Commentary
California’s state policies tragically are advancing our enemies’ interests, especially in two areas: pushing draconian green policies and debilitating the California National Guard.
Due to state policies, Californians especially will have to: 1. Pay the high cost of transitioning to green energy from draconian state mandates imposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature. 2. Pay an even higher cost if China limits its exports, thereby raising the prices of similar green products sold here. It’s a double whammy.
Ms. Yellen insisted, “China is now simply too large for the rest of the world to absorb this enormous capacity. … When the global market is flooded by artificially cheap Chinese products, the viability of American and other foreign firms is put into question.”
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But although America can regulate the imports of subsidized, cheap Chinese products, it can do little to nothing about what is exported to the rest of the world. Indeed, when America limits imports, that just means more Chinese goods flow into the rest of the world, increasing the supply of such goods there, thus reducing prices. As an economist, Ms. Yellen has to know that.
California Guard’s DEI Nonsense
Add to California’s pointless enviro mandates all the PC, DEI, and ESG nonsense being foisted on the military. California boasts the country’s second largest Army National Guard and Air National Guard contingents, totaling 18,136, after Texas’s 22,007.
“California Military Department Valuing diversity Inclusion, Belonging, Equity, Sustainably: Our vision is to cultivate a culture where all employees can bring their best selves to work while contributing to building a more equitable and inclusive workplace; where employees/servicemembers don’t just work here but feel and know they belong here.
“We do this by ensuring that we are always improving our efforts in recruiting, retaining, and promoting those who are representative of all communities across the diversity of California.
“We sustain our efforts by continually supporting our employees/servicemembers to practice cultural humility and become stronger IDEA Warriors.
“Our service is to all of California and anywhere we are called to serve, and so is our workplace.
“We are diverse.
“We are intersectional.
“We are inclusive.
California National Guard Turmoil
California’s National Guard also has suffered turmoil in recent years. For example, Air Force Times reported on Jan. 31, “A one-star general who was fired from the California National Guard last year has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against his former commander, alleging he was ousted for submitting a complaint about a pattern of antisemitism.
“The removed Guard leader, retired Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Magram, filed the lawsuit Jan. 24 against the adjutant general of California, Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, and Gov. Gavin Newsom in a Los Angeles court.
“Magram seeks at least $1.6 million in compensatory damages for back pay and other lost employment benefits.
“Magram alleges that, over a two-year period, Beevers created a hostile work environment through several antisemitic statements and ultimately pushed for his removal ‘because of Magram’s Jewish heritage and in retaliation for Magram’s complaints.’
“The California Military Department denied the allegations in a statement emailed to Military Times on Tuesday, calling Magram’s complaint a ‘retaliatory and baseless lawsuit.’”
Obvious Solutions
The obvious solutions for California and America would be, first, to ease off on the green mania mandates. California should stop its disdain of electricity generated from natural gas. Doing so would reduce the need to import Chinese-made solar panels. The state also should end its requirement by 2035 all new cars must not be run on gasoline or diesel—meaning almost all will be electric, with a few hydrogen or similar cars.
Furthermore, this would also lead to an increase in the demand for electricity.
Additionally, there is a need to prioritize the rebuilding of America’s industrial base, as evidenced by the country’s struggles to supply weapons to Ukraine. The current state of American industrial power has been further strained by the need to provide weapons to Israel in its conflict with Hamas.
California must address issues within its National Guard, including ending DEI mandates and resolving scandals. It is imperative that both California and the United States take defense seriously and prioritize national security amidst environmental concerns and internal challenges.
Conclusion: Prioritizing National Security
Wars are a reality of human existence, and to effectively engage in and win wars, it is essential to avoid the distractions that hinder military readiness. California and the United States must focus on defense and security in these uncertain times.
Opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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