by Ram ben Ze'ev
California is burning—not just from the wildfires that tear through the land every year, but from the catastrophic failures of a political system that has abandoned its citizens. The destruction of the Pacific Palisades and large swathes of Los Angeles is not an unavoidable act of nature. It is the direct result of decades of Leftist incompetence, misplaced priorities, and a blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of the people.
Wildfires are as much a part of California’s history as its golden beaches and sunlit skies. Cyclical fires, dry weather, and the high, hot Santa Ana winds are not new. What is new is the unprecedented destruction wrought by fires in recent years. The causes are no mystery: overgrown vegetation, mismanaged forests, and poorly maintained infrastructure have created a perfect storm.
Yet, the state’s leadership has done nothing to address these well-documented risks. Instead of investing in responsible land management or clearing the dry fuel that feeds these infernos, they’ve doubled down on disastrous environmental policies. These so-called “progressive” measures have made it nearly impossible to conduct controlled burns or clear deadwood, leaving the land primed to ignite at the first spark. The resulting devastation is not nature’s doing—it is political arson.
As if the state’s gross mismanagement of natural resources weren’t enough, the social decay fostered by leftist policies has poured gasoline on the flames. California now faces an alarming rise in arson—a symptom of a crumbling society where lawlessness reigns. Homeless encampments, unchecked drug abuse, and permissive criminal laws have created an environment where chaos thrives.
Arsonists exploit the state’s paralysis, lighting fires that consume not just homes and businesses but entire communities. These crimes are not just acts of destruction; they are evidence of a government that has lost control, leaving citizens to fend for themselves against a growing tide of disorder.
California’s economic policies have made a dire situation even worse. With one of the highest tax burdens in the country, residents have every right to expect basic protections. Instead, they get crumbling infrastructure, defunded fire departments, and empty promises. Insurance companies, driven to the brink by the state’s refusal to address fire risks, are abandoning California altogether. Homeowners in fire-prone areas are left unprotected, forced to shoulder the costs of rebuilding or, worse, watch helplessly as their dreams go up in smoke.
While entire neighbourhoods in Los Angeles are reduced to ashes, California’s leaders are busy posturing about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These buzzwords have become the mantra of a political class more concerned with virtue-signalling than with solving real problems. Budgets for fire prevention and emergency services are slashed, even as billions are funneled into ideological crusades. Community leaders, drunk on their own self-righteousness, have chosen to sacrifice lives and livelihoods in pursuit of their progressive agenda.
The destruction of the Pacific Palisades is not just a tragedy; it is a symbol of California’s moral and political bankruptcy. While the wealthy and well-connected retreat to their gated enclaves, ordinary Californians are left to face the flames alone. The state’s ruling class has abandoned its most basic responsibilities, trading safety and security for political expediency.
California is not just burning—it is collapsing. The fires that engulf its hillsides and neighbourhoods are a stark reminder of the price of failure. This is no act of G-D; it is the culmination of decades of destructive policies, unchecked arrogance, and utter disregard for the people. The Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, and countless other communities are now monuments to the devastating cost of leftist governance.
The once-Golden State is now a smouldering wasteland, its leaders standing atop the ashes of their own hubris. California burns not because of nature, but because of neglect. And the people—taxed, abandoned, and betrayed—are left to pick through the rubble, asking how it ever came to this.
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Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev) is CEO of WireNews Limited, Mayside Partners Limited, MEADHANAN Agency, Kestrel Assets Limited (developer of MAYCOINS), SpudsToGo Limited and Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue