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VV Daily Press
January 2, 2017

Obama and Brown’s spite

President Obama has commuted 178 felony prisoners’ sentences, and California Gov. Jerry Brown has commuted one felon’s sentence and pardoned a total of 1,258 felony prisoners in spiteful acts against the public’s interests and safety – striking dangerous blows against our domestic security.

Coupled with AB 109 and Proposition 47, Brown has released thousands of felons to prey upon the people of California.

Even worse, President Obama failed to veto a bad U.N. resolution to spite Israel, while Governor Brown continues to bolster sanctuary cities throughout the state, further endangering our national security against terrorism.

Indeed, the only thing Mr. Obama has left to do against America is to empty Guantanamo and pardon Bergdahl, Manning, and Snowden to secure his destructive legacy against America and the world – not mention doubling the national debt -- while none dare call it treason.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise
December 30, 2016

Spiteful actions

President Obama has commuted 178 felony prisoners’ sentences, and California Gov. Brown has commuted one felon’s sentence and pardoned 112 felony prisoners in spiteful acts against the public’s interests and safety — striking dangerous blows against our domestic security.

Worse, Gov. Brown has pardoned 1,258 felons since taking office. Coupled with AB109 and Proposition 47, Brown has released thousands of felons to prey upon the people of California.

Even worse, President Obama rejected a U.N. resolution to spite Israel, while Gov. Brown continues to bolster sanctuary cities throughout the state, further endangering our national security against terrorism.

Indeed, the only thing Mr. Obama has left to do is to empty Guantanamo and pardon Bergdahl, Manning and Snowden to secure his destructive legacy against America and the world — not to mention doubling the national debt — while none dare call it treason.

— Daniel B. Jeffs, Apple Valley

San Bernardino Sun
December 27, 2016

Releasing prisoners not in society’s best interests

President Obama has commuted 178 felony prisoners’ sentences and Gov. Jerry Brown has commuted one felon’s sentence and pardoned 112 felony prisoners in spiteful acts against the public’s interests and safety, striking dangerous blows against our domestic security.

Worse, Gov. Brown has pardoned 1,258 felons since taking office. Coupled with AB109 and Proposition 47, Brown has released thousands of felons to prey upon the people of California.

Indeed, the only thing Obama has left to do is empty Guantanamo and pardon Bowe Bergdahl, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden to secure his destructive legacy against America and the world — not to mention doubling the national debt — while none dare call it treason.

— Daniel B. Jeffs, Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
December 13, 2016

(original letter – unedited. The Dec. 4th letter was edited for space)

California vs. America

State’s rights is one thing, however California leaving the union is not idle talk. Indeed, the once golden state has been turned into a dictatorial state with a socialist Democrat governor and supermajority legislature rejecting the U.S. Constitution and federal law – which for all intents and purposes means that it has been a separate nation for a long time – increasingly abusing most of our citizens with punishing taxes and regulations, and a relentless invasion of illegal immigrants, exposing us to an increasing epidemic of crime.

As for the remainder of America, Socialist Democrat President/King Barrack Obama has done nearly the same thing as California has done in just under 8 years to the other 49 states. Indeed, the first black president has gone to the extremes of making African-Americans superior to all other races, dominating everything with about 14 percent of the population – believing all others are inferior racists.

Indeed, our nation has yet to suffer the full consequences of Mr. Obama’s insidious superiority complex reign, which would have been even worse with the insidious superiority complex of the first woman president, Hillary Clinton. Thank God, hopefully, President-elect Donald Trump’s “Make America great again’ complex and a Republican Congress will save us, our national/domestic security and the country.

Alas, there is little or no hope for Californians.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

The Washington Times
December 11, 2016

California has dug own grave

State’s rights is one thing, however California leaving the union is not mere idle talk. Indeed, the once golden state has been turned into a dictatorial state with a socialist Democrat governor and super-majority legislature rejecting the U.S. Constitution and federal law. This, for all intents and purposes, means that California has been a separate nation for a long time. It has been increasingly abusing most of our citizens with punishing taxes and regulations, aa well as a relentless invasion of crime-producing illegal immigrants.

As for the remainder of America, in just under eight years socialist Democrat President Obama has done to the other 49 states nearly the same thing. The first black president has gone to the extremes of inciting race wars and essentially treating all non-African-Americans as inferior bigots.

Indeed, our nation has yet to suffer the full consequences of Mr. Obama’s insidious superiority complex reign, which would have been continued by a President Hillary Clinton. Hopefully, President-elect Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again’ mentality and a Republican Congress will save us, our national security and the country.

Alas, there is little or no hope for Californians.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

VV Daily Press
December 4, 2016

California vs. America

State’s rights is one thing, however California leaving the union is not idle talk. Indeed, the once golden state has been turned into a dictatorial state with a socialist Democrat governor and supermajority legislature rejecting the U.S. Constitution and federal law – which for all intents and purposes means that it has been a separate nation for a long time – increasingly abusing most of our citizens with punishing taxes and regulations, a relentless invasion of illegal immigrants, exposing us to an increasing epidemic of crime.

Indeed, our nation has yet to suffer the full consequences of his insidious reign, which would have been even worse with the first woman president, Hillary Clinton. Thank God, hopefully, President-elect Donald Trump will save us and the country. Alas, there is little or no hope for Californians.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

(original letter - revised)

California vs. America

Alas, there is little or no hope for Californians.

VV Daily Press
November 17, 2016

Hispanic, radical left anarchy

The core of anarchy, demonstrations, riots and violence against president elect, Donald Trump rests with Hispanics, mostly students and illegals.

Obviously, the anarchy has expanded throughout the country. Most disturbing is the organized Hispanic anarchy in Los Angeles, led by Union Del Barrio furthering the aggression of La Raza, which is intent on taking back California, New Mexico, Texas and the West, taken from Mexico by the Mexican American War.

Indeed, other groups carrying large Mexican flags, they express hatred for the (imperialism) of the U.S. government, including the Obama administration, Hillary Clinton, and of course Donald Trump. Del Barrio organized the current demonstrations in Los Angeles, including the violence.

Considering the vast numbers of Hispanic illegals in America, liberal sanctuary cities, and the fragmented enforcement of the border and ICE, this post presidential election has become a real and present danger to America and our people. Decisive action to preserve national and domestic security is vital.

Worse, anti-American George Soros and his wild Democrat billionaire donor bunch are financing the radical left’s anarchy, dangerously exacerbated by the liberal media.

Coupled with California’s liberal Democrat government turning a blind eye to the release of criminal illegals from prison, refusing to cooperate with U.S. immigration laws, the legalization of marijuana, punishing taxation against tobacco smokers, the enormous cost if miseducation, and war of treacherous teacher unions’ war against non-union charter schools, California taxpayers and the people lose.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

USA TODAY
November 14, 2016
(edited in half)

Street demonstrations

Street demonstrations by liberal college students and Hispanics broke out against the election of Donald Trump, which is the defining result of an education system replete with insidious indoctrination of ignorance.

Indeed, when students around the country march in the street shouting “F--- Trump,” and “Trump is not my president,” it is glaring evidence of socialist political anarchy against America.

President Obama will be gone, and our nation will recover, reform, and prosper under Trump and a Republican Congress.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

VV Daily Press
November 13
(unedited)

Liberal anarchy

Street and freeway-blocking demonstrations by mostly liberal college students and Hispanics broke out against the election of Donald Trump, which is the defining result of a miseducation system replete with factories of insidious indoctrination and warehouses of ignorance.

Indeed, when UCLA students march in the street shouting “F--- Trump,” and other demonstration around the country saying, “Trump is not my president,” it is glaring evidence of socialist political anarchy against America, tantamount to treason.

Worse, high school students, mostly Hispanic, left schools and stormed the streets shouting the same hostilities, obviously because of Trump’s stand against illegals, sanctuary cities and criminals. Surely, both of those high school and college students should be expelled. Free speech simply doesn’t apply.

Clearly, the miseducation system, the misentertainment industry, and the liberal media cartel MPAC should heed the example of President Obama in the civil and cooperative transition of the presidency to president-elect Donald Trump, and face it: The wicked witch, Hillary Clinton is politically dead….

President Obama will be gone, and our nation will recover, reform, and prosper under president Trump and a Republican Congress.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Note: This letter was written on the first day of demonstrations. Obviously, the anarchy has expanded throughout the country. Most disturbing is the organized Hispanic anarchy led by Union Del Barrio furthering the aggression of La Raza, which is intent on seizing back California and the West, taken from Mexico by the early U.S. government. Indeed, they hate the (imperialism) of the U.S. government, including the Obama administration, Hillary Clinton, and of course Donald Trump. Del Barrio organized the current demonstrations in Los Angeles, including the violence.

San Bernardino Sun
November 12, 2016

Under Trump, U.S. will recover, reform, prosper

Clearly, the miseducation and the liberal media cartel should heed the example of President Obama in the civil and cooperative transition of the presidency to president-elect Donald Trump, and face it: The wicked witch, Hillary Clinton is politically dead….

President Obama will be gone, and our nation will recover, reform, and prosper under president Trump and a Republican Congress.

Dan Jeffs
Apple Valley, CA

(original letter)

Liberal anarchy

President Obama will be gone, and our nation will recover, reform, and prosper under president Trump and a Republican Congress.

VV Daily Press
November 3, 2016

Campaign chaos

Local, state and federal campaign chaos, exacerbated by biased television news and the press, abounds throughout the nation in this presidential election year like no other.

Indeed, Hillary Clinton has lied, cheated and personally profited throughout her political life bound to be the first woman president, supported by President Obama in his legacy to divide and weaken the nation. He is currently supporting Kamala Harris over the more experienced Loretta Sanchez for California U.S. senator in a racial move, and he is placing Syrian refugees throughout the country without notifying local governments.

In a local San Bernardino County, California campaign for county supervisor, scurrilous Victorville City candidate Angela Valles is attempting to unseat a very competent incumbent, Robert Lovingood by being dishonest and hateful. Surely, Valles is more qualified to work for corrupt Hillary Clinton.

Alas, it’s time to take America back with a president Donald Trump, a Republican California U.S. senator, keep Supervisor Lovingood, and send the 23 Syrian refugees planted in Victorville by Mr. Obama back where they came from -- and end the chaos.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
September 27, 2016

O.J. Injustice dominates Emmys

The insidious injustice of O.J Simpson getting away with a vicious double murder honored by dominating the Emmy Awards comes as no surprise, as it headlines the reckless decline of the entertainment industry.

Indeed, Hollywood has become a superficial society of social aggression, political tyranny, selfish interests and extremes of shallow minds, absent social redeeming value.

Coupled with damaging violence, lazy remakes, true stories without core truth, stupid sit-coms and soaps, overdone cop, legal and medical series, and the obsession with horror, apocalypse and superhero movies, Hollywood has turned into a tasteless entertainment wasteland.

Add the irresponsibility of television commercials depicting loud, obnoxious behavior, idiotic situations and reckless speeding cars to the equation, and there isn’t much left but mind-numbing experiences….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

The Washington Times
September 21, 2016

Emmys show Hollywood’s decline

The insidious injustice of O.J. Simpson getting away with a vicious double murder honored by dominating the Emmy Awards comes as no surprise, as it headlines the reckless decline of the entertainment industry.

Indeed, Hollywood has become a superficial society of social aggression, political tyranny, selfish interests and extremes of shallow minds, absent social redeeming value.

Coupled with damaging violence, lazy remakes, true stories without core truth, stupid situation comedies and soaps, overdone cop, legal and medical series, and the obsession with horror, apocalypse and superhero movies, Hollywood has turned into a tasteless entertainment wasteland.

Add the irresponsibility of television commercials depicting loud, obnoxious behavior, idiotic situations and reckless speeding cars to the equation and there isn’t much left but mind-numbing experiences.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

San Diego Union-Tribune
September 20, 2016

O.J. Emmys highlight decline of television

Indeed, Hollywood has become a superficial society of social aggression, political tyranny, selfish interests and extremes of shallow minds, absent social redeeming value.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Carlsbad

VV Daily Press
September 15, 2016

Climate and criminal cartel

It’s bad enough that President Obama has exacted serious climate change hoax damage against our energy resources and our economy with his war against coal and oil energy, with irresponsible measures and far-reaching consequences.

However, Governor Brown and the Democrat California Legislature cartel refuse to be outdone the president, when they take climate change legislation to astronomic extremes that will seriously damage our California’s economy and our people.

Indeed, Brown is extending AB 32 Cap and Trade into the stratosphere with SB32 and AB197 wherein it will put California crashing into high gear. Surely, reckless climate change legislation is signing a death warrant that will raise the cost of living and send the state into economic oblivion.

Coupled with Brown releasing criminals to prey upon the people, it’s a Brown climate and criminal cartel. The people are the victims and they lose….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise
September 13, 2016

State should butt out of cigarette taxes

It was bad enough that Rob Reiner’s punishing 50 cents per pack tobacco tax proposition passed, and has been used for everything but tobacco-related health problems.

Now, smokers are expected to believe that Proposition 56’s tyrannical $2.00 per pack tax will be used for public health, when in fact it will be just another cash cow for the state. Inflicted upon those who can least afford the tax.

Worse, the legalization of marijuana proposition will surely be passed and become another cash cow for the state, even though it is a gateway to hard drugs. Indeed, it doesn’t matter that the black market for cigarettes and crime will escalate because of both propositions.

Alas, traveling down the liberal road to punishing use of a legal product, while recklessly approving use of an illegal drug for taxes is unconscionable and amounts to little more than voter-assisted social, political and economic suicide….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
September 4, 2016

Wrecking crew against America

President Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton, and Governor Brown are the primary wrecking crew against America, as follows:

President Obama has damaged the freedoms of Americans with the reckless, unconstitutional actions against our economy, our energy resources, our national security and our domestic security with executive orders and edicts, wars against coal and oil, finance, healthcare, the police – diminishing our border security, military defenses, allowing the proliferation of ISIS terrorism – releasing criminals to prey on the people, and imposing punishing regulations and taxes.

As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton participated in the proliferation of ISIS terrorism, and used and abused her office for the Clinton Foundation and personal gain. As a candidate for president, she intends to assign the economy to her former president husband, Bill Clinton, who is directly responsible for the 2008 economic collapse, by forcing banks and mortgage lenders to give unaffordable home loans to unqualified buyers in mass.

California Governor Jerry Brown is a major player in the wrecking crew against California and America with economy-busting, punishing taxation, regulations, bullet train and water tunnel bond scams, $billions in the miseducation of students, high energy costs, releasing criminals to prey on Californians, lack of border security, support of sanctuary cities, and threats to our national and domestic security.

Indeed, the unconscionable Democrat Party and the liberal press covers for the un-American trio and all who support continued attacks against the people. Attention voters: wise up and don’t commit voter-assisted suicide by electing or re-electing more of the same poison to our freedom and liberty.

Alas, that they’re doing is tantamount to treason….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

San Bernardino Sun
August 25, 2016

Super Scoopers put fires out before they spread

The immediate use of Super Scooper water-dropping aircraft would have extinguished the Pilot Fire in the Silverwood Lake area before it spread into an out-of-control wildfire.

The irresponsible lack of firefighting air drop equipment from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is responsible for that.

Indeed, with the history of firefighting incompetence by the U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire at the Sand Fire, Lake Arrowhead, the Cajon Pass into the Victor Valley, Santa Barbara, San Gabriel Canyon, Lake Isabella, and many other fires in Northern California, needless loss of forest lands, property and lives could have been simply prevented.

Clearly, all of these wildfires and more across the county and state could have been prevented by a fleet of Super Scoopers and DC-10 tankers subject to immediate dispatch with enormous water drops at the start of each fire, extinguishing them before they spread.

Surely, waiting until a fire gets out of control, then sending DC-10s to drop red Fosh-Chek slurry to keep out of control fires from spreading further is nothing more than an exercise in futility.

Particularly, after thousands of firefighters, equipment and millions of taxpayer dollars are wasted.

Alas, it’s beyond time to get it right with a vastly distributed fleet of purchased Super Scoopers and DC-10s loaded with water and waiting for the call to keep California and America from burning.

— Daniel B. Jeffs, Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
August 18, 2016

Super Scoopers are a magic bullet

Though my California Burning letters focused on the DC-10 first response firefighting capabilities, I realize that they cannot be used in all first responses. And I meant no disrespect to firefighters.

Indeed, my 41 year career in law enforcement and the criminal justice system included 3 years as the lead fire dispatcher with the RFPA Desert Com, in which I had firsthand experience with wildfires in the High Desert and local mountain areas.

