I do feel for the people burned out in Paradise BUT even the Chico paper asked "Rebuild Paradise? Since 1999, 13 large wildfires burned in the footprint of the Camp Fire" in Dec 2018. In another article one woman said she had been burned out the first time 7 yrs ago, and was now burned out for the second time - but intended to rebuild AGAIN.
If one insists upon living where fires are regularly destroying one's home, I have a hard time continuing to be sympathetic to a refusal to face reality.
Another example of the incredible hypocrisy that makes California what it is. High gas prices, and Governor Gavin is going to investigate why that is. Really? You don't need a commission to figure that one out. Between special gas formula mandates, gas tax upon gas tax upon gas tax and then high sales tax, we pay around $1.30/gallon more than the national average. But no doubt, rather than pointing the finger right back to themselves, our state's leaders will conclude that the evil oil companies are creating artificial shortages and gouging the public. But, of course, the public is complicit in all this by electing moronic leaders and legislators. So, in the end, the public really has only itself to blame. It is yet another example of liberal politics run amok.
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@Allan Horn
The evil gas companies should have allowed alternatives like electric cars a long time ago instead of bucking the innovations. That delay is why people demand gas and prices go up. So, yes the politicians supported by the evil, cynical gas companies are the root cause. Now we are seeing politicians that are not supported by the evil gas companies, and electric car and truck technology will take care of the problem of the evil gas companies and the politicians they support. And they are going to be dragged away kicking their heels in the dirt--soon!
5
I see Generalissimo Newsom is launching an investigation on rising gas prices. Really? What a great use of resources but it is really defined as deflection. When you raise the gas tax amount as Gov Moonbeam did and wonder why those folks in California pay the amount they pay, and also wonder why no one in the article stated the obvious, it makes my head hurt. As an undocumented refugee from the Golden State who benefited from, at one time, the best education system in the world, I'm just thrilled I crossed over the line and left.
The good news is that California only has a few years left because they will all be driving electric vehicles as mandated by the geniuses in Sacramento. And an aside why don't you raise taxes some more and dedicate it to fixing I-5.
I do apologize to my few remaining friends and relatives stranded in the great whale. Sorry
2
I will never understand this claim by people who say they never locked their doors until X happened. Until the fire, or the murder, or the armed intrusion, or that time a truck pulled up in front of our house and burglars stole everything we owned. We never locked our doors. Really?
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@William
The homes in that community were rarely far from neighbors who know everyone and the community is far from major highways.
Now the area is sparsely populated with wrecked dwellings and businesses and some stuff not completely destroyed in a lot of them. That presents an attractive nuisance for looters.
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By the way, California has been a big producer of crude petroleum since the 19th century unlike most places in the country where gasoline prices are usually lower.
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There are no alternatives to the automobile in the wide open country of non-urban California. The densely populated urban areas in the cities are limited to those built up before World War I, so the automobile is the only practical form of transportation across the state. California has always been the biggest market for automobiles and they biggest market for gasoline. The gasoline prices are usually higher than the average for the whole country. While producers blame it on slowdowns in refineries, it always seems to happen when people are more likely to travel more.
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With all due respect and sadness for the things people suffered, rural areas that depend on cheap gas and that have little economic purpose have always been subsidized by cities. We built a way of life on cheap gas, subsidized roads, and spread out infrastructure and necessities like hospitals. That’s bad for the climate, and the economy.
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@Michael Richards
Gasoline prices in the city of Los Angeles are around 4.39 per gallon. What are they in Jersey CIty?
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@Michael Richards -Rural areas have little purpose? Try eating the pavement in Jersey City, and drinking the Hudson!
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People living in urban areas don't understand how people live in rural areas! This is clear in France with the "yellow vest" protests, as well as in the US. When the supermarket or schools are 20 miles away you need a car! When the hospital is 30 miles away you need a car. We don't have subways or buses (only for passengers, not freight) subsidized by taxpayers. Our gasoline is taxed to pay for our roads and then large trucks (that deliver food and goods to cities) wear them out! We don't even get high speed internet because that also lacks needed government subsidies to be built. Do folks in cities really think all their daily conveniences appear magically? Cheap gas benefits the entire nation!
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@Donna Gray How about driving cars and trucks that get dramatically better gas consumption.
3
I recently upgraded my driveway to asphalt… Boy I can almost get down and kiss the pavement, because it is so nice to not have mud after it rains ! Then there are these tweakers that just speed around like it’s their God-given right to have well constructed roads (then they complain about the taxes)
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@terry- When you can only afford one vehicle it better be able to transport 5-6 people and their gear! Wealthy Tesla owners have a dedicated garage for charging, of course, and usually multiple other cars for different requirements. The rest of us don't have that luxury!
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