and learning from each other.

A few people can't handle disagreement without personalizing it. To me those are the people who need to get a grip. Fortunately the Ignore list makes it easy to tune them out.
 
Ed Haywood said:
A lot of us are friends who meet in real life. We enjoy laughing about things that amuse us, like silly laws, and learning from each other.

A few people can't handle disagreement without personalizing it. To me those are the people who need to get a grip. Fortunately the Ignore list makes it easy to tune them out.
Click to expand...
I'm just wondering why isn't anybody recognizing the positive aspects of this, because it is substantial. Prop 65 not only reduced highly harmful exposures in everyday items, it also highlighted that goods did have alot of harmful things in it and consumers had no idea of it. Remember, it was called the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. It removed all sorts of bad stuff out of things like drinking water, the air we breath, the clothes we wear, the toys we play with. It further required manufacturers to stop putting things like lead on toys, even covered things like candy, wine bottle tops, etc. I'm pretty sure I'm ok with a sticker, as well as making manufacturers get their act together and stop putting bad things into it's products, especially is there is a way to make that said product without those harmful things.

Oh....you mean like Lead in Gas????? Yes, I do. I'm sure you all got upset about that as well when it happened. Probably said stuff like 'Dang Gov't gonna ruin my engine. I NEED MY TetraETHYL LEAD!!!" Yeah, turns out, it made everybody stupid. Like really stupid. And like really violent. The same stuff promised to us as being safe, was actually highly dangerous. And guess who the big leader was in really causing cars and the manufacturers to finally stop using it? You guessed it - CARB. The first one to ban ALL Lead used in gasoline outright in 1991. Turns out all those 'smart guys' over at GM were complete liars when it came to the danger of lead in gas. And car manufactures pivoted, the air got cleaner, kids stopped being so violent. And nobody thinks twice about it.

Same for PFAS...ya know, that slippery stuff originally created for the military that hangs out FOREVER, including in our body and the earth. Same stuff used in Teflon non-stick. The stuff that, when you had the pan too hot, would off gas, and leech into the food that was being cooked and expose you to some pretty gnarly stuff. Ya know, it's banned in most developed countries except the good old USA. Veterans getting paid huge payments because of it being in the water on bases. I'm sure those guys who have cancer (fellow vets and friends of mine) would have loved to see a little sticker on that water that said "drinking this water may expose you to some really bad stuff (PFAS), and you may end up getting some horrible cancers as a result of drinking this water."

But to you its probably just water. I mean...comeone...it's just...ya know....water! Who needs a sticker on water??? You gotta be stupid to want to know what's in your water because it's clear.

Yeah, I'm ok with somebody telling me their may be something scary or deadly, or carcinogenic in this item that I otherwise would have never thought contained such. I'm not so offended by a simple sticker. I'm actually thankful for it brings awareness I otherwise wouldn't have. You're so worried about the expenses to the business, and possibly the consumer, that you completely overlook all the good that came out of this, which namely helps protect the consumer. Kids. People. Air. Water. All those things that are good in the world. And the reason manufactures abide....because California's economy is so large, it makes sense too. Nobody is willing to pass on that consumer base. If they have to spend a couple hundred bucks to test an item, and slap a sticker on it, the economics of it make it a no brainer.

I get it. Somebody moved your cheese and your upset. I'm sorry. Get with the times.
 
Last edited:
Salty said:
I thought you opposed beating dead horses? Rule only applies to others I suppose.
Click to expand...
Nice try. Sort of.

As written, it seems the thread is saying CA gov has been less absurd than its peak 39 years ago.
 
Albany Tom said:
NY is similar, in that once you separate out NYC it's a pretty normal place.
Click to expand...
Oh yes... I grew up in upstate NY and still spend half the year there because it's beautiful, and well, it's home... but dealing with the state government warped by NYC can be a nightmare.
 
Albany Tom said:
NY is similar, in that once you separate out NYC it's a pretty normal place.
.
Click to expand...
Yeah. It’s like that in pretty much every state. If you eliminate the large population centers the entirety of what’s left is amazing. Weird. People are good up to a critical mass of population density. Cross that threshold and **** goes off the rails.
 
172andyou said:
Backward.

Primarily energy (and other petroleum related products/chemicals), as well as technology.

"In 2021, the top five Texas exports were oil and gas (28.6 percent); petroleum products (14.7 percent); chemicals (13.7 percent); computer and electronics products (13.4 percent); and transportation equipment (6.2 percent)."
Click to expand...
That's changing, partly as a result of tech companies moving to Texas from California. While crude oil is still #1, it's being overshadowed by growth in the tech and manufacturing sectors.

Texas exports in 2024 (partial list):

Civilian aircraft, aircraft engines, other parts: $12.2 billion
Integrated circuits (processors/controllers): $11.1 billion
Natural gas (liquid): $8.74 billion
Computer parts and accessories: $8.71 billion
Saturated acyclic hydrocarbons: $6 billion
Machinery for making semi-conductor devices: $5275.8 million

Note that while natural gas was at a record high production level in 2024 and would be #1 in the world if Texas were a nation, it's still smaller than aircraft engines and processor chips - and about the same as non-processor computing components.

"Computer parts and accessories represent the fastest grower among the top 10 Texan export categories by dollar value, up by 43.8% from 2023 to 2024.