I also had experience as a deputy sheriff in an L.A County Sheriff’s fire road camp providing security for inmate fire crews on the front lines of several fires. I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended.

My concerns are directed at U.S. Forest Service mismanagement of wildfires, and to a point with Cal Fire. The current crisis is the Pilot Fire, which could have been extinguished by Super Scoopers with Silverwood Lake water sources, while it was growing from 20 acres, before it went out of control to over 7000 acres.

Worse, the smoke from massive wildfires adversely affects thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions of people. Particularly, those with respiratory problems – my wife and I among them – who are generally exposed or confined to our homes with air conditioning to survive under those conditions.

The point is, there is no reason why the Forest Service and Cal Fire could not have previously purchased or built Super Scoopers like Canada did, to be widely distributed for immediate response -- in the Pilot Fire case -- dispatched from the Victorville Logistics Base, and or Norton.

Surely, Super Scoopers would be the magic bullet. Certainly, the Forest Service failed to call in a heavy response to the Station Fire, and Governor Brown could have provided funding for Super Scoopers instead of his wasteful bullet train and other state boondoggles….

Again, I appreciate all firefighters. I have family in the fire service, and family who resides in the threatened area of Arrowhead Lake Road, so my concerns are also personal.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
August 1, 2016

California burning

Immediate use of DC-10 water drops would have extinguished the Sand Fire brush fire along the 14 freeway before it spread into an out-of-control wildfire.

Indeed, with the history of firefighting incompetence by the U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire at Lake Arrowhead, the Cajon Pass into the Victor Valley, Santa Barbara, San Gabriel Canyon, Lake Isabella, and many fires in Northern California, needless loss of forest lands, property and lives could have been simply prevented.

Clearly, all of these wildfires and more across the county could have been prevented by a fleet of DC-10 tankers subject to immediate dispatch with enormous water drops at the start of each fire, extinguishing them before they spread.

Surely, waiting until fire get out of control, then sending DC-10’s to drop red Fosh-Chek slurry to keep out of control fires from spreading further is nothing more than an exercise in futility. Particularly, after thousands of firefighters, equipment and millions of taxpayer dollars are wasted.

Alas, it’s beyond time to get it right with a vastly distributed fleet of DC-10’s loaded with water and waiting for the call to keep California and America from burning.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
July 3, 2016

Kamala Harris should resign

California Attorney General Kamala Harris is a contemptable political opportunist. Her recent announcement to investigate the contemptable incompetence of San Bernardino County’s Children and Family Services, responsible for the child abuse, torturing and killing of children, is too little and very late in coming.

Indeed, the only reason Harris is taking action now, is to further her campaign to replace Barbara Boxer as U.S. Senator for California. Question is, where was the Attorney General over a year ago when a Channel 11 Fox News completed an investigation into the insidious situation over a year ago?

Surely, Harris’ misfeasance that contributed to the pain, suffering and death of innocent children is more than sufficient evidence that she is not fit to be Attorney General -- certainly not a U.S. Senator -- and that she should resign from office immediately.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise
June 30, 2016

How to stop California from burning

What does it take to get letter published with the answer to fighting California wildfires?

Surely, waiting until fire get out of control, then sending DC-10’s to keep out of control fires from spreading further is nothing more than an exercise in futility. Particularly, after thousands of firefighters, equipment and millions of taxpayer dollars are wasted.

It’s beyond time to get it right to keep California from burning.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
June 2, 2016

California socialists vs. America

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, indoctrinated students, unions, illegal aliens and the Socialist State of California have made is painfully and violently clear that Republican candidate, Donald Trump, is an enemy of the socialist state.

Indeed, America is already in deep trouble because of President Obama’s 7 ½-year socialist assault on our Constitution, our free society, our free market economy, our domestic security and our national security.

So, it’s now a matter of a political war between anti-American socialists and Republican freedom fighters, currently being led Donald Trump for our survival as true constitutional democratic republic.

Attention voters: Vote for freedom and recovery. Not for giving up to socialism and surrendering to terrorism. Don’t be a fool!

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise
April 13, 2016

Taxpayers lose with hefty raise for CSU faculty

Giving in to the demands of the nation’s largest public university faculty union in California, giving its members a 10.5 percent raise in salaries to avert a strike is an affront against California taxpayers. Particularly when the Cal State system is nothing more than a finishing school for liberal indoctrination taught in schools throughout the nation.

Surely, aggressive teacher unions are prime examples of why there should be no public employee unions or strikes against taxpayers and the public interest anywhere in the United States, for any reason. It’s simply unconscionable and unconstitutional to allow a deleterious ideology to “wag the dog” of government and the American people.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

(Original letter)

No public employee unions

Giving in to the demands of the nation’s largest public university faculty union in California, giving them a 10.5% raise in salaries to avert a strike, is an affront against California taxpayers. Particularly, when the Cal State system is nothing more than a finishing school for liberal indoctrination in public schools, which is prevalent throughout the nation.

Worse, wagging-the-public-dog of miseducation by the intimidation of state teacher unions, the NEA, the federal department of education and the evils of tenure have undermined the minds of America’s students, robbing them of their education by manipulating their minds in factories of ignorance for the sake of a liberal ideology is un-American

Surely, aggressive teacher unions are prime examples of why there should be no public employee unions or strikes against taxpayers and the public interest anywhere in the United States for any reason. It’s simply unconscionable and unconstitutional to allow a deleterious ideology to wag=the-dog of government and the American people.

Indeed, it is simply divisive, insidious politics and a danger to our children, our domestic and national security our freedom and our future….

Riverside Press Enterprise
April 7, 2016

$15 an hour buys a lot of votes

Assessing President Obama and Governor Brown: a bleak 2016?

In assessing the Obama administration’s social, political, economic and national security disasters of leading up to and including 2015, and looking forward to the president’s final round vs. America, the American people are clearly confused by hope and uncertainty as the chaos of the 2016 Presidential election plays out.

Gov. Brown’s insane Propositions and legislators’ punishing taxation on businesses, strapping taxpayers with bonds for a totally unnecessary high speed rail, and now the $15 minimum wage have added extreme levels of taxes and burdens upon California business, the people and our economy.

These are calamities for America and California, if voters don’t wise up to protect ourselves and our future. Don’t cast stupid votes!

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
February 8, 2016

Brown’s attack on California

Governor Brown is so wrapped-up in himself as the only real governor of California, that he fanaticizes about holding the office until his last breath. However, when and if reality sets in, the state will realize that he has been little more than a political hustler whose Prop. 30 taxed the lives, and Prop. 47 endangered the lives of the people of the state. Now he has another prison initiative to release even criminals to prey on the people.

Indeed, Gov. Jerry has been the miserable master of California’s punishing taxes, implementing anti-economy Prop. 32 regulations, the miseducation money pit, sanctuary state of crime, leaking rainy day surpluses, drought neglect, and the San Francisco to Los Angeles bullet train wreck. Clearly, Mr. Brown now wants his $68 billion-times-two-toy train to start in Northern California instead of Southern so he can play with it first.

All at taxpayers’ expense and security, of course. For that is the languishing lament of liberal state politics – and what a longtime diminishing development it has been. Alas, rather than suffering in silence, it’s time to for voters to wise-up and make changes to survive and prosper – for a change….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press

February 1, 2016
Gov. Brown’s bullet train wreck

Indeed, Gov. Jerry has been the miserable master of California’s miseducation money pit, sanctuary state of crime, leaking rainy day surpluses, drought neglect, and the San Francisco to Los Angeles bullet train wreck. Clearly, Mr. Brown now wants his $68 billion-times-two-toy train to start in Northern California instead of Southern so he can play with it first.

All at taxpayers’ expense, of course. For that is the languishing lament of liberal state politics – and what a longtime diminishing development it has been. Alas, it’s time to for voters to wise-up and make changes to survive – for a change….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
December 4, 2015

Tax and regulation nation

California Governor Brown and President Obama are the amoral poster governor and president for putting our already over-taxed and over-regulated state and nation into overdrive during their corrosive terms in office. Indeed, coupled with an un-American Socialist-Democrat-controlled Legislature and Congress, they have caused overwhelming damage to businesses, the economy and the American people.

Worse, Brown and Obama have recklessly diminished our domestic and national security, with open borders, sanctuary cities, reduced military, and wars against the police. And both continue promoting the climate change hustle, by taxing the economy and our lives. Even worse, while President is responsible for the proliferation of ISIS and terrorism, he blames it on climate change and travels the world criticizing America for everything.

Clearly, our only solution rests with voters, who until now have been dominated by indoctrinated liberals -- who carelessly rubberstamp the personal power of the enemy within -- blindly committing social, political, moral and economic suicide, taking the rest of us with them. Hopefully, enough damage will wake them up to defending themselves, surviving, recovering and prospering by changing and reducing government to no more than we need.

It is now a matter of life and death….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
December 1, 2015

County’s refugee awareness

Slam the door to terrorists and criminals in California

President Obama urging America to open its arms to Syrian refugees and “….lift them up” is a profound hypocrisy after letting Syrians down in the Syrian civil war creating ISIS and the devastation that followed including the terrorist attacks in Paris. Indeed, California leads the states in Backing the president’s efforts.

Therefore, Governor Brown welcoming the most Syrian refugees of any state since the civil war broke out in 2011 comes as no surprise. Furthermore, California has the open door policy to refugees and illegal immigrants, inviting whatever evils that come along with them, from criminals to gangs, to drug smuggling, to human trafficking, and terrorists.

Worse, regardless of the Syrian refugee connection to the Paris terrorist attacks -- and most state governors refusing to accept Syrian refugees -- Governor Brown vowed to work with President Obama in accepting them, leaving our San Bernardino County unaware of most refugees who enter the County.

Even worse, like the illegal alien criminal who murdered a Californian U.S. citizen in San Francisco, with little or no protest from Californians, one wonders how far the controlling Democrat liberal infection here will affect the prevention of ISIS attacks in California, including San Bernardino County and our high desert communities….

It’s past time to slam the door to terrorists and criminals in California and America….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

San Bernardino Sun
November 13, 2015

Plea for aid fails to address root problems

Governor Brown’s feckless last minute plea for the U.S. Forest Service to fund removal of dead trees from our national forest lands is little more than a better-late-than-never attempt to diminish the rapid spread of forest fires in California and the West, but fails to address the root problems.

Indeed, environmentalist-caused failure to control massive tree deaths from bark beetles, coupled with the Forest Service’s failure to thin forests, remove dead trees, control prescribed burns, and failure to aggressively attack forest fires are the causes of major runaway forest fires, not the prolonged drought.

Surely, cost of lost forest lands, lives and property from tree-hugging environmentalists and incompetent government -- exacerbated by drought and the coming El-Nino rains -- will drive the grim point home to beleaguered wildlands, firefighters, victims and taxpayers.

Sadly, for decades, it has been an easily avoided shame on us….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
September 30, 2015

Motorcycles and the law

The California Legislature must take immediate action to criminalize the dangerous activity of motorcycle gangsters intimidating law-abiding motorists on our freeways and highways, and the similar insanity by dangerous single motorcyclists lane-splitting at 20 to 50 MPH above the flow of traffic. Indeed, they act with total disregard for their own safety and the safety of automobile drivers and their families.

For example, the single reckless driving motorcycle lane-splitters is a daily danger on the freeways, and the motorcycle gangster groups are all too frequent. Recently, my wife and I traveled to Temecula and stopped at a Chevron station near Old Town. The station pumps were completely tied-up by a gang of motorcyclists, some of whom were done with the pumps, but hung around talking to each other causing us to wait nearly 20 minutes for a pump.

After we left looking for a restaurant, one of the gang bikers stopped traffic on a busy road so his fellow gangsters could ride out of a parking lot. The next day, while traveling to our home on the I-15, a different gang of bikers were dangerously lane-splitting in a group, and when traffic slowed in the freeway construction areas of the Cajon Pass, they rode past recklessly on the inside shoulder of the freeway.

Surely, these are crimes, not traffic infractions. Again, the Legislature and Governor must criminalize this menace, which must be strictly enforced by the CHP and other law enforcement agencies for all our safety. After all, the menacing motorcyclists don’t own exclusive rights to the freeways and highways, the motoring, tax paying public does.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
September 9, 2015

Stop punishing smokers

It’s bad enough that California smokers have endured decades of regulations, being demonized as social outcasts at the hands of liberal political elites, the media and Hollywood – and subjected to punishing taxes such as Rob Reiner’s deceitful Prop. 10, which were used for everything but tobacco-related healthcare.

Indeed, at a time when marijuana is on the verge of being legalized, the evil Democrat empire in Sacramento is planning a $2.00 per pack tax which would greatly expand the tyranny against smokers as the California cash cows for government incompetence and waste.

The problem is, the taxes will punish the poor who are smokers more than anyone – alas, the very people Democrats claim they want to help. Surely, California crashing and burning is on track to do just that, exacerbated by forest fire air pollution attacking everyone’s health.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
September 8, 2015

Another cigarette tax hike: Haven’t California smokers paid enough?

It’s bad enough that California smokers have endured decades of regulations, being demonized as social outcasts at the hands of liberal political elites, the media and Hollywood – and subjected to punishing taxes such as Proposition 10 in 1998, which did not fund healthcare.

Indeed, at a time when marijuana is on the verge of being legalized, Democrats are planning a $2-per-pack tax that would expand the tyranny against smokers as well as being a cash cow for government incompetence and waste.

The problem is, the taxes will punish the poor who, are smokers more than others – alas, the very people Democrats claim they want to help. Surely, California is on track to crash and burn, exacerbated by forest fire air pollution attacking everyone’s health.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

San Bernardino Sun
August 20, 2015

Time to turn our government around

Re: “Can California cut gasoline usage in half in 15 years? Probably not” (Aug. 12)

California government punishing the populace

Look what’s happening to Californians: The California political elite in Sacramento and elsewhere are leading activists, and indoctrinated voters to punishing businesses and the populace with insane laws, which will surely result in a self-imposed collapse of our economy, our security and our society.

Highlighted by the costly miseducation of our students, strangling our energy resources, electricity, transportation, personal and business income with onerous regulations -- deceitful voter-approved Propositions, including a stupid bullet train – Californians are literally under siege by a destructive ideology.

Alas, taken together, Assembly Bill 32 cap and trade, Proposition 30, extreme taxation and now Senate Bill 350 cutting gas use by 50 percent, coupled with AB 109 and Prop. 47 criminal releases and sanctuary cities, and opening prison and jail gates, releasing criminals to prey on the people in the middle of an unjust war against the police, our first line of defense, is bad government that needs to be replaced by limited government and real democracy….

Indeed, at a time when California’s authoritarian government is trying to eliminate voters’ constitutional rights to initiative, referendum and recall, it’s time to turn government around.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
July 24, 2015

Governor’s sky is falling

In a blind pursuit of his “sky is falling” legacy, Governor Brown has assumed the role of the leader of environmental zealot movement by increasing the negative economic impact of AB-32’s carbon tax. However, that wasn’t enough. The governor is now riding the moonbeam of SB-350 legislation that will impose even more abuse of power by requiring half of the state’s electricity be generated from costly, unreliable renewable resources by 2030.

Indeed, with Governor Brown’s climate change goals, it doesn’t matter that there will be an enormous impact on the economy and cost of living. No, there’s more to SB-350, which requires a 50 percent cut in the consumption of gasoline, to be administered by the governor’s appointed, California Air Resources Board. Worse, there is nothing in SB-350 to prevent gasoline rationing.

Alas, it’s bad enough that California already has the highest gasoline prices and gas tax in the by 1 dollar per gallon over the national average. And that California will not allow the construction of new oil refineries, or adding new oil and natural gas resources. Or that California’s Green additive blend of gasoline is not only costly, but damaging to vehicle engines. Now, Mr. Brown’s hit team wants to stick oil companies with an oil extraction tax.

Clearly, the sky’s the limit for Californian’s cost of living.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

San Bernardino Sun
July 24, 2015

Gov. Brown’s ambitious climate change goals

Re: “Climate change battle to get harder” (July 19)

However, that wasn’t enough. The governor is now riding the moonbeam of Senate Bill 350 legislation that will impose even more abuse of power by requiring half of the state’s electricity be generated from costly, unreliable renewable resources by 2030.

Indeed, with Gov. Brown’s climate change goals, it doesn’t matter that there will be an enormous impact on the economy and cost of living. No, there’s more to SB 350, which requires a 50 percent cut in the consumption of gasoline, to be administered by the governor’s appointed, California Air Resources Board. Worse, there is nothing in SB-350 to prevent gasoline rationing.

