The question California is facing is whether or not it will remain in the United States under a changed status or become an independent country.
In a little more than 200 years since it was settled, California has undergone amazing developments first under Mexico and then as part of the United States of America.
These include the building of the transcontinental railroad, the founding of Stanford University, and the creation of world class companies such as Apple and Google.
One out of 200 people in the world lives in California and the population is growing rapidly. The population of California is expected to reach 60 million by the year 2060. There is an incredible diversity and it is possible to hear dozens of languages being spoken in the streets of Los Angeles.
People come to California to start a new life. We thank Almighty God for our freedom in the first words of our State Constitution.
Recently California has been going through some growing pains.
A nuclear reactor in Southern California had to be shut down at a cost of billions of dollars because badly designed boilers were bought from Japan.
California used to have the best high schools in the United States. The University of California is still one of the best universities. Today there are many problems in school today, including unequal opportunities based on racial or economic factors, and a lack of opportunity for those that are able to graduate from the University of California. Our best students are from China not L.A.
There is a worsening drought and the state government seems incapable of adopting common sense measures. A pistachio costs a gallon of water to grow but the government can do nothing.
Mayor Chuck Reed of San Jose tried to reform public service pensions and got little thanks for trying.
We need to put people into school not into prison. A friend of mine's son, Aaron Swartz, was hounded to death by the federal government for doing the kind of stupid thing I did when I was young.
We have a growing young population, a culture of tolerance, good weather, and populations from around the world with good moral values.
What is needed is that people of good will that are willing to think out of the box get together to propose solutions. We need to break down walls. Class, racial, or political barriers should not prevent us from working together. Only a lack of integrity is unacceptable.
The example of Poland and the civil society in the 1970's is an excellent one. The present situation is untenable, long term. Our elected Washington officials seem to be simply unaware of what is happening.
We need to give young people hope, not false promises. There will be a reckoning.
