Funny you mention that. I think not.jmra wrote:I don't want CA used as a national model for anything. I just as soon take my chances in South America.
The other night we were guests at a very nice dinner. Our hosts were a couple that my wife has come to know. The woman is French, as is my wife. She has a PhD. in Chemistry from A&M, of all things. I never expected in my life to be hugged by an Aggie and like it, but c'est la vie! Anyway, her husband is from Venezuela, now retired from the US Navy, having served on the Nimitz and Reagan, two of the ships my daughter in law has been and now is on. He apparently fled Argentina a long time ago and made to Los Angeles, having made himself unpopular there for some reason.
The talk turned to current events in Venezuela. His family is well-to-do there. I mentioned my feeling that California had turned into a socialist hellhole in the 44 years I've lived here. He told me I'd seen nothing yet. You can't imagine what it is like until you have lived in a truly socialist country, like Venezuela, and many of the South American countries, where freedom, even as it presently exists here, is unknown, where you are constantly threatened with harassment, jail, loss of property etc at every turn if you act "improperly" or express controversial or disapproved thoughts.