It’s bad enough that California already has the highest gasoline prices and gas tax in the by 1 dollar per gallon over the national average. And that California will not allow the construction of new oil refineries, or adding new oil and natural gas resources. Or that California’s green additive blend of gasoline is not only costly, but damaging to vehicle engines. Now, Mr. Brown’s hit team wants to stick oil companies with an oil extraction tax.

Clearly, the sky’s the limit for Californian’s cost of living.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
July 2, 2015

Forest Service is no service

The Lake Fire near Big Bear Lake, which started before 4PM, June 17, 2015, blew up overnight and quickly grew from 500 acres to 10,000 acres was exacerbated by Forest Service refusal to control Bark Beetles, the neglect to have immediate access to Super Scooper and DC 10 water tankers, and the overall incompetence of Forest Service fire-fighting and control burns gone out of control. The fire has since surpassed 30,000 acres and still burning.

Indeed, every major fire in Southern California – including the Rim Fire, Old Fire, Station Fire, Oak Hills fire, San Diego and Orange County fires -- would not have raged out-of-control if they had of been extinguished immediately by massive fire retardant and water drops. And they would not have burned so quickly, if it were not for dead trees killed by Bark Beetles, and the Forest Service’s refusal to thin forests.

Cal Fire, county and city fire departments notwithstanding, there is simply no excuse for the Forest Service not to own and distribute sufficient water dropping DC 10’s and Super Scoopers, rather than skimping on leasing them, and failing to activate them immediately to forest fires. Clearly, the Forest Service’s overall incompetence and irresponsibility are why the Lake Fire and other major fires raged and exploded.

Coupled with the loss of life, property and damage to people’s health, the Forest Service is no service in fire prevention and forest fires -- is costly, outrageous and unacceptable -- not so different from all big government. Alas, as a retired law enforcement officer and former fire dispatcher, I can say that the environmentalist-friendly news media’s silence on these critical matters is destructively deafening….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
May 29, 2015

Highway robbery

It has become painfully clear that government’s freeway projects on Interstate 15, the 215 and other highways are the products of misfeasance, particularly from the Cajon Pass, South through San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

Indeed, other than the 215 bottlenecks in San Bernardino, the mostly unnecessary road construction on the 15 and 215 have exacerbated impeding traffic, endangering motorists with narrow lanes and confusing interchanges, a total lack of consideration, unreasonably time-consuming projects and the enormous cost to taxpayers – at least ten times over.

Surely, the conclusion can only be that, other than maintenance and repairs, there was no reason for the massive projects. Clearly, the years of highway robbery must be stopped. Taxpaying voters can be the new sheriff in town to get it done.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise
May 26, 2015

State awash in taxes and overregulation

Our country is wrought with over-reaching taxes and regulations. As usual, California is first in the nation in leading the assault against once-free enterprise and the middle class by government and environmental extremists

It wasn’t enough for Governor Brown to destroy Gov. Ronald Reagan’s pro-business and middle class economy, and the best public education in the nation.

In his first term. Brown permanently set back public education by authorizing teachers to unionize.

Proposition 98 sealed funding obligations, and the insidious conflict of interest political contributions to Brown and other Democrats followed, resulting in the worst and most costly public education system in the country.

Adding costly insult to injury, Proposition 30’s taxation and Assembly Bill 32’s carbon tax, cap and trade extortion -- using the global warming hoax -- are aimed at filling big government coffers with the tax and spending fraud, exacerbating energy costs, the drought, the cost to small business, and the cost of living.

Certainly, the failures and government aggression of Gov. Brown, the Democrat Legislature -- President Obama’s health-care-less act, the onerous Dodd-Frank finance act, reckless foreign policy and national defense failures -- and overall assaults against our economy are overwhelming evidence of the clear and present danger to our domestic and national security.

Alas, naïve and indoctrinated voters must wake up, wise up and make changes happen or we all suffer the consequences.

So, it’s either freedom lost, or work and vote for recovery, liberty, prosperity and justice for all.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

San Diego Union-Tribune
May 24, 2015

Autonomy proposal borders on ridiculous

Beware! San Diego activist, Louis J. Marinelli has received approval to gather signatures for his initiative, “A new hope for California,” which would make our state an autonomous region like Scotland is to the United Kingdom.

However, Mr. Marinelli is apparently lost in the liberal wilderness, or he would realize that California is already an autonomous nation-state.

Indeed, his voter-initiative would probably pass with a naïve freedom-crushing liberal majority, ratifying our authoritarian state ruled by President Jerry Brown, his socialist Legislature and the economy-crushing environmentalists.

Clearly, what the suicidal “California crashing” people fail to recognize is that their Democrat-voter-seeking open border is rapidly evolving into a nation-state of Mexico.

Alas, it’s time for Californians to wise-up before it’s too late.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Carlsbad

Riverside Press Enterprise
May 22, 2015

Extremism exacerbates state’s drought

California’s extended drought is meaningless to extreme environmentalist-driven government regulations, which has cost a single sea water desalination plant in Carlsbad near San Diego a 10-year delay in completing the plant because of 6-years of frivolous environmental lawsuits. Indeed, insidious lawsuits and onerous government regulations have prevented the plant from producing 54 million gallons of water per day.

Poseidon Water’s Carlsbad desalination plant is the largest in North America and is slated to go online this Fall. Obviously, California government and environmental terrorists have been recklessly irresponsible by further exacerbating California’s extended drought by allowing millions of acre feet of water to flow into the ocean to protect a tiny fish, ignoring other water resources, our extended coastline and the worldwide use of desalination.

Clearly, there must be a reversal of decades of environmentalist voter-assisted economic suicide. It’s time to turn back to the prosperity of California’s gold instead of blindly pursuing a fool’s paradise – a terminal liberal affliction.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
May 20, 2015

Regulation roadblock

Surely, Californians should take notice of Israel’s success in resolving their water shortages in 5 years by providing half their water supply with desalination plants producing 100 billion gallons of water per year. Clearly, there must be a reversal of decades of environmentalist voter-assisted economic suicide. It’s time to turn back to the prosperity of California’s gold instead of blindly pursuing a fool’s paradise – a terminal liberal affliction.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
Opinion L.A.
May 18, 2015

California’s regulation roadblock to water and prosperity

Daniel B. Jeffs Apple Valley

San Bernardino Sun
May 14, 2015

Time for California to cash in on Columbia River water

With 86 billion gallons of Columbia River water per day flowing into the ocean, there is certainly a need to divert much of that water to drought-stricken California to meet the needs of Northern Californians, Central Valley farmlands and the people of Southern California.

Clearly, there must be combined cooperation between the Federal Bureau of Water Reclamation serving the Central Valley Water Project, the California State Water Resources Control Board, and the California State Water Project to accomplish what is needed.

Surely, between the Columbia River, Klamath River, Lake Shasta and the Sacramento Delta, a series of pipelines and reservoirs can be constructed to bring, store and deliver all the necessary water to resolve our long term problems.

First, however, Governor Brown and unreasonable environmental extremists must get their act together for the good of the people. Governor Brown should quit over-feeding such things as the miseducation money pit, scrap his $68 billion bullet train, add the $7.3 billion water project funds and begin the real California water project in earnest.

Indeed, California voters should demand it for our survival.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
Opinion LA
April 28, 2015

Columbia River pipeline

Indeed, California voters should demand it for our survival.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
April 10, 2015

Internet service tax

President Obama’s abuse of power continues unabated as he directs his EPA to enforce global warming edicts and his FCC Net Neutrality communications control, so it comes as no surprise that the FCC is gearing up to tax Internet services.

Indeed, California is the leader in punishing carbon taxation, gas taxes, online shopping taxes, public utility taxes and every conceivable form of taxation – which has obviously influenced the president, and will be welcomed by California government tax tyrants.

Surely, it has become painfully clear that unless voters turn things around, liberal Democrat regulation and tax tyranny will increase its heavy-handed, economy-busting rule over people’s lives, and crush our future and the futures of our children. Enough is enough has already been surpassed.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
March 27, 2015

Gov. Brown’s Folly

Gov. Jerry Brown and the legislature cannot be trusted to ameliorate the water crisis with a $billion band-aid, or tapping into more of the $7.3 billion water bond approved by the voters in November unless the funds are used to improve the water system for real. Unfortunately, too many elected officials – and a few activist judges -- live in a political fantasyland, not in the real world of the people.

Instead, what is now needed is to either cancel Gov. Brown’s $68-100 billion bullet train boondoggle and land-grab, or use the bond funds to address the drought and our water delivery in a meaningful, lasting manner. Clearly, if Central and Southern California dry up, it would be a train to nowhere.

In terms of the State Water Project delivering contracted water supplies to Central California farmers and Southern California consumers – paid for and maintained by property owners – we are to receive only 20% of our water allotment this year, up from our next-to-nothing 5% of our water allotment last year.

Indeed, much of that problem would be resolved by eliminating the extreme environmentalist federal court decision cutting 30% of our water from the Sacramento Delta to protect the tiny Delta Smelt at the expense of human health and welfare, and allowing millions of acre feet of our fresh water to flow wastefully to the ocean.

That is unconstitutional interference with private contracts for the sake of suicidal environmental insanity at the expense of crops, the California economy, and human life. Alas, the federal judge and Governor Brown might get the point if they were dropped out here in the middle of the Mojave Desert with half-full canteens of water….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise
March 25, 2015

Incompetent water managers

Gov. Jerry Brown and the legislature cannot be trusted to ameliorate the water crisis with a billion dollar Band-Aid, or tapping into more of the $7.3 billion water bond approved by the voters in November, unless the funds are used to improve the water system for real.

Unfortunately, too many elected officials (and activist judges) live in a political fantasyland, rather than in the real world.

Instead, what is now needed is to either cancel Brown’s $68 billion bullet train boondoggle and land-grab, or use the bond funds to address the drought and our water delivery in a meaningful, lasting manner. Clearly, if Central and Southern California dry up, it would be a train to nowhere.

In terms of the State Water Project delivering contracted water supplies to Central California farmers and Southern California consumers (paid for and maintained by property owners): We are to receive only 20 percent of our water allotment this year, up from our next-to-nothing 5 percent of our water allotment last year.

Indeed, much of that problem would be resolved by eliminating the extreme environmentalist federal court decision cutting 30 percent of our water from the Sacramento Delta to protect the tiny Delta Smelt at the expense of human health and welfare, and allowing millions of acre-feet of our fresh water to flow wastefully to the ocean.

This is unconstitutional interference with private contracts for the sake of suicidal environmental insanity at the expense of crops, the California economy, and human life. Alas, the federal judge and Brown might get the point if they were dropped out here in the middle of the Mojave Desert with half-full canteens of water.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
March 17, 2015

Gov. Brown’s toy bullet train land fraud

Blinded by his pursuit of a high speed rail legacy, Governor Brown made an easy sell to naïve indoctrinated voters to take on escalating $billions in taxpayer bond debt for nothing more than buying Mr. Brown his toy bullet train from Northern to Southern California regardless of the enormous consequences.

Indeed, in the face of understandable resistance from Central Valley farmers who stand to lose and be cut-off from much needed farm lands, Brown’s land grabbers are going full speed ahead with eminent domain fraud, not to mention the disruptive acquisitions to complete the needless train route.

Clearly, the California betrayal is deeply rooted with confiscatory taxation and regulations thrust upon businesses and the people by socialist government and environmentalistas responsible for cutting water to the California Water Project built and maintained by Central Valley farmers and Southern California property owners, exacerbated by the drought.

Coupled with making California an open-border sanctuary state, and opening prison gates to allow alien criminals to prey upon our citizens, Governor Brown, his elected administration and Democrats in the legislature should be recalled and given their permanent walking papers to run anywhere but California.

Enough is enough and beyond unconscionable.

Attention: Senators Boxer and Feinstein, California congressional democrats, and California AG Kamala Harris. You have also betrayed California.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
March 16, 2015

California gas prices

California gas prices are up $1 in a month for unnecessary reasons: The Torrance refinery is shut down from damages and other refineries in the state are down to create the costly summer blend. Problem is, the state has refused to allow more refineries to be built. Indeed, with onerous restrictions against developing plentiful state oil and gas resources, our gas prices will continue to be the highest in the nation.

Worse, extreme California environmentalism is responsible for punishing AB-32 carbon taxes that not only raise the cost of gas, but raise the overall cost of living in the state. Coupled with environmentalist-caused high water prices and Central/Southern California water shortages, not from drought, and the insanity of big government over-regulation and taxes, California is sadly crashing in slow-motion.

Adding insult to injury, California being a sanctuary state for illegal aliens simply exacerbates the costs by $billions, along with the problems of domestic and national security.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

San Bernardino Sun
March 11, 2015

Why California gas prices are so high

California gas prices are up $1 in a month for unnecessary reasons: The Torrance refinery is shut down from damages and other refineries in the state are down to create the costly summer blend.

The problem is, the state has refused to allow more refineries to be built. Indeed, with onerous restrictions against developing plentiful state oil and gas resources, our gas prices will continue to be the highest in the nation.

Worse, extreme California environmentalism is responsible for punishing AB 32 carbon taxes that not only raise the cost of gas, but raise the overall cost of living in the state. Coupled with environmentalist-caused high water prices and Central/Southern California water shortages, not from drought, and the insanity of big government over-regulation and taxes, California is sadly crashing in slow-motion.

Adding insult to injury, California being a sanctuary state for illegal aliens simply exacerbates the costs by $billions, along with the problems of domestic and national security.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
March 1, 2015

President Obama’s poison pens

President Obama’s executive order and administration arrogance continues with a Keystone Pipeline veto against the economy, and his FCC move under the guise of Net Neutrality to control the Internet and squelch free speech.

Indeed, it’s bad enough that Mr. Obama’s poison executive order pen – and now his poison veto pen -- have been working overtime against our energy and our economy. But when he moves to control our freedom of communications over the internet, coupled with his undue influence over the news media, our liberty is threatened.

Worse, it is well known and understood that this president has surrendered our national security to Islamic terrorism, Russian aggression and the inevitability of a nuclear weaponized Iran. And, coupled with his reckless reductions of our military and nuclear strength, the real clear and present danger to America has become President Obama and his minions.

Adding insult to injury, California’s government abuse of power and environmental extremists exacerbates the plight of the people with land-grabs, over-regulation, punishing taxation, dangerous water shortages, costly illegal immigrant sanctuary, and the escalation of crime.

Fortunately, we still have the right to voter initiative, referendum and recall, which will extend the July deadline and give us the chance to keep our plastic grocery bags with a win in the November 2016 election.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

VV Daily Press
February 25, 2015

Re: Al Vogler - Valley Voices
Daily Press Opinion, Feb 22, 2015

Water crisis runs deep

Al Vogler’s concerns are shared by all Southern California property owners who paid for and maintain the California Water Project, which was constructed to provide Sacramento Delta Northern California water resources to millions of water users in Southern California – particularly, after suffering years of drought conditions.

However, even after the recent rains, the man-made drought continues because of the Natural Resources Defense Council extremists and a federal judge cutting water supplies nearly in half to protect the tiny Delta Smelt fish at the expense of human health and welfare.

Of course this has resulted in the constant and unnecessary dumping millions of acre-feet of fresh water into the sea, which should have been going to quench the thirst of farms and water users in Central and Southern California.

As a 2007/2008 county grand jury member, my committee investigated county water resources from several California Water Project contractors among those who service water contracts from the Project throughout Southern California.

As a result of my investigation, I was clearly outraged by the fact that the federal judge and other state water authorities have seriously and continuously violated the Constitution’s prohibition of government interference with private contracts.

Indeed, it should be strongly suggested that the California Water Project Contractors Association and/or property owner users -- of which I am one – file state and federal lawsuits to restore all Project water resources cut off by the federal court at the behest of extremist groups and supported by state and federal officials. The Constitution certainly demands it.

Daniel B. Jeffs, L.LB.
Apple Valley

San Diego Union-Tribune
February 22, 2015

Unions hurt economy and themselves

The selfish interests of striking dockworker union bosses at California and West Coast ports are simply being self-destructive for their union members, and damaging to thousands of other workers, local and state businesses, their employees, and the overall California and U.S. economy.

That’s simply insane in these perilous economic times. Alas, that seems to be the long-term negative destiny caused by California’s intrusive liberal government’s social, political, and economic disservice to the people of the state and the nation.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Carlsbad

(original letter)

Unions are damaging themselves and the California economy

Indeed, it’s far past time to get out of reckless and costly union traps and get in to economic freedom and the right to work.

San Bernardino Sun
October 9, 2014

With plastic bag ban, the state chases fool's gold

Re: "California becomes first state to ban single-use plastic bags" (Sept. 30).

