When the thing you are known for best is “F#$ Elon”: CA Politics
An interesting headline popped up on my phone. It read, “California State Dem Lorena Gonzales — known for F-bombs against Trump, Musk — is stepping down.”
Last year this assemblywoman told Elon to F%## off.
It was part of the spat Elon had with the Alameda County health officials. He wanted to run his Tesla operations during COVID. The county official threatened to shut down the company. Elon’s view was that he knew better since he also was running a plant in China. The County official did not care.
These fights and statements are emblematic of what is wrong with California and US political leadership.
In my opinion, long after this woman and I are forgotten and consigned to the dustbin of history, Elon’s name will be mentioned as someone who almost single-handedly willed EVs, Electric Storage, Space Exploration, etc…… into existence in this country. He did so at a time when most of the hard-core physical products innovation has moved out of the US to other countries.
He launched the 1st new auto company in the US in close to 100 years, and that too in California! At a time when most manufacturers have run away from this state, this man dared to launch a new automobile company.
Instead of giving him their personal numbers to call when he had any issue, politicians like this assemblywoman chose to diss the man publicly.
It does not matter what one thinks of Elon personally. Eccentric, maverick, brilliant, grifter…… but no one can deny his imprint on the world and on this state. He brought tons of decent-paying jobs to this state at a time when most companies were fleeing for other states or countries. He took over a mothballed Toyota and GM plant in Fremont, the heart of expensive Silicon Valley, to assemble EV cars.
California desperately needs to infill the vacuum of decent jobs that don’t require PhDs. That means assembly and manufacturing operations. The way to get the jobs here is to reward those who take the risk. Not to abuse them.
This woman has now been given stewardship of a Labor Union. It is not difficult to see what the result will be. More fights and F$%# bombs between Labor and Business.
Our problems are complex and require folks who can solve them logically. Not people who naively or cynically play with the citizens’ emotions for their personal benefit.
We require decent-paying jobs to get a strong middle class in our country. We also need humane working conditions and some parity of power between businesses and workers. It can be done by sitting together and figuring out a win-win. Instead of flipping the other side and essentially shooting ourselves in the foot. While other states and countries welcome the same jobs!
I have been getting increasingly concerned about the direction of our great state and country. I see an increased level of distrust, anger, total disregard for different points of views….and a corresponding decrease in our stature and standing in the world. While our leaders are busy blaming the ‘other’ for our problems, the actual situation is different. It is ‘us’ who are the problem. That also makes it easier. Because ‘I’ or ‘Us’ are the ones we have the most control over.
It will take a few good people to refocus the country and state on bigger, exciting goals. And then let our amazing innovation and entrepreneur economy do its job. But we do need to add the humane touch. Because those who are left behind are ‘not heavy. he’s my brother.’
My position on various topics is on LetsMakeCAWork.com
I would love feedback and dialogue. We the people need to take power and get this state moving again. For us and for our future generations!