Also posting double-digit gains were saturated acyclic hydrocarbons (up 33.4% from 2023), civilian aircraft or aircraft engines and other parts (up 22%)"
 
Sac Arrow said:
So, politics and stupidity aside...

I think a common misconception about California is that is entirely comprised of surfers and hippies. And tech magnates. It has its share of those, but there are large sectors of the state that are every bit redneck as Texas, without exaggeration. You go slightly north of where I live, and the rice farmers are pretty much what you would find in Kansas except it is rice and not corn. And a lot of corn is produced in California. You go to the Central Valley and you have cowboys and ranchers that produce more beef than the next two states combined. California is the leading agricultural producer for several crops.
Click to expand...
Looks like California is 16th in beef. Texas is #1 by a large margin.

www.nationalbeefwire.com

Ranking Of States With The Most Beef Cows

www.nationalbeefwire.com
 
Tarheelpilot said:
Yeah. It’s like that in pretty much every state. If you eliminate the large population centers the entirety of what’s left is amazing. Weird. People are good up to a critical mass of population density. Cross that threshold and **** goes off the rails.
Click to expand...
I agree - and note that’s been the case for millennia. It’s particularly the case since the Industrial Revolution - which I think helps point to the cause as well as a paradox. Most of the efficiencies in production, education, housing, delivery of healthcare, etc. are tied to being near larger populations (which they actually create) which, to date, generate new problems because of the needed population size.

Any baker scaling up from a few loaves a day or widget inventor scaling up from a few widgets made in the garage or computer inventor scaling up from a few Apples in a garage to (inter)national quantities knows they need to solve completely new problems. Seems to me that unlike the “mechanical” issues of making more loaves of bread or widgets in huge quantities, the problems created by the needed population to do so don’t always get fully managed - at least by those driving the demand. And then when the widget maker either goes belly up or moves elsewhere, the population that was brought in to help make the widgets is now without jobs.

And, yeah, the creation of resources for those workers makes it attractive for others to come there even if they’re not working.
 
MauleSkinner said:
“WARNING! May cause….”?
Click to expand...


il_fullxfull.460969511_to24.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 1755364868452.jpeg
    1755364868452.jpeg
    14.9 KB · Views: 2
I'm glad we escaped from that state of insanity 30 years ago. And I'm a 4th generation native of that state.

I remember the last words the salesman said as we drove our new (at the time) 1986 Dodge van off the lot. "Don't put ethanol in that thing!" Within a year, the state government mandated "Oxygenated" gasoline to clean up the air. "Oxygenated" is a cover word for "polluted with ethanol". And it didn't take long for the meaning behind the salesman's warning to be understood as the ethanol ate the seals out of the fuel system, a fact I discovered as gasoline was pouring out over the engine. Did the state offer to pay for the repairs their mandate necessitated? Who are you kidding? I paid for them. I'm still ****ed about that!

My dad took a picture of a (phony) sign entering Idaho years ago that I think shouldn't be phony. "All Californians must be dipped before entering Idaho". If you don't understand the sign, look it up. Dad was a veterinarian, so he understood it and laughed.
 
The larger problem is that there's generally no recourse against those responsible. Suing the state doesn't help, that just falls on the taxpayers. I mean the "cooperation" between those that voted that in, and the corporate agriculture that profited from it. RICO pointed at that will never happen, but it would be amazing. Put the principles on highway cleanup crews for about 20 years, and auction off the land and assets. There's plenty of crime in this country around corn into alcohol, and it doesn't involve tommy guns and flat head fords. Now they're wearing wider ties, driving German cars, and instead of setting up soup kitchens they're pretending to be green. Only if green means money.
 
Ghery said:
I remember the last words the salesman said as we drove our new (at the time) 1986 Dodge van off the lot. "Don't put ethanol in that thing!" Within a year, the state government mandated "Oxygenated" gasoline to clean up the air. "Oxygenated" is a cover word for "polluted with ethanol". And it didn't take long for the meaning behind the salesman's warning to be understood as the ethanol ate the seals out of the fuel system, a fact I discovered as gasoline was pouring out over the engine. Did the state offer to pay for the repairs their mandate necessitated? Who are you kidding? I paid for them. I'm still ****ed about that!
Click to expand...
You may wanna check the history on this. Pretty sure it was a Federal mandate and, even today, is liked quite a bit by corn and soybean farmers in a lot of states.
 
Ghery said:
I'm glad we escaped from that state of insanity 30 years ago. And I'm a 4th generation native of that state.

I remember the last words the salesman said as we drove our new (at the time) 1986 Dodge van off the lot. "Don't put ethanol in that thing!" Within a year, the state government mandated "Oxygenated" gasoline to clean up the air. "Oxygenated" is a cover word for "polluted with ethanol". And it didn't take long for the meaning behind the salesman's warning to be understood as the ethanol ate the seals out of the fuel system, a fact I discovered as gasoline was pouring out over the engine. Did the state offer to pay for the repairs their mandate necessitated? Who are you kidding? I paid for them. I'm still ****ed about that!

My dad took a picture of a (phony) sign entering Idaho years ago that I think shouldn't be phony. "All Californians must be dipped before entering Idaho". If you don't understand the sign, look it up. Dad was a veterinarian, so he understood it and laughed.
Click to expand...
I looked it up. Found nothing that explained what was meant by ‘dipped’
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top