Governor Brown and the Democrat Legislature have done it again. California is now the first in the nation to have a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, which is another capitulation to extreme environmentalists and an insane inconvenience to grocery shoppers.

Indeed, it will cost businesses and many jobs, which simply adds to the cost of living fraud of AB 32 carbon cap and tax, fuel and oil tax increases, and Brown's costly Proposition 30 tax, and high speed rail deceit. Alas, Democrats' liberal ilk have turned California's gold into fool's gold.

Clearly, with all the businesses and jobs fleeing the state, the only growth going on in California is government, of which we must have freedom from too much destructive ideology, incompetence, taxes, rules, regulations, waste, fraud, lies, deceit and abuse of power. It's simply become an unconstitutional, unconscionable disgrace and must be turned around to constitutional limited government -- no more than we absolutely need. Surely, voters must make the changes we need to survive, thrive and prosper.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

The Washington Times
September 1, 2014

Stop the bleeding in California

California's Democrat Legislature pumping out more bills, including a vote to strike Proposition 187, denying state services to illegal aliens from the books, comes as no surprise. Illegals are costing taxpayers $5 to 6 billion, and President Obama's stunt of inviting illegals to cross the border and spreading these people around the country simply adds insult to injury. Alas, at least the good citizens of Murrieta stood up for themselves with some success, and their example should be continued throughout the state.

Indeed, California is steeped in decline from a Democrat Legislature buckling to activist courts, extreme liberals, radical environmentalists; anti-business taxes and onerous regulations. As if that weren't enough, California is also plagued with a failing public education system exacerbated by the selfish interests power of teacher unions, a failed penal system putting the population at extreme risk, punishing taxes on the people and their property and a deceitful, tyrannical government bent on crashing the state.

Hopefully, California voters will wise-up to the fraud and stop the bleeding. Otherwise, California will certainly be headed for voter-assisted social, political and economic suicide….

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

San Diego Union-Tribune
July 18, 2014

Californians want the death penalty

The State of California's de facto abolition of the death penalty comes as no surprise, even though the voters of California have made it clear that they want the death penalty.

Judge Cormac J. Carney was correct in ruling that California's execution system of extraordinary delays render the death penalty unpredictable, arbitrary and useless as retribution or deterrent -- thus in violation of the 8th Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.

It's bad enough that a Northern California federal judge incorrectly ruled that California's lethal injection system was cruel and unusual punishment even though it is used in many states and is the most humane way of administering the death penalty.

As a Southern Californian retired from 41 years working in the criminal justice system, I've witnessed California's unconscionable decline in the administration of justice, unnecessarily making the people much less safe and secure against violent crime. That's injustice!

It is well known and understood that the death penalty is a deterrent against murder. California should follow the State of Texas in their administration of the death penalty: After a reasonable time for appeals, the death penalty is carried out as it should be. That's justice!

Daniel B. Jeffs
Carlsbad

Daily Press Apple Valley Review
Commentary by Daniel B. Jeffs
April 8, 2014

The perfect social, political and economic storm

Adding insult to injury, Hollywood and the media are perpetuating the lies about Wall Street being responsible for the 2008 crash, when it was the Clinton administration that caused the collapse with forced loans to unqualified homebuyers.

Governor Brown, the Democrat legislature, AG Kamala Harris, and the extreme environmental and teacher union lobbies continue to attack California's economy by supporting failed education, the proliferation of illegal aliens, bad prison reform, the costly high speed rail, higher taxes, unreasonable restrictions on energy and water resources -- and refusing to defend voter initiatives, while working to weaken the constitutional rights of the people to ballot measure direct democracy when needed.

Coupled with President Obama and congressional Democrats' abuse of power and unconstitutional attacks on the people, our society and our economy -- with national healthcare, national education, over-regulation, dangerously weak foreign policy and growing threats to our national security -- they have created a perfect storm driven by biased media that is relentlessly rolling across America -- unabated. Surely, our survival depends on major changes in the 2014 and 2016 elections.

Obama's unimpeachable abuse of power

It doesn't matter that the Obama administration has and will be replete with government growth, lies, deceit, diversion, distraction and the wholesale-unconstitutional abuse of power that will dangerously damage our freedoms, our society, our economy, and our national security -- unabated. President Obama will never be impeached and removed from office. Indeed, no matter how you spin it, the unintended consequences of political correctness has been glaringly intended simply because that's what socialism-Marxism is.

Daniel B. Jeffs is an Apple Valley resident
and author of the series, "Letters to the Editor:
From the Trenches of Democracy."

San Bernardino Sun
April 2, 2014

The perfect social, political storm

California and America's perfect social, political and economic storm is on the horizon. Indeed, it's bad enough that socialism has taken root with public education indoctrination, environmental zealots have weakened our energy resources, and extreme regulation is dragging down our economy. Adding insult to injury, Hollywood and the media are perpetuating the lies about Wall Street being responsible for the 2008 crash, when it was the Clinton administration that caused the collapse with forced loans to unqualified homebuyers.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
Opinion L.A.
March 30, 2014

Re: Three senators suspended, and it's a lose-lose-lose for Californians
by Kerry Cavanaugh
March 28, 2014

The perfect social, political and economic storm

Daniel B. Jeffs - directdemocracy
Apple Valley

San Bernardino Sun
February 28, 2014

California water crisis is criminal

California's current drought-water crisis has been caused, as usual, by environmental zealots and liberal government who have stolen California's gold and our economy.

Adding insult to injury, federal officials from the Bureau of Reclamation announced that the agricultural Central Valley Project and California Water Project customers will receive no water allocations this year.

Indeed, the California Water Project and the Central Valley Project were created, paid for, and maintained by farmers and property owners to deliver Northern California water to the agricultural-rich Central Valley, and 25 million people in Southern California.

It is simply criminal that environmentalists and an activist federal judge have unconstitutionally interfered with private water contracts and made substantial cuts in water delivery from the Sacramento Delta to protect the tiny Delta Smelt fish since 2007 -- which during this drought has exacerbated the water crisis by allowing 800,000 acre feet of San Joaquin River water per year to flow to the ocean.

Fortunately, perceptive management from our California Water Project contractor, The Mojave Water Agency has indicated that from conservation programs and underground banking and storage of water supplies in our Mojave Desert area, we have more than enough water for three years, regardless of drought conditions.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Daily Press Apple Valley Review
February 25, 2014

Commentary
by Daniel B. Jeffs

California water, energy crisis

California's current drought-water crisis and looming energy crisis have been caused, as usual, by environmental zealots and liberal government who have stolen California's gold and our economy.

Indeed, the California Water Project was created, paid for, and maintained by property owners to deliver Northern California water to the agricultural-rich Central Valley, and 25 million people in Southern California.

However, environmentalists and an activist federal judge have unconstitutionally interfered with private water contracts and cut water delivery from the Sacramento Delta to protect the tiny Delta Smelt fish, which during this drought has exacerbated the water crisis. Never mind that over 800,000 acre feet of San Joaquin River water per year is being allowed to flow to the ocean.

The state water department proposed a $25 billion tunnel system to resolve the problem, which has not moved forward, yet the unnecessary $68 to $100 billion high-speed-rail debacle is still in play.

Then comes another natural gas energy crisis. Nothing was learned from the previous crisis, costing Californians $billions in electric and heating bills. Certainly, California's environmental and governmental insanity have caused the economic chaos with punishing regulations, and severely limiting California's rich natural resources of natural gas -- and oil, which could reduce gas and energy prices.

Simply put, California has the resources to be self-sufficient with water, energy and gas, without any imports, which we are far too dependent on, leaving us vulnerable to ideology-caused crisis that endanger all Californians.

Attention: Governor Brown, environmental zealots and the Democrat Legislature. Get out of government so we can survive, thrive and prosper.

Daniel B. Jeffs is an Apple Valley
resident and the author of the
series, "Letters to the Editor:
From the Trenches of Democracy."

Daily Press
February 24, 2014

Water, water everywhere

California water crisis is criminal

California's current drought-water crisis has been caused, as usual, by environmental zealots and liberal government who have stolen California's gold and our economy.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Daily Press Apple Valley Review
February 11, 2014

Commentary by Daniel B. Jeffs

Governor Brown is the California flim-flam man

It was bad enough that Governor Brown lied to voters to get the Proposition 30 tax hikes passed, then used the money to prop up the teachers' retirement fund instead of what it was intended for. That was obvious pay back for supporting his election.

Adding insult to injury, he sucked-in voters to pass a bond measure for his pet project high-speed rail plan, when voters had no idea that it would cost ten or more times the estimate. That was unconscionable.

Worse, Brown spent $250 million from AB-32 cap-and-trade funds -- stolen from businesses -- on his toy train, which were never intended for that purpose, and left the rail project hanging because he could not come up with the $20 billion to qualify for federal funding.

Even worse, when Brown took the maximum campaign contribution for his re-election from his high-speed rail contractor, it was conflict of interest business as usual for California's chief executive, the flim-flam man.

Indeed, his re-election is no longer an option.

What's up, Mr. President?

The Congressional Budget Office report is simply another negative for Obamacare. Middle class taxpayers will be forced to subsidize lower income people's health insurance, and they will also have to pay higher insurance premiums for less coverage.

How fair is that, President Obama? Especially, when you say people should work hard and be responsible to reach the middle class.

How deceptive is that, Mr. President? Your Affordable Care Act (unaffordable careless act) is a contradiction in terms, and will seriously damage our economy and hardworking, responsible people.

Indeed, Mr. President, you are taking America down the socialist road to a government-dependent, giant underclass. Surely -- along with abusing your power with edicts and executive orders, using the IRS against those who oppose you, and your dangerous foreign policy -- that's the ideological idea, isn't it, Mr. President?

Daniel B. Jeffs is an Apple Valley resident
and author of the series, "Letters to the Editor:
From the Trenches of Democracy."

Riverside Press Enterprise
January 15, 2014

Leftism is strangling state

Urging budget restraint, feigning discipline, gunning for re-election and another shot at the presidency, Gov. Brown is continuing his long history of grandstanding as a skilled political con man in rolling out his latest state budget fraud. ("Spending binge" No," Our Views, Jan. 10)

Indeed, Brown's 8.5 percent budget increase to $106.8 billion, laced with promises to pay $11 billion toward old debt and put a paultry $1.6 billion into a "rainy day" fund is nothing in the face of hundreds of billions of dollars in long-term liabilities.

Worse, if Prop. 98 -- which requires a minimum percentage of the state budget be spent on K-12 education -- is not repealed by voter initiative, the bulk of the state budget designated for the miseducation money-pit will continue to grow like a metastasizing cancer, exacerbated by the billions wasted annually on health care, welfare and driver licenses for millions of illegal immigrants.

Joined with the governor's bullet-train debacle, the soon-to-be skyrocketing cap-and-trade electricity rates and activist judges jeopardizing public safety regarding the state prison system, our unconscionable state government is forcing Californians down the pathway to insecurity and poverty.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Daily Press Apple Valley Review
January 14, 2014

COMMENTARY

Governor Brown: Budget con man
by Daniel B. Jeffs

Urging budget restraint, feigning discipline, gunning for re-election and another shot at the presidency, Governor Brown is continuing his long history of grandstanding as a skilled political con man and taxpayer snake oil salesman who, along with his Democrat cronies dominating the Legislature -- turning it into a liberal agenda Star Chamber -- is rolling out his latest state budget fraud.

Indeed, Brown's 8.5 percent budget increase to $107 billion is laced with promises to pay $11 billion on long term debt -- and $1.6 billion in chump change designated as a "rainy day" fund with a move to promote a permanent fund with a ballot measure -- is nothing in the face of the teachers' $10.2 billion legal extortion retirement contribution and looming $217.8 billion insolvency of Teachers' Retirement System, already $80 billion in the red.

Worse, if Proposition 98 is not repealed by a voter initiative, the bulk of the state budget designated for the state's miseducation money-pit will continue to grow like a metastasizing cancer, exacerbated by the $6 billion per year being wasted on education, healthcare, welfare and drivers' licenses for millions of illegal immigrants.

Coupled with the governor's Prop.30 tax lies, his pet $68-150 billion bullet-train debacle, and the soon-to-be skyrocketing cap-and-trade electricity rates compromising the economy even further -- plus activist federal judges violating California Water Project contracts and state prison system public safety meddling -- our unconscionable state government is forcing Californians down the pathway to insecurity and taxpayer poverty.

Daniel B. Jeffs is an Apple Valley
resident and the author of the
series, "Letters to the Editor:
From the Trenches of Democracy."

San Bernardino Sun
January 2, 2014

Governor Brown for president in 2016?

Those in the media and others who are toying with the idea of California Governor Jerry Brown as a candidate for president in 2016 are promoting a bad joke.

Indeed, Governor Brown opposed Proposition 13 in his former life as governor, refused to defend Proposition 8 when he was attorney general, and during this term as Governor committed several serious political crimes. He lied and suckered voters into phony tax increases with Proposition 30 to prevent a $6 billion cut in education funds, and is instead using the money to prop up teacher pensions. Brown also snookered voters to approve bonds for a high speed rail from San Francisco to L.A. that will cost over ten times the advertised expense.

Worse, the Governor and Legislature have encouraged and supported illegal immigration and approved the impact of over 2 million illegals costing taxpayers over $5 billion per year in education, welfare, housing and health care.

Governor Brown may be the curiosity presidential candidate poster boy for his multiple runs for the office, which is no problem for Californians.

Our voters simply need to dump our political poltergeist in his 2014 run for re-election, elect a Republican governor and change the balance of power in the Legislature, or the golden state will surely complete its transformation into fool's gold and total social, political and economic erosion.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

(Original letter - edited for space)

Those in the media and others who are toying with the idea of California Governor Jerry Brown as a candidate for president in 2016 are promoting a bad joke. As a California resident since 1944 -- an Eagle Scout and retired from 41 years in the criminal justice system -- who has followed the rise and fall of a great state, I can attest to the fact that Governor Brown, along with other venomous politicians such as minority leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator Barbara Boxer, the Democrat Legislature and environmentalist cabal are largely responsible for what is likely to become our demise.

Coupled with the state invasive 2009 federal court order to reduce California's prison population, and the surrender of Democrats 2011 AB 109 prisoner realignment, Governor Brown is releasing thousands of felons early -- who are preying on the people and their neighborhoods -- and he is dumping felony prisoners on local jails resulting on even more releases.

Governor Brown may be the curiosity presidential candidate poster boy for his multiple runs for the office, which is no problem for Californians. Our voters simply need to dump our political poltergeist in his 2014 run for re-election, elect a Republican governor and change the balance of power in the Legislature, or the golden state will surely complete its transformation into fool's gold and total social, political and economic erosion.

San Bernardino Sun
November 8, 2013

California leading way to government decay

It's bad enough that Governor Brown and the Democrat Legislature are selling-out California with $500 billion in long term debt for government pensions and healthcare benefits -- including the $68 billion high speed rail debacle -- and $50 billion in new taxes.

But when the state smothers business, property owners, jobs and the economy with tyrannical regulations -- and embraces economy-crushing Obamacare with all-encompassing "Covered California" health insurance exchanges -- piling on to the Obama administration's punishing edicts, executive orders and EPA regulations, it's simply authoritarian government flying in the face of the state and federal Constitutions.

Coupled with legislative attempts to weaken or eliminate the people's state constitutional rights to voter initiatives, referendums and recall -- and the state's open invitation to budget-busting illegal immigrants and criminals, California is leading the way to corrosive insecurity, economic chaos and bankruptcy.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Daily Press Apple Valley Review
October 15, 2013
Commentary

California in double-trouble
by Daniel B. Jeffs

Californians are in the grip of government double-trouble, with Governor Brown and a Democrat Legislature -- plus President Obama and former House Democrat Speaker/Minority leader, Nancy Pelosi -- using the liberal-media propaganda machine to drive the socialist justice agenda from the golden-state coast to the Eastern seaboard.

It's bad enough that Governor Brown and the Democrat Legislature are selling-out California with $500 billion in long term debt for government pensions and healthcare benefits -- including the $100 billion high speed rail debacle -- and $50 billion in new taxes.

Will of the people ignored
When President Obama ran for the Oval Office he promised to fundamentally transform America and resolve a health care crisis that -- other than Medicare and Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse -- did not exist. Unfortunately for the American people, he is keeping those unconscionable promises.

After his election, President Obama and the Democrat Congress rammed through economy-busting Obamacare without debate. This tyrannical act was rejected by the majority of voters who gave control of the their House of Representatives to Republicans in the 2010 mid-term elections. The Supreme Court betrayed the people by ruling that Obamacare was constitutional because it was a tax, rather than what it really is: fees and penalties for failure to comply.

House attempts to repeal or modify Obamacare have been met by President Obama's complicit media blitz against Republicans -- demonizing patriotic tea party Republicans -- issuing edicts and executive orders -- and shutting down select government services to blackmail Republicans with false accusations. Coupled with the tyranny of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the President and the Democrat-controlled Senate are blatantly ignoring the Constitution and the will of the people.

If we are to protect ourselves from becoming a giant underclass and social, political and economic doom, voters must elect a Republican government in 2014 and 2016.

Daniel B. Jeffs is an Apple Valley resident
and author of the series, "Letters to the Editor: From the Trenches of Democracy

San Diego Union-Tribune
October 11, 2013

California in double-trouble

It's bad enough that Governor Brown and the Democrat Legislature are selling-out California with $500 billion in long term debt for government pensions and healthcare benefits, including the $100 billion high speed rail debacle and $50 billion in new taxes.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Carlsbad

Riverside Press Enterprise
July 10, 1013

Recall Harris, Brown

Attorney General Kamala Harris continued her activism on behalf of homosexual causes by requesting that the stay on same-sex unions be immediately lifted in California following the Supreme Court's ruling on Prop. 8 ("Gay marriages resume," June 29).

Once it was lifted, she then went on to preside over a gay wedding.

This is outrageous malfeasance.

Gov. Jerry Brown and Harris violated their oaths of office by refusing to defend Prop. 8 simply because their personal agendas were against the will of the people who voted to prohibit gay marriage.

Worse, the Supreme Court betrayed democracy and the Constitution by saying the sponsors of Prop. 8 did not have legal standing to appeal.

And this was after the ballot measure was struck down by Vaughn Walker, a gay federal judge in San Francisco.

How was it not a conflict of interest for Walker to hear the matter?

The decisions against the majority of California voters were unconstitutional and unconscionable.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

(original letter)

Recall Attorney General Kamala Harris and Governor Brown

Attorney General Kamala Harris continued her gay activism by asking the federal 9th Circuit to lift its stay immediately, which was done, then performing the first gay marriage in California -- which is outrageous malfeasance.

It didn't matter that former Attorney General, now Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris violated their oaths of office by refusing to defend Proposition 8 simply because their personal agendas were against the will of the people, who passed the state constitutional amendment by a 52 percent vote, prohibiting gay marriage -- which was over 7 million voters in a nearly 80 percent voter turnout. Harris and Brown should be recalled.

Worse, Chief Justice Roberts and the Supreme Court majority betrayed democracy and the Constitution by saying the sponsors of Proposition 8 did not have legal standing to appeal after the ballot measure was struck down by Vaughn Walker, a gay federal judge in San Francisco, which was a conflict of interest. Both decisions against the majority of California voters were unconstitutional and unconscionable.

The proponents of Proposition 8 did have standing. In a final appeal to stop the marriages, they were maliciously denied by Justice Kennedy as was the institution of marriage.

San Bernardino Sun
July 4, 2013

Democrat-voter-and-fed-assisted economic suicide

California's AB-32 cap-and-tax revenues - which are supposed to fund green energy programs -- will be diverted by Gov. Brown and the Democrat Legislature to increase Welfare and Medicaid funding by $500 million this year, and the diversions will increase to between $ 2 billion and $15 billion by 2015.

It doesn't seem to matter that the Democrat legislature's recently passed $96.3 billion state budget does nothing to address California's enormous debt. Or that embracing the fraud of Obamacare will raise insurance rates for all Californians, increase the cost of living and decrease employment.

Adding insult to injury, and new federal mandates for increased ethanol in gasoline will raise gas prices, destroy auto and diesel engines, and increase air pollution with insidious toxins. Plus, the increase of corn-ethanol will raise food prices significantly.

Sadly, with Democrat-voter-and-fed-assisted economic suicide in the works, California will surely go into a long political tailspin, nose-dive and crash.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
July 2, 2013

Letters: Love and the courts

California Atty. Gen Kamala Harris played the role of an activist by calling on the 9th Circuit to lift its stay immediately, which it did.

It didn't matter to her that she herself and her predecessor, Jerry Brown, now the governor, violated their oaths of office by refusing to defend Proposition 8, which passed in 2008 with the support of more than 7 million voters. Harris and Brown deserve to be recalled.

Worse, the Supreme Court betrayed democracy and the Constitution by saying that the sponsors of Proposition 8 did not have legal standing to appeal. This decision against the majority of voters was unconscionable. Proposition 8's proponents did have standing. In a final appeal to stop the marriages, they were denied, as was the institution of marriage.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

(original letter)

Recall Attorney General Kamala Harris and Governor Brown

The proponents of Proposition 8 did have standing. In a final appeal to stop the marriages, they were maliciously denied by Justice Kennedy as was the institution of marriage.

The New York Post
July 1, 2013

Tearing down tradition: Court's attack on marriage

Both decisions against the majority of California voters were unconstitutional and unconscionable.

It didn't matter that Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris violated their oaths of office by refusing to defend Proposition 8, simply because they were against the will of the people, who passed the state constitutional amendment by a 52 percent vote.

San Francisco's tyranny by social intimidation and legal extortion has dealt fatal blows to our legal system and the traditional institution of marriage.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

(Original letter)

Voters lose, gay federal judge and tyranny of the minority win

The Chief Justice Roberts and the Supreme Court majority betrayed democracy and the Constitution by saying the sponsors of Proposition 8 did not have legal standing to appeal after the ballot measure was struck down by Vaughn Walker, a gay a federal judge in San Francisco. Both decisions against the majority of California voters were unconstitutional and unconscionable.

It didn't matter that former Attorney General, now Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris violated their oaths of office by refusing to defend Proposition 8 simply because they were against the will of the people, who passed the state constitutional amendment by a 52 percent vote, prohibiting gay marriage.

Alas, the tyranny of San Francisco and the gay minority by social intimidation and legal extortion have dealt fatal blows to our legal system and the traditional institution of marriage, confirming the dangers of what is becoming a superficial society of moral decay, social aggression, political terrorism, selfish interests and extremes.

Los Angeles Times
Opinion L.A.
June 29, 2013

Re: Proposition 8 deserved a defense
By Erwin Chemerinsky

Erwin Chemerinsky is correct. Proposition 8 deserved a state defense.

The Chief Justice Roberts and the Supreme Court majority betrayed democracy and the Constitution by saying the sponsors of Proposition 8 did not have legal standing to appeal after the ballot measure was struck down by a gay federal judge in San Francisco. Both decisions against the majority of California voters were unconstitutional and unconscionable.

It didn't matter that former Attorney General, now Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris violated their oaths of office by refusing to defend Proposition 8 simply because they and the federal judge had conflicts of interest against the will of the people, who passed the state constitutional amendment by a 52 percent vote, prohibiting gay marriage.

Direct Democracy
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, CA

Los Angeles Times
June 27, 2013

Re: Gay marriages should start now: AG Kamala Harris

California Attorney General Kamala Harris doesn't want the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals wait the usual 25 days to lift its Prop. 8 stay, and start gay marriages NOW!

It doesn't matter that former Attorney General, now Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris violated their oaths of office by refusing to defend Proposition 8 simply because they were against the will of the people, who passed the state constitutional amendment by a 52 percent vote, prohibiting gay marriage.

Indeed, overturning Proposition 8 comes from the tyranny of the minority, which rules California and most of the United States. Gay extremists and activist courts have joined environmental extremists in a long record of intimidating anyone or anything that opposes them.

Likewise, the 1994 voter referendum, Proposition 187, passed by 59 percent of the vote, prohibiting illegal aliens from using health care, education, welfare and other social services -- which were costing California taxpayers $3 billion per year -- was ruled unconstitutional by an activist federal court, which stood because Governor Gray Davis violated his oath of office, halted state appeals and refused to defend the law.

Of course, the tyranny of the minority has been perpetuated by liberal Democrats' insidious agenda of lies and deceit, punishing laws, taxes and regulations wagging the public dog from the Sacramento state house -- steadily driving California toward social, political and economic ruin.

Alas, California liberals -- the worst in the nation -- have rejected traditional American values and created a superficial society of moral decay, social aggression, political terrorism, selfish interests and extremes.

Sacramento Bee
June 21, 2013

Federal courts abuse power against California

Governor Brown's dispute with the federal court over the release of state prison inmates goes far beyond compliance by prison re-alignment, which has already impacted local county jails and endangered communities. Now, the three-judge 'Star Chamber' has order the immediate release of 9,600 state prisoners, which will put California citizens in eminent danger. However, liberal California government bears a substantial part of the blame for crowded prison conditions.

Indeed, state and federal Democrats are responsible for tyrannical government growth and the proliferation of illegal aliens, by failure to enforce immigration laws, inviting illegals to partake in welfare, education and healthcare, particularly in California, which is costing California taxpayers about $5 billion per year. Plus overloading our prisons with illegal alien criminals to a point where the federal court ordered nearly 10,000 prisoners released early to prey on California citizens.

Wise-up, California voters, and put a stop to the political insanity. Our security, our economy, our future and the future of our children are at stake.

Los Angles Times
June 18, 2013

California's Democrat-voter-and-fed-assisted economic suicide

Sadly, with Democrat-voter-and-fed-assisted economic suicide in the works, California will surely go into a long political tailspin, nose-dive and crash.

San Bernardino Sun
June 7, 2013

Forest Service fire suppression unacceptable

The Santa Clarita 'Powerhouse Fire' would not have exploded to over 30,000 acres if the fire services had used 'Super Scoopers' and DC 10 air tankers for a first strike against the fire when it was small.

Indeed, Super Scoopers -- capable of dropping 2000 gallons of water in 12 seconds -- alone could have put out the fire since they could have used nearby Lake Hughes to draw from.

Surely, if Super Scoopers and DC 10 tankers had been used to make their massive water drops when the Camarillo fire and the Frasier Park fire first started, the fires would have been extinguished -- end of story. Indeed, if they were used on the Oak Hills fire before it crested the Southwest area of the Cajon Pass, the fire would not have spread any further.

Certainly, the U.S. Forest Service has a dismal record in fire fighting throughout the country, and certainly in California. If they had called in the super tankers on the fire that devastated the San Bernardino National Forest Lake Arrowhead area, and the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest, the losses would have been minimal.

Public safety fire service nonfeasance, needlessly costing lives and property, is simply unconscionable and unacceptable.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
May 27, 2013

Re: Fracking: How Risky? - editorial
Re: Brown prison policy repeal sought

California calamity

It comes as no surprise that the Los Angeles Times and others are suggesting delays in fracking 15 billion barrels of oil from the Central Valley's 1,750 square mile Monterey Shale formation between Modesto and Bakersfield, which goes along with extreme environmentalists intentions to always file lawsuits against additional oil and natural gas production from California's ample resources. Indeed, it doesn't seem to matter that fracking has proven to be safe, or that it would create tens of thousands of jobs and reduce California gas prices.

Surely, Californians will increasingly suffer from the calamity being brought on from unreasonable environmentalists and conservationists who have decreased water supplies from the Sacramento Delta to Central Valley farms, Southern California populations, and raised the cost of living with tyrannical regulations.

Indeed, coupled with the enormous cost of the teachers' unions and California miseducation, the open door policy for illegal immigrants to suck our public welfare, education and health care dry, Governor Brown's prison re-alignment policy endangering the lives of the people, AB 32's negative impact on our economy, and the corrosive Democrat cartel's control of government in Sacramento, the outlook for California's survival is bleak at best.

Certainly worse, from voter-assisted economic suicide, the high speed rail boondoggle, and runway debt.

Los Angeles Times
May 16, 2013

Fire services fail in use of DC 10 air tankers

10 Tanker Air Carrier moving its two DC 10 fire fighting tankers from the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville to Wyoming -- to suit its new federal contract -- would be a great loss to Southern California fire suppression, if the tankers had been used by Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service properly.

Surely, if the DC 10 tankers had been used to make their massive water drops when the enormous Camarillo fire and the current Frasier Park fire first started, the fires would have been extinguished -- end of story. Indeed, if they were used on the Oak Hills fire before it crested the Southwest area of the Cajon Pass, the fire would not have spread any further.

Certainly, the U.S. Forest Service has a dismal record in fire fighting throughout the country, and certainly in California. If they had called in the DC 10 tankers on the fire that devastated the San Bernardino National Forest Lake Arrowhead area, and the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest, the losses would have been minimal.

Clearly, if state and national fire services used DC 10 air tankers and Canadian Super Scoopers the way they should -- instead of going on the cheap -- the overall cost of wildfires would be greatly reduced. Many calls for local fire personnel and equipment to assist, would be unnecessary, and it not take away from their local availability to the people they serve.

Public service nonfeasance, needlessly costing lives and property is simply unconscionable.

Sacramento Bee
April 18, 2013

Governor Brown and the Sacramento Democrat cartel

Governor Brown's deceit in selling-out voters with the Proposition 30 tax-con and high speed rail boondoggle can only be eclipsed by the Democrat supermajority cartel in the Legislature -- poised to dilute Proposition 13, the voter-initiative process, pass destructive laws and raise taxes.

For too long, California Democrats have set the good and bad examples for other states with good voter-initiatives and Proposition 13's tax restraints, and the bad open-door policies for welfare recipients and illegal aliens to feed upon housing, education and health care benefits, costing taxpayers $5 billion per year.

Coupled with enormous corporate and personal taxation to support growing government, the powerful teachers' union, the miseducation of our students -- AB 32 and the global warming environmental costs, and the steady flow of regulations raising the cost of living -- there is no doubt that California's economy is crashing from business flight and unemployment.

Adding injury to the intimidation of the state's failed criminal justice system, AB 109's prison re-alignment is dumping felony inmates on county jails to serve their time, causing early releases of dangerous criminals and aliens, who threaten our business, neighborhoods and our personal safety.

Question is: how long will it take for naïve voters to suffer enough pain to realize they have been taken for a fool's ride, and that dumping legislation-crazed Democrats is the only solution for California's recovery. Surely, the same goes for our federal government and the recovery of America.

Daily Press
February 20, 2013
(Title and lead letter (original) of four)

Sheriff's Department did their job

As a former sheriff's sergeant and Grand Jury member with 41 years of experience in the criminal justice system -- who carefully followed the Christopher Dorner case -- I can say that San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon and his department did an outstanding and heroic job of ending Dorner's deadly rampage of vengeance against law enforcement without any further loss of officers' lives.

Indeed, ex-LAPD officer Dorner was waging war against the first line of defense for the American people, which was domestic terrorism tantamount to treason. If there is any other blame to be laid in this evil-laden tragedy, it is likely to be found in the failure of LAPD background screening, psychological testing, and training or lack thereof, behind the hiring and 3-year retention of Dorner until he was fired.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
February 19, 2013

Don't fault the police

As a former sheriff's sergeant with 41 years of experience in the criminal justice system, and who carefully followed the Christopher Dorner case, I can say that San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon and his department did an outstanding and heroic job of ending Dorner's deadly rampage against law enforcement.

Indeed, Dorner, an ex-Los Angeles Police Department officer, was apparently waging war against the first line of defense for the American people, an act of domestic terrorism that is tantamount to treason. If there is any other blame to be laid in this tragedy, it is likely to be found in the failure of LAPD's psychological testing, and training.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

(original letter)

Sheriff's Department did their job

San Diego Union-Tribune
January 30, 2013

The Impossible Dream

Governor Brown's State of the State speech projecting that, "California did the impossible" in emerging from a financial crisis is an impossible dream yet to be realized, even with Proposition 30's and AB 32's projected tax revenues.

Surely, promoting an overhaul of education funding, building the high speed rail and aggressively expanding healthcare to the needy, while ignoring the enormous voter-approved accumulated debt, illustrates political economic delusion.

Indeed, when Governor Brown goes to the Governor's conference in Washington touting his California plans as a model for the nation, he will discover that President Obama has already been there, done that, and seeking more damages.

Certainly, the liberal lemmings who facilitated Governor Brown and President Obama's self-destructive transformations, will painfully realize the second coming of a worse recession resulting from hardcore government malfeasance. Problem is, they're taking the rest of us down with them.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Carlsbad, CA

San Bernardino Sun
January 29, 2013

A liberal plague

Gov. Brown has certainly found himself between a rock and a hard place in dealing with federal court edicts to comply with our state prison system's self-imposed problems and a self-inflicted budget crisis.

Indeed, the governor's prison realignment of shifting prisoners to county jails, early releases, and fighting the liberal 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals intended release of 9,000 serious criminals, is simply another side-effect of California's liberal plague, which leaves us in even more danger -- added to our children miseducated at great expense, our economy in decay, and our taxes and the cost of living steadily rising.

If it were not for California setting the bar for government growth, the selfish interests of state correction officer and teacher unions, costly and unnecessary environmental extremes, and inviting illegal aliens to take advantage of health, education, welfare and housing benefits to increase the Democrat base -- regardless of the criminal alien and gang invasion -- there would be no criminal justice, prison system or budget crisis.

Coupled with inviting more federal intrusion on state's rights, a reckless Democrat supermajority in the legislature, and regulatory madness, our state is surely headed for disaster.

Alas, the conservative cure, of course, has always been available but ignored: Very limited government, less taxation and regulation, more personal and property rights, and stimulated free enterprise.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
January 27, 2013

Re: State 'did the impossible,' Brown says - front page

California doing the impossible is an impossible dream

Certainly, the liberal lemmings who facilitated Governor Brown and President Obama's self-destructive transformations will painfully realize the second coming of a worse recession resulting from hardcore government malfeasance. Problem is, they're taking the rest of us down with them.

San Francisco Examiner
January 15, 2013

State taking wrong turn

California's liberal plague

Governor Brown has certainly found himself between a rock and a hard place in dealing with federal court edicts to comply with our state prison system's self-imposed problems.

Indeed, the governor's prison realignment of shifting prisoners to county jails, early releases, and fighting the liberal 9th Circuit Court's intended release of 9,000 serious criminals, is simply another side-effect of California's liberal plague, which leaves us in even more danger -- added to our children miseducated at great expense, our economy in decay, and our taxes and the cost of living steadily rising.

Coupled with inviting more federal intrusion on state's rights, a reckless Democrat supermajority in the legislature, and regulatory madness, our state is surely headed for disaster. Alas, the conservative cure, of course, has always been available but ignored: Very limited government, less taxation and regulation, more personal and property rights, and stimulated free enterprise.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

NewsMax Magazine
January 2012 issue

Federal and state solar energy extremes cost counties and taxpayers large sums ("Seeing Red Over the Cost of Going Green," December). Unfortunately, liberal insanity runs far and wide among environmental extremists in Washington and particularly California (my home).

Now that California is under one-party liberal Democrat rule, Gov. Brown and company will undoubtedly take more of a lead in driving Californians and America down the road to dependency and insolvency by overwhelming taxpayers and free enterprise.

Big government means taxing, spending, insurmountable debt and loss of freedoms. There is no other formula for socialism. Alas, 2014 is the next chance for voters to turn it around, that is, if it's not already too late.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

(original letter)

Federal and state solar energy extremes cost counties and ratepayers

Between President Obama and California Governor Brown's extreme obsession with solar energy, there is a vacuum of costs to be borne by Southern California Mojave Desert Inyo, Riverside and San Bernardino counties and electricity ratepayers.

Indeed, two of the world's largest solar energy projects are located in San Bernardino County. The $2.2 billion Ivanpah solar plant next to the Nevada border has agreed to pay the county $377,000 per year, but that will hardly cover county costs and the loss of recreation and private development revenues.

Worse, contrary to the usual lengthy environmental delays, state and federal approvals for the solar plants were almost immediate. President Obama's grand push for solar energy and a regulation nation, coupled with AB 32 and Governor Brown's vow to "crush" opponents of solar projects, will make it painfully clear to San Bernardino County and ratepayers that, in President Obama's words, "electricity rates will necessarily skyrocket."

Unfortunately, liberal insanity runs far and wide among environmental extremists in Washington and particularly California. Now that California is under one-party liberal Democrat rule, Governor Brown and company will undoubtedly take more of a lead in driving Californians and America down the road to dependency and insolvency by overwhelming taxpayers and free enterprise.

Los Angeles Times
December 5, 2012

Re: Deal brings end to L.A., Long Beach Ports strike

Unions hurting the economy

California is certainly maintaining its lead adversely affecting business, jobs, the cost of living and the economy as extortionist unions continue their selfish interest assaults against free enterprise.

Indeed, when an 800-member longshore and warehouse clerical unit can shutdown the Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports backed by 10,000 regional union members -- costing California and the nation's economy $1 billion a day for 9 days, affecting 3 million jobs -- something is really wrong here.

It's bad enough that teacher unions and other public employee unions are sucking the life out of government budgets with nothing in return but intimidation, failed education, and the waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

But when our future, our children's future, the cost of living, free enterprise, jobs and the economy are at stake, serious consideration should be given to limiting, and/or eliminating, the unreasonable power and undue influence of unions.

Sacramento Bee
December 3, 2012

Re: Don't follow Grover Norquist of the cliff, as Republicans did in California - editorial

California Democrats are way ahead in the race to the fiscal cliff. Grover Norquist and Republicans had nothing to do with it.

Naïve and indoctrinated voters have given California liberal Democrats a supermajority in both houses of the legislature which -- coupled with the passage of Proposition 30 and the defeat of propositions 32 and 39 -- sets the stage for voter-assisted economic suicide.

Indeed, if it were not for a tyrannical history tax mongering, wag-the-dog teacher union power and extremist environmental regulatory chaos, California might have a chance at recovery.

Alas, the time to govern simply passed into a heap of government growth, high taxes, and insurmountable debt. Though highly doubtful, lawmakers only hope to turn back from the fiscal cliff would be to undo most, if not all, of what they wrought on our fool's golden state.

San Francisco Chronicle
November 25, 2012

Federal and state solar energy extremes cost counties and ratepayers

San Bernardino Sun
December 16, 2012

Time to govern

California lawmakers don't need to be told that it's time to govern. They have already governed the state to inevitable insolvency, to be celebrated by high speed rail connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles -- nowhere to nowhere at excessive taxpayer expense.

Indeed, Democrats have been in power and were elected to supermajority simply because powerful selfish interests, special interests and the dependency class -- created by liberal Democrats -- have given California government the power to satisfy their largess by robbing self-reliant producers and earners.

After the California gold-rush, if the state had lived up to the principles of the founders and the Constitution, we would be the model state for the country instead of leading America to ruin with the self-destructive rise and fall of America's western empire.

Surely, California's golden goose has run its course, laying eggs in the nation's foremost money pit. Alas, it's a dreadful shame that our state's natural assets are still being used and abused by authoritarian government and extreme environmentalists, and devoured by the predators and parasites of socialism.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise
December 2, 1012

Unions show public disdain

It's bad enough that unreasonable union demands fuel higher prices, outsourcing of jobs, business such as Hostess closing up ("Hostess, union talks fail." Nov. 21), and local/state governments facing bankruptcy.

But when union protestors, led by the purple-shirted SEIU, show their true colors by intentionally disrupting and delaying Thanksgiving travelers at Los Angeles International Airport because of dispute with an airport subcontractor that says its worker decertified the union, it' simply unconscionable ("March disrupts LAX Thanksgiving traffic," Nov. 21),

Indeed, coupled with the implementation of business and economy-busting Obamacare, selfish union leaders will soon find themselves and their members facing a second, deeper recession, the loss of many more jobs, and remorse for supporting President Obama in voter-assisted economic suicide.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

The North County Times
San Diego Union-Tribune
November 18, 2012

California's double trouble

California's liberal political class in Sacramento's legislature attainting a one-party-rule supermajority in the 2012 elections is clear and convincing evidence that the liberal voting class is dead-set on committing voter-assisted social, political and economic suicide.

The passage of Governor Brown's Proposition 30 tax increases, Proposition 39's anti-business measure, and the defeat of Proposition 32 union controls adds insult to the injuries of taxpayers, property and business owners, and the soon-to-be unemployed.

Coupled with California's welfare state mentality -- the open-door invitation to illegal aliens and criminals, and the sure-to-intensify environmental extremist tax and regulatory tyrannies -- the state's liberal lemmings are accelerating the run to the fiscal cliff, pushing the rest of us in front of them.

Certainly, with the re-election of President Obama and more Senate Democrats leading America to insolvency, California is in double-trouble, with only the Republican House to slow the fall. Hopefully, the people's last chance for survival will be realized in the 2014 elections.

Daniel Jeffs
Carlsbad

The Wall Street Journal
November 16, 2012

Re: California's liberal supermajority - editorial

Californians spread liberalism throughout the West

California's double-trouble

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

The Riverside Press Enterprise
October 24, 2012

Reject Props. 30, 38

It's too late to pay now and demand reforms later -- vote no on Propositions 30 and 38.

Governor Brown's Proposition 30 and Molly Munger's Proposition 38 want voters to approve tax increases for the miseducation monopoly. It's bad enough that California is graduating functionally illiterate students. But to ask economically beleaguered voters to pay more for failing education to feed selfish teacher unions adds insult to injury.

California teacher salaries, benefits and retirement costs are among the highest in the country. It's not a matter of too little money. It's the failure of the education. money pit.

Alas, the liberal Democrat monopoly in the executive and legislature has a stranglehold on business, taxpayers and schools, the grip of which can be broken only by ballot initiatives to reduce regulations and taxes, to outlaw teacher unions and other public employee unions, to repeal Prop. 98's grip on half of the budget, and to privatize public education.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

(Original letter)

It's too late to pay now and demand reforms later -- vote no on Propositions 30 and 38

Governor Brown's Proposition 30 and Molly Munger's Proposition 38 want voters to approve tax increases for the miseducation monopoly. Surely, it's bad enough that California is already the third highest in taxes -- behind New York and New Jersey -- and ranks 47th and 48th of 50 states in math and reading skills, graduating students who are functionally illiterate.

But to ask economically beleaguered voters to pay more for failing education to feed the selfish interests of teacher unions is adding insult to injury. Particularly, when the salaries, benefits and retirement costs are among the highest in the country. Indeed, it's not a matter of not enough money heaped on miseducation. It's the nonfeasance, misfeasance and malfeasance of the miseducator money pit.

Alas, the liberal Democrat monopoly in the executive and legislature have a stranglehold on business, taxpayers and schools, the grip of which can only be broken by ballot initiatives to significantly reduce regulations and taxes, to outlaw teacher unions and other public employee unions, to repeal Proposition 98's grip on half of the budget, and to privatize public education.

Lastly, we need to pass ballot initiatives to reduce the over-reaching powers of the state -- with a population of 12 percent of country and 33 percent of the welfare recipients -- that support and educate illegal aliens and the undeserving at taxpayer expense, and usurp the powers of local government.

California Constitution Article II, Section 1 gives voters the power of initiative, referendum and recall to wit: "All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require." Indeed, with California crashing, the public good certainly requires it.

North County Times
October 24, 2012

NO on Propositions 34 death penalty and Proposition 36 Three-strike modification

During my 41-year career in law enforcement and the criminal justice system, I witnessed the liberal-regressive criminal law revolution resulting in a halt to the California death penalty saving Charles Manson, Robert Kennedy assassin, Sirhan Sirhan and others on death row. Voters answered with the removal of California Supreme Court Chief Justice, Rose Bird and several associate justices from office.

Indeed, if it were not for California's liberal government -- activist judges such as the federal judge who placed a moratorium on lethal injection in 2006, and more death row inmates dying from natural causes and suicide than executions -- the certainty of the death penalty would still be a deterrent to murder, and justice for victims and families.

And, if it were not for the overwhelming invasion of illegal alien criminals and drug gangsters, the dangerous increase in career criminals, violent crimes -- and the release of more and more criminals because of inept government -- there would be no need to modify the 3-strike law.

Giving-in to crime and government negligence is not the answer, and neither are death penalty Proposition 34 and 3-strike modification Proposition 36. The answer is reasonably swift and certain justice.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Carlsbad, CA

The Sacramento Bee
October 9, 2012

Envronmentalists' over-reaching cause gasoline price spikes

Re: "Refineries get OK on cheaper gas" (Page A1, Oct. 9):

California has the highest gas tax and emission regulations in the nation. California has the most stringent, costly special Summer formulation for gasoline in the nation. The Chevron refinery in Richmond, which was shut down because of an explosion, supplies a substantial amount of the special Summer formulation to the West Coast.

There are too few refineries in California, and no new refineries have been allowed. California environmentalists have restricted any new oil and gas exploration or production, and the state has the highest taxes and royalties on oil and gas production in the nation. Coupled with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations, that is why California's gas prices are the highest in the nation.

Governor Brown's order allowing early transition to Winter-blend gasoline to ease prices is an empty gesture ignoring the root problem, which is over-reaching government and green energy obsession.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Letter (below) also published in the San Diego Union-Tribune
October 8, 2012

The Washington Times
October 8, 2012

Crushing California

California has the highest gas tax and emission regulations in the nation ("Gasoline prices skyrocket in California," Sunday). It also has the most stringent, costly special Summer formulation for gasoline in the nation. The Chevron refinery in Richmond, Calif., which was shut down after an explosion in early August,, supplies a substantial amount of the summer formulation to the West Coast.

There are too few refineries in California and no new refineries have been allowed. California environmentalists have restricted any new oil and gas exploration or production, and the state has the highest taxes and royalties on oil and gas production in the nation. Coupled with Environmental Protection Agency regulations, that is why California's gas prices are the highest in the nation.

If it were not for economy-crushing environmentalists, government employee and teacher unions, and the malfeasance in Sacramento, there might be hope for California's future.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

The Apple Valley Review
(Victor Valley Daily Press - Tuesdays)
Commentary
October 2, 2012

Parent-trigger for all?
by Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley Review

There is much more than concern about dividing families at the troubled Adelanto Desert Trails Elementary School. The 'Parent-trigger' law for transforming the school into a charter school for six years of 70 percent of sixth-graders not being proficient in English or math reflects a long history of California's failing schools, and ample reason that most, of not all, California K-12 public schools should be parent-triggered into charter schools.

As a former community college instructor, I was appalled by the lack of students' English and math skills as early as the 1970's, which was the reason my wife and I assisted our three children with their K-12 schooling, and the reason why most students still graduating from California high schools are functionally illiterate.

Indeed, during Jerry Brown's first term as governor, he approved the unionization of California teachers. That, along with costly top-heavy school district administrations, Proposition 98 guaranteeing the lion's share of the state budget to schools -- and (with few exceptions) former/retired teacher-heavy local school board members -- are the primary reasons the selfish interests of the rich and politically powerful teachers union use campaign funding, bully tactics and school bond measures to wag the dog of public schools. Lest we forget, teacher unions fight all school choice and vouchers by any means necessary.

Of course, Adelanto's school board's open defiance of a court order to transform the school into a charter school smacks of teacher union dirty tricks and the school board's abuse of power. Coupled with the overall failure of public schools in California and general failure throughout the country is why home schooling has been on the rise for years. Surely, parents -- not the miseducation establishment, or the federal Department of Education -- should be in charge of their children's' education. Our children and grandchildren's future -- and the country's future -- depend on excellence in education.

There is, however, hope out there. Direct education over the Internet. The Khan Academy is excellence in education, for anyone, everywhere -- and it's free! 60 Minutes reviewed the Khan Academy, supported by the Gates Foundation, and recently did an impressive update on the program. Parents should check it out for themselves at khanacademy.org.

San Diego Union-Tribune
September 26, 2012

Energy insanity in California

President Obama and Gov. Brown's push for clean power simply parrot the environmental zealot -- "Chicken Little sky is falling" -- mentality which drives up the cost of living and drives out business and jobs from California.

Indeed, taxpayers and ratepayers will bear the cost of solar power by doubling electric rates and wasting tax dollars. As if we had any choice in the matter, Gov. Brown signed legislation last year requiring 33% of California electricity must come from costly renewable sources such as solar and wind by the year 2020, just 8 years from now, which will likely triple electric rates.

Coupled with the insanity of AB 32's climate-change cap-and-tax costs on business and industry, Gov. Brown's obsession with the vastly more expensive high-speed rail costs and the push to increase taxes, California madness has risen to government-driven, voter-assisted economic suicide.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
Opinion L.A.
September 21, 2012

Don't county your chickens, Gov. Brown

Lastly, we need to pass ballot initiatives to reduce the over-reaching powers of the state -- with a population of 12 percent of country and 33 percent of the welfare recipients -- to support and educate illegal aliens and the undeserving at taxpayer expense, and to usurp the powers of local government.

Daniel B. Jeffs
directdemocracy
Apple Valley

San Diego Union-Tribune
August 21, 2012

In response to "In Sacramento, bogus education 'reform' " (Editorial, August 12, 2012):

Governor Brown and the California Teachers Association are largely responsible for Sacramento's bogus education "reform"

It was, however, encouraging to read that Michael Mishak's Front Page L.A. Times August 19th report has exposed the California Teachers Association union for what it has become. A political thug which, as former teacher and state senate leader, Don Perata said, the union views itself as "the co-equal fourth branch of government."

Indeed, as a former community college instructor and father of three children who attended California public schools in the 1970's and 80's, I witnessed the rise of teacher union power and cost of education since the union was authorized by Governor Brown in his first term, and the steady fall of public education as the result.

Alas, things went from bad to worse with the passage of Proposition 98, which gave the education establishment the bulk of the state budget, regardless of the performance of teachers and the quality of education. Then, as parents and others supported a ballot measure for a school voucher system to increase the quality of education, the CTA opposed it with political ads and the direct intimidation of petition gatherers, which I witnessed. Clearly, the CTA and the public education establishment's gangster politics will continue California's costly miseducation disgrace until the union grip on the budget is broken.

Surely, when the union's selfish interests surpass the best interests of students, it's time for concerned parents and voters to act. Indeed, it's past time for a ballot initiatives to repeal Proposition 98, establish a voucher system, raise the standards of education, and disband the union.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

USA TODAY

July 10, 2012

Climate legislation costly for California, America

A state court’s decree supporting the “settled science” of global warming licensed the Environmental Protection Agency to raid the American economy, energy producers and business with costly regulations by upholding California’s climate change regulations (“Court upholds EPA’s global warming rules,” USATODAY.com, June 26).

As a California resident since 1945, I have witnessed the financial rise of the “Golden State” as well as its decline under the weight of progressive, Big Government liberal ideology and environmentalism. When voters failed to block the rules in 2010, it was tantamount to voter-assisted economic suicide. Indeed, if voters re-elect President Obama, the EPA will ensure the economic suicide of our nation.

Sadly, there is little to no hope for saving California from its liberal overdosing. But the country can be saved by voters dumping President Obama and the Democrats’ control of the Senate in November.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

(Original letter)

The federal court's decree supporting the "settled science" of global warming licensed the EPA to raid the American economy, energy producers and business with costly regulations, and supports California's AB 32 climate change laws.

California's crashing will certainly be accelerated by the implementation of AB 32 Climate change regulations cap-and-tax laws that will cause a loss of $447 billion in California economic output, and increased costs per family of $2,500 per year -- a lose, lose situation.

As a Southern California resident since 1945 -- retired from working 41 years in law enforcement and the criminal justice system -- I have witnessed the rise of the Golden State and decline of California under the progressive weight of big government liberal ideology and extreme environmentalism.

It is often said that as California goes, so goes the nation. Indeed, if it were not for the spontaneous passage of the 1978 Proposition 13 tax limitation ballot initiative -- which spread throughout the states -- California's social, political and economic crash would be much further along than it is.

However, when voters failed to overturn AB 32 in 2010 ballot measure, it was tantamount to voter-assisted economic suicide. Indeed, if voters re-elect President Obama, his climate change fighting EPA will ensure the voter-assisted regulatory economic suicide of our nation.

Sadly, there is little to no hope for saving California from its liberal overdosing. But the country can be saved by voters dumping President Obama and Democrats' control of the Senate in the November elections.

The Washington Examiner
July 2, 2012

Obamacare will hurt 10 million enrollees

Re: "Supreme Court upholds Obama health law by 5-4 vote." June 28

President Obama's healthcare law will take $500 billion from 10 million Senior Advantage Medicare enrollees to pay for insuring 17 million illegal aliens.

California Governor Jerry Brown just signed the state budget, which will trigger cuts to education if the governor's $8 billion tax measure is not passed by voters in November.

As a taxpaying Medicare Advantage enrollee from California, I will suffer a double whammy from a tyrannical president bent on costly national health care, a governor bent on taxpayer extortion and Democrats in Congress and the state legislature who have ruined public education and turned government into a giant abusive -- and intrusive -- taxpayer money pit.

There is no question who and what I will be voting against in the elections.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

Rising crime can be traced to state policies
By Daniel B. Jeffs - Special to the Apple Valley Review
June 26, 2012

Even though crime is down nationally, and up in Victor Valley -- against all odds -- if it were not for the Valliant efforts of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, crime would undoubtedly be even higher.

Considering the fact that California State Government has proven to be grossly inept, driven by Democrat ideology to fail the responsibilities of criminal justice and felony incarceration -- exacerbated by inviting illegal aliens and drug gangs to plunder the budget, infect our citizens, and commit crimes against our people and their private property -- then dumps inflated state budget responsibilities on local and county government, including thousands of criminals into county jails and on to the streets, the Inland Empire, San Bernardino County, the High Desert and Victor Valley have borne the brunt of the self-inflicted state plague.

As a former member of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and former grand jury member, I have lived and worked in the High Desert communities of the County since 1967, witnessing the growth and development of Victor Valley since 1977. There have been great positives in our area, and highly disturbing negatives, primarily with state intrusion in zoning with affordable housing, unnecessary in areas that are inherently affordable.

Coupled with state abuse of power and intrusion into private property neighborhoods -- with 201 housing, Title 8 housing, licensing undesirable group homes of every description -- the state has inflicted pain on our communities with increased crime and decreased property values on top of the government-caused housing and economic crash, job losses and foreclosures -- not to mention the state's failed (money-pit) education system, high taxes and regulations driving business out of state.

Indeed, Sheriff Hoops and his troops are doing a remarkable job of law enforcement and public safety under the worst of conditions beyond local control. Together with support from the salt of the earth, life-hardened people of the High Desert -- a cut above I have observed -- we can beat the intended, unintended consequences of the failures of good intentions of lefty Democrats by joining a voting message on election day across the land: Get out of government and stay out of our lives.

Daniel Jeffs lives in Apple Valley

The Daily Press
May 22, 2012

SEIU union thugs attack Assemblyman Donnelly

I have now received several political attack mailers against our Assemblyman Donnelly, paid for by Golden California Committee, sponsored by the California State Council of Service Employees International Union -- also known as SEIU union political thugs. Indeed, I resent their attacks and the deceit and misuse of the Jarvis Taxpayers Association in the mailer.

While I'm at it, I endorse Assemblyman Tim Donnelly for re-election because he is an effective representative in a sea of voracious liberals in the tyrannical California Legislature, and because if the SEIU is attacking him, he must be getting the job done. And, though he had a little trouble for having a gun in his luggage at the airport, he needs it for protection from union terrorists, and all the criminals Governor Brown is turning loose on the streets.

Surely, California needs a political shakeup from liberal to more conservative government in Sacramento, and in the counties and cities if we are to survive the extended government-caused social, political and economic crunch. Therefore, I also endorse Bob Smith for First District Supervisor, Steve Knight for the State Senate, Assemblyman Paul Cook for the U.S. House of Representatives, and Dan Hughes for the U.S. Senate.

Los Angeles Times
May 22, 2012

Re: Company wants to tap Mojave's public lands for Southland water
by Bettina Boxall, Los Angeles Times
May 16, 2012

Cadiz Mojave Desert private lands are private

Cadiz, Inc., owners of 34,000 acres in Cadiz area of the Mojave Desert should not only be allowed to pump the plentiful groundwater from beneath their land, they should be able to deliver the water to buyers of the delivery service. Rather than delivering water to the Metropolitan Water District, the water potential to supply 100,000 homes should be delivered to the Mojave Desert population areas, such as the Victor Valley communities of Apple Valley, Victorville, Hesperia and other desert areas of Lucerne Valley and Barstow.

The Mojave Water Agency headquartered in Apple Valley is a California Water Project contractor with the ability to handle and bank the needed Cadiz water resource. Particularly, with the environmentalist Federal Court cutback in water supplies from the California Water Project.

Contrary to popular federal belief, public lands do not belong to the federal government, which unconstitutionally usurped power from the states by keeping federal land when states were admitted to the union, and by performing land grabs under the guise of national forests, parks, monuments, preserves and reserves. Military bases and national park treasures such as Yosemite, Yellowstone and others notwithstanding, the federal government should relinquish all public lands to the states.

Indeed, former Senator Alan Cranston, and Senator Dianne Feinstein had no business sticking their noses in our Mojave Desert business, and confiscating the land as the Mojave National Preserve. And she should keep her nose out of the Cadiz private water resource.

San Bernardino Sun
May 20, 2012

California Crashing

California's deficit getting ugly is a kind description of our state's social, political and environmentalist thugs with lengthy rap sheets of over-reaching government, insane regulations, punishing taxation and legal predators decimating the middle class.

Adding insult to injury, California has been slowly crashing after many years of raiding the treasury to pay for invitational welfare, the education and health care for illegal aliens, and crushing businesses and people's income with unreasonable environmental regulations raising the cost of living.

Indeed, if it were not for California's grossly incompetent and expensive miseducation system, environmental hostility toward business, habitual government malfeasance, and voter-assisted economic suicide, there might be hope of stopping the bleeding.

But not with a hopeless deficit that mysteriously grows from $9 billion to $16 billion in three months. Alas, California's gold is in fact, fool's gold.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

The Sacramento Bee
May 20, 2012

Brown's tax measure extortion

Governor Brown's $8.5 billion sales and income tax measure, backed by the extortion of $trigger cuts in education K-College if rejected by voters, is an exercise in futility to the money-pit of public miseducation. Indeed, when voters passed Proposition 98 constitutionalizing the lion's share of the California budget for education, they guaranteed mediocre to failing education, robbing students of their education and future - exacerbated by the cost of education for illegal aliens, and strangulation by the teacher's union.

Worse, even if the governor's so-called millionaire's tax passes, it will do little to resolve the $16 billion and growing deficit, and debt to education, but it will go long way to further decimate small business and the middle class, who are absolutely vital to any healthy economy. Coupled with the overwhelming tyranny of California taxes, rules, regulations, cap-and-tax AB-32, and our predatory legal system, California is crashing, and there's not much anyone but voters can do to prevent it.

Alas, it's a shame what the selfish interests of social, political and economic engineering and government malfeasance has done to our jewel of America and its population. Our only hope to survive and prosper is by voter-initiatives to drastically change and reform government pursuant to California Constitution Article II, Section 1.

San Diego Union-Tribune
May 16, 2012

California's budget

California's deficit fiasco is a kind description of our state's social, political and environmentalist thugs with lengthy rap sheets of over-reaching government, insane regulations, punishing taxation and legal predators decimating the middle class.

But not with a hopeless deficit that mysteriously grows from $9 billion to $16 billion in three months. Unfortunately, when naïve voters passed Proposition 98, which guaranteed public education nearly half of the annual budget, it gave the Governor Jerry Brown-facilitated teacher's union bullies and the miseducation establishment license to steal taxpayer dollars and rob students of their education.

Alas, California's gold is, in fact, fool's gold.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

The Sacramento Bee
May 12. 2012

Re: Jerry Brown fires doctor in anti-tobacco tax ad
by Kevin Yamamura
Sacramento Bee - May 10, 2012

Governor Brown's firing of Dr. La Donna Porter from a state advisory panel of medical experts for her appearance in the anti-Prop. 29 television ad was clear and convincing evidence of government abuse of power, punishing her freedom of speech.

It was encouraging to read the April 30th Los Angeles Times skeptical "No on Prop. 29" editorial indicating the $735 million per year $1.00 per pack cigarette tax as poorly conceived and unaccountable. Indeed, not so different from Rob Reiner's Proposition 10 and his private $750 million per year slush fund for pet projects and everything but tobacco-related issues.

Health considerations notwithstanding, It's bad enough that beleaguered smokers have been demonized as social outcasts, held up to public hatred and ridicule, and attacked with punishing taxation for using a legal product.

But to relentlessly increase federal and state taxes, is blatant social engineering and unconstitutional tax discrimination against citizens, most of whom can least afford it -- not to mention causing the proliferation of black market cigarettes and rising use of marijuana.

Adding insult to injury, the ACLU is glaringly absent in defending smokers from tax persecution and Dr, Porter's free speech.

The San Bernardino Sun
May 5, 2012

Justice undetermined

Re: "D.A.s split on measure," May 1

Coupled with the anti-death penalty proposition, the 'Three Strikes' overhaul measure signature drive fueled by the likes of 'open society' billionaire, George Soros comes as no surprise. Backing by some district attorneys does.

As a former deputy sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for 20 years, and a public defender investigator for 21 years, I have experienced the evolutionary corruption of the criminal and civil court systems from the Warren Supreme Court to the liberal California courts.

Indeed, the overall selfish interests of legal profession, and predatory lawyers, have undermined the civil and criminal justice system to such an extent, that it has adversely affected the people's peace, security and freedoms, and severely increased the cost of living -- particularly in California.

It's bad enough that California government, vexing lawyers and the courts have arbitrarily refused to carry out the law and execute the 720 inmates on death row, and adding insult to injury, spending $millions on death row housing and endless appeals.

But when the will of the people is summarily rejected, and their security is ignored, that is tantamount to criminal behavior. Sadly, though voters may end the death penalty, and/or take the teeth out of the 3-strikes law, it will not be because it is the will of the people. Like with the environmentalists, it will be the result of the insidious indoctrination of the unknowing.

Contrary to popular socialist and selfish moneyed interest belief, Article II, Section 1 of the California Constitution was wisely instituted for the people to be able to alter or reform government by initiative and referendum when the best interests of the people are at stake. If the criminal justice system cannot do any better than the unconscionable costs of incarceration to protect the people, maybe it's time for tent prisons with pink-stripped jump suits and high electrified walls.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

The San Diego Union-Tribune
May 4, 2012

Death Penalty

Reponse to "Death penalty is not justice" (Opinion, April 26):

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

The San Francisco Examiner
May 1, 2012

Death penalty foes defying will of people

Re: End death penalty and reform three strikes
Editorial

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, CA

Los Angeles Times
April 30, 2012

Re: No on Prop. 29 editorial

It's encouraging to read that the Los Angeles times is skeptical of Proposition 29's $735 million per year $1.00 per pack cigarette tax as poorly conceived and unaccountable. Indeed, not so different from Rob Reiner's Proposition 10 and his private $750 million per year slush fund for pet projects and everything but tobacco-related issues.

But to relentlessly increase federal and state taxes, is blatant social engineering and unconstitutional tax discrimination against citizens, most of whom can least afford it. Not to mention the proliferation of black market cigarettes.

Sacramento Bee
April 29, 2012

Re: California's 'Three Strikes' overhaul measure turns in signatures

Coupled with the anti-death penalty proposition, the 'Three Strikes' overhaul measure signature drive fueled by the likes of 'open society' billionaire, George Soros comes as no surprise.

The Wall Street Journal
April 28, 2012

Re: The Great California Exodus
Weekend interview with Joel Kotkin by Allysia Finley
WSJ, April 21, 2012

Like Joel Kotkin, my parents were Truman Democrats when they moved to California and I began kindergarten in 1944 in Pasadena. My 41-year career in the criminal justice system began with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 1960, after which I experienced the transformation of California from the Golden State, to the sad state it has since fallen into.

Indeed, Joel Kotkin's experienced assessment of California's problems should serve as an eye-opener to the middle class, dwindling from the unrelenting expansion of government, insane taxes, laws and regulations by the left-wing Democrat majority in the Legislature.

California Democrats, indeed are responsible for California crashing with -- of course -- the help of clueless voter-assisted economic suicide. Beyond setting the bad national example for taxing and regulating people and business out of the state, California's delusional Democrats are responsible for the state's failed public education money-pit, and inviting freeloaders into the state to take advantage of the overly generous welfare system.

Adding insult to injury, California lays out the welcome mat for illegal aliens to burden taxpayers with more welfare, plus education and health care -- not to mention raising the cost of crime, incarceration and the gang infestation of neighborhoods.

[edited for length]

As if Democrats' insatiable appetite for extreme environmental laws wasn't bad enough for the economy -- raising the cost of business and living -- Governor (Moonbeam) Jerry Brown is up to his old tricks deceiving voters to increase taxes, again. Clearly, with the City of Los Angeles on the verge of bankruptcy, California's reckless road to ruin seems almost certain, dragging the nation down with it to an avoidable economic implosion.

Hopefully, the 2012 elections will be the onset of the voter-government-reckoning needed for the road to recovery, prosperity and freedom -- regardless of moonbeams and Party affiliations.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

The San Bernardino Sun
April 26, 2012

Re: Norco Prison set to close

Snollygoster government

The closure of the state prison in Norco, housing 3,800 inmates will set in motion the additional early release of 300 to 400 felons added to the flood of others throughout the state, and substantially increase the populations of county jails, which in turn must release prisoners to provide bed space.

As if it were not bad enough that opening the prison and jail gates for criminals to invade our cities, towns, communities and neighborhoods, to comply with misguided court orders to reduce the number the number of state prison inmates, incompetent state government adds insult to injury to the people and taxpayers by failing to comply with their constitutional duty as instituted to provide protection and security to the people of the State of California pursuant to Article II, Section 1.

Before California began crashing under the weight of big government, unreasonable union salaries and benefits, a failed money-pit of public miseducation, extreme environmental laws, rules and regulations, and taxation crushing businesses, private property and individual incomes, and raising the cost of living, Democrat Governors and Legislatures practiced unrelenting socialist engineering, with Section 8 welfare homes and criminal group homes infecting neighborhoods, raising crime rates and unconstitutionally reducing private property values throughout the state.

Coupled with the State of California permitting and encouraging an out-of-control litigious culture of class-action lawsuits raising the cost of everything, and insane environmental and conservation lawsuits -- where the only winners are zealots and lawyers -- and the losers are private enterprise, working people, property owners, California's snollygoster government in Sacramento is collectively guilty of nonfeasance, misfeasance and malfeasance -- which should be punishable by removal from office, and in some cases, housing in the soon-to-be empty prison in Norco.

The Los Angeles Times
April 25, 2012

Governor Brown's fool's gold state

Governor Brown's miscalculation of the budget deficit comes as no surprise, particularly when he dances around California's budget crisis by announcing he will eliminate 718 state reports ranging from meaningless bureaucratic "busy work" to those having an impact on our security, such as the "Gang Violence Suppression Program."

California's economic crisis will surely deepen unless Governor Brown and the Legislature get their acts together to stop the exodus of businesses to business-friendly states, and skilled worker taxpayers to tax-friendly states. Indeed, they can begin by lowering taxes instead of raising them with stupid ballot measures, abandoning the insanties of AB-32's crushing impact on business and the cost of living, and incurring $billions in public debt for the worthless high speed rail fiasco.

Punishing smokers again with Proposition 29, as was done with Proposition 10, for a $billion here and a $billion there -- mostly impacting those who can least afford it -- to fund pet projects that have nothing to do with smoking-related health problems, is the same mentality of the $billions wasted on the stem-cell research boondoggle.

If California's economically suicidal government and misguided voters hope to keep California from crashing, they must re-direct their efforts from extreme environmental, commercial and medical litigation, predatory lawyers -- and repressive laws that raise the cost of everything -- to reducing the size, scope and power of government and the welfare state.

Surely, If California is ever going to restore itself to the Golden State, the road to socialism must be re-paved with the golden rules of freedom, fairness, self-reliance, real education and limited government. If not, the fool's gold state will slide into social, political and economic bankruptcy.

Sacramento Bee
April 19, 2012

California crashing -- voter-assisted economic suicide

Democrats, indeed are responsible for California crashing with -- of course -- the help of clueless voter-assisted economic suicide. Beyond setting the bad national example for taxing and regulating people and business out of the state, California's delusional Democrats are responsible for the state's failed public education money-pit, and inviting freeloaders into the state to take advantage of the overly generous welfare system.

Adding insult to injury, California puts out the welcome mat for illegal aliens to burden taxpayers with more welfare, plus education and health care -- not to mention raising the cost of crime, incarceration and the gang infestation of neighborhoods.

Hopefully, the 2012 elections will be the onset of the voter-government-reckoning needed for the road to recovery, prosperity and freedom -- regardless of moonbeams and Party affiliations.

The Daily Press
April 16, 2012

Trouble dead ahead

As if California voters were not deceived enough by approving a $9 billion bond measure for the proposed bullet train from Northern to Southern California, the estimated $45 billion cost has more than doubled to $98 billion, and would surely double again by the time it was completed in 2022.

Indeed, in these dire economic times, the bullet train is a luxury debt taxpayers can least afford and should be axed altogether. In terms of our basic needs, improving water resources from the California Water Project should be at the top of the list. However, Governor Brown and the Legislature are hesitant to pursue the proposed $11 billion water bond for fear of voters rejecting their tax increase ballot measure.

California is crashing. If voters don't exercise damage control, the statists will take us down all the way down to absolute rule by the socialist elite. And once again, as California goes so goes the nation -- under the rule of President Obama and the Democrat elite. The 2012 election will be the day of reckoning, one way or the other: the freedom of our constitutional republic or the tyranny of the socialist states of America.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

(Original letter)

However, considering the 'wagging the dog' history of Governor Brown and the Democrat Legislature, there should be an indefinite moratorium placed upon any increases in state spending and tax increases until government misfeasance is brought under control by repealing bad law, rules and regulations.

Surely, state government should be completely reformed by voter initiatives to reduce taxes and regulations strangling business and workers, to break the grip of teacher unions and the money-pit spending on failed public education; to break the grip of environmental zealots on the economy; to stop illegal aliens and those from other states from feeding on our generous welfare state; and to stop the insanity of AB 109 from unleashing criminal infestations on our counties, cities, towns and neighborhoods.

The Wall Street Journal
March 26, 2012

Re: Governor 13.3% - editorial

The WSJ editorial regarding Governor Brown is painfully correct. Indeed, California government is the advance state for President Obama's transformation of America.

Transforming America costs a social, political, economic and constitutional bundle. But that's not half of the damage already inflicted by the president's transformation plans.

President Obama's unemployment con job, coupled with costly health and financial reforms, his Occupy storm trooper's class warfare, and his intentional energy crisis define his attempts to transform America.

Indeed, throwing $200 billion down the green sink hole, pushing the failed Chevy Volt, and approving the tail end of the Keystone Pipeline are meaningless. Particularly, while stifling coal energy and domestic oil resources

Still, the president insists on wagging the public dog with high gas prices, government growth and insurmountable debt, which will surely damage the dollar, weaken the nation, and stoke the fires of inflation.

Transform America? Yes. Out of the clutches of progressive aggression. If we are to survive, President Obama's re-election is not an option. A Republican president and Congress with the determination to reduce the size, scope and power of government are the only hope to restore America as intended by the Constitution.

Hopefully, the same goes for Governor Brown and the Democrat Legislature. But I'm not holding my breath beyond 2014, the point of no return.

Los Angeles Times
March 15, 2012

Re: Brown takes tougher tack on wealthy
L.A. Times front page
March 15, 2012

Governor Brown buckles to teacher union pressure

It's bad enough that California is crashing on all fronts, socially, economically, educationally and politically. However, when the pilots in the Governor's office and Legislature hand over wagging the public dog to teacher union hijackers, it's simply more than the people of California can handle.

Indeed, teacher union extortion to increase Governor Brown's 'tax-the-wealthy' (small business job creators) measure not only aids and abets the state's economic suicide, it yields credibility to California's malfeasant, miseducation money-pit.

Hopefully, California voters have suffered enough from the power and greed of government to just say "NO" to any and all tax increases and the stranglehold of the failed education establishment. And say "YES" to any and all measures which remind government who they work for, and return California's gold to those who can make it the Golden State again.

Los Angleles Times
March 3, 2012

Wag the dog California politics

California Attorney General Kamala Harris is conducting partisan manipulation of ballot summaries, which is a vivid example of 'wag the dog' politics to favor Democrat-controlled government and special interests, while preventing genuine public interest ballot measures from gathering sufficient voter signatures to qualify.

Indeed, it's bad enough that Proposition 23 delaying the implementation of economy-crushing AB 32 was defeated by manipulation and $19 million from teacher unions, and by the same means, Proposition 25 passed allowing the Legislature to pass the budget and other matters with a simple majority vote.

While Governor Brown and the Democrat legislature are attempting to limit the people's Constitutional right to alter or reform government with ballot initiatives, Harris' summaries for the Governor's sales and income tax increases blatantly favors the measures, which will undoubtedly be financially supported by selfish interests, government employee and teacher unions.

Surely the solvency of our state and the people are increasingly in peril. And it cannot be turned around, unless the ballot initiative process is strengthened by truthful nonpartisan ballot summaries, and reducing the enormous cost of qualifying ballot measures. That can easily be done by allowing the people to obtain ballot initiative signatures, and to vote, by means of a secure voting network on the Internet.

Governor Brown, Attorney General Harris and all California elected representative and officials should be reminded that they are the 'tail,' voters are the 'dog,' that we wag our own tails, and that 'wagging the dog' is malfeasance.

San Bernardino Sun
February 5, 2012

A Reasonable Move

In our miserable state of the state of California, it certainly is a big state with little fixes simply because of the stranglehold of liberal ideology's fixation on extreme environmentalism, the highest of taxes, most unreasonable regulations, and the high cost of government. Of course, the high cost of living is going to be exacerbated by AB-32's carbon taxes on business and industry, which Governor Brown says he can use to pay for the growing cost of the stupid high speed rail project.

As Forrest Gump's mother says, "Stupid is as stupid does," seems to be the rule of California government, bent on raising sales and income taxes yet again. That is, unless voters wise up and don't do something stupid, like pass the tax initiative. Meanwhile, the governor is doing a little something reasonable.

Indeed, Governor Brown's recent actions to shortcut the permit process for onshore oil extraction from old wells is a single, but long overdue step relaxing unreasonable and over-reaching regulations inhibiting business in the state. State oil tax revenues are, of course, a lucrative source of income for the state, yet blinded by extreme environmentalists, California government chooses keep the lock on development of new oil and gas resources on and off shore -- stupid!

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Sacramento Bee
January 31, 2012

Brown is open to drilling

Re: "Browns backdoor tax hike is a business shakedown" (Viewpoints, Jan. 30):

The high cost of living is going to be exacerbated by Assembly Bill 32 and the carbon taxes on business and industry it will impose. Governor Jerry Brown says he can use to pay for the growing cost of the stupid high speed rail project.

Meanwhile, the governor is doing a little something reasonable. His actions to shortcut the permit process for onshore oil extraction from old wells is a long overdue step. State oil tax revenues are a lucrative source of income for the state.

Blinded by extreme environmentalists, California government chooses keep the lock on development of new oil and gas resources on -- and off shore.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

(Original letter)

Governor Brown does something reasonable

San Diego Union-Tribune
January 4, 2012

Brown's tax plan gets thumbs down

It's bad enough that over 40,000 new laws went into effect January 1st throughout the states, and that over 80,000 more pages of legislation came out of Congress, heaping more regulations on businesses and the people, from prohibiting incandescent light bulbs in favor of mercury-filled tubes, to regulating toilets and home fire alarms.

Indeed, 745 more laws went into effect in California. Social and economic engineering laws from Cap and Trade taxes on fuel -- raising the cost of gas -- to the mandating the teaching of gay/lesbian history in schools, to the Dream Act for illegal aliens' college education, to prohibiting local governments from requiring E-Verify for private employment.

Now, Governor Brown expects the voters to pass his ballot initiative to raise taxes for the continued mismanagement of California government, which will damage the economy more than it already is. Surely, if such a tax measure passes, the voters who pay no taxes or who are on the state payroll will be responsible for higher taxes on the rest of us.

If California's governor and state Legislature, the President and Congress work for the best interests of the people, they would declare a moratorium on passing new laws, and work for however long it takes to review and repeal all over-reaching and unnecessary laws -- which are most of them.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/04/seaport-village-remodel-marine-thank-you-browns-ta/

San Bernardino Sun
December 1, 2011

Clear Danger

Re: Increase in county jail prisoners

As if California's looming $20 billion budget deficit, hostile business climate, high unemployment, mortgage foreclosures, rising college tuition, failed public education, and stupid environmental laws making it worse were not bad enough -- county jails are facing an unconscionable rise in state prisoners, and the early release of uncontrolled criminals throughout the state.

Indeed, with a head-in-the-sand governor and Democrat-controlled Legislature running a dysfunctional government -- and with their blatant complicity in the steady rise in illegal alien criminals and opportunists draining our resources and revenues on prisons, welfare, health care and education -- local government and the good citizens of California are in a clear and present danger.

Surely, it's past time for California voters to defend and protect themselves with their constitutional right to ballot initiatives, referendums and recalls under Article II, Section 1. of the California Constitution, to wit: "All political power in inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit. and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require."

However, that cannot be accomplished without first passing a ballot initiative requiring a state-wide electronic voting network connected to voters' homes for conducting elections, and collecting signatures for ballot initiatives, referendums and recall. That's why Article II was passed, and why it's the only way to remove selfish, moneyed interests from compromising Article II, the public good, and the inherent political power of the people.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

San Francisco Examiner
October 13, 2011

Dream Act hurts students

Gov. Jerry Brown and the California Legislature’s Democratic Party cartel are making it painfully clear that U.S. citizens residing in California must sit in the back of the bus, while being forced to pay the fare for illegal immigrants riding on the taxpayers’ dime.

Indeed, it’s bad enough that we must foot the bill for the illegals’ housing, welfare, health care and education. But when hopeful citizen college students are pushed down the line in favor of the Dream Act recently passed by the cartel and signed by the governor, our constitutional protections and citizen sovereignty are seriously diminished.

And nothing among the rash of bill signings could be more politically glaring about the abuse of government power than AB622, which limits and intimidates California grand jury investigations with the forced presence of attorneys representing witnesses during questioning.

Daniel B. Jeffs, Apple Valley

The Sacramento Bee
September 25, 2011

Solyndra highlights energy folly

Re "Solyndra isn't reason to kill clean energy" (Editorials, Sept. 18): The $535 million Solyndra solar panel company scandal showcases what President Barack Obama showcased in dumping $25 billion into renewable energy firms, promising about 650,000 jobs. Instead, only about 3,500 jobs were created. California got in the act by giving Solyndra $24 million in tax breaks after which the company shed about 1,100 jobs in its bankruptcy, leaving all taxpayers on the hook for Solyndra's loan.

Adding insult to injury, AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, was and is a very bad idea that will surely sink California's economy. Indeed, as if California wasn't crashing enough, the energy and cost-of-living explosion with the implementation of AB 32 could not have come at a worse time in what will be a protracted nationally depressed economy.

Surely, the federal and state malfeasance over energy is tantamount to punching the American and California economies in the face.

Daniel B. Jeffs,

Apple Valley

Federal and state malfeasance over renewable energy

The $535 million Solyndra solar panel company scandal showcases what President Obama showcased in dumping $25 billion into renewable energy firms, promising about 650,000 jobs. Instead, only about 3,500 jobs were created at a taxpayer cost of about $5 million per job. California got in the act by giving Solyndra $27 million in tax breaks, after which the company shed about 1,100 jobs in its bankruptcy, leaving all taxpayers on the hook for Solyndra's loan.

Adding insult to injury, the AB-32 Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 was and is a very bad idea that will surely sink California's economy. Indeed, as if California wasn't crashing enough -- with over-reaching government, out of control entitlements, and money-pit miseducation -- the energy and cost of living explosion with the implementation of AB-32 could not have come at a worse time in what will be a protracted nationally depressed economy.

Blindly requiring 33 percent of our electricity to come from renewable energy -- wind and solar -- will double or triple electricity costs, not to mention the unreliability of renewables. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent over the next 9 years is little more that holding business hostage with cap and tax beginning in 2012 -- all on the basis of global warming alarmists and the proliferation of a massive hoax.

Surely, the federal and state malfeasance over energy is tantamount to punching the American and California economies in the face.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
September 17, 2011

San Bernardin Sun

September 13, 2011

Over-reaching

Gov. Brown and the Democrat Legislature's push to limit ballot initiatives comes as no surprise. Coupled with legislation limiting the fundamental operations of county grand juries, it is simply another government power move against the California Constitution, Article II, Section 1, and what is supposed to be the inherent power of the people to alter or reform government.

The only legislation that is needed regarding ballot initiatives is to limit selfish/special/moneyed interest initiatives by allowing the people to obtain signatures for ballot initiatives, and to vote, by means of a secured voting network on the Internet.

Big, over-reaching socialist California government is driving our state into bankruptcy with over-regulation, over-spending, punishing taxation, failed money-pit miseducation, businesses leaving the state, rising cost of living, and the loss of jobs and our liberties.

We need less tyrannical government and more self-governing democracy to recover California and survive.

DANIEL B. JEFFS
Former Grand Jury member
Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise
September 8, 2011

Let initiatives work

The Democrat's proposal to limit ballot initiatives comes as no surprise ("Ballot gambit," Our Views, Aug. 31).

Coupled with legislation limiting the fundamental operations of county grand juries, it is simply another government power move against the California Constitution, Article II, Section 1, and what is supposed to be the inherent power of the people to alter or reform government.

We need less tyrannical government and more self-governing democracy to recover California and survive.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

Stop Democrat's push to limit ballot initiatives

Governor Brown and the Democrat legislature's push to limit ballot initiatives comes as no surprise. Coupled with legislation limiting the fundamental operations of county grand juries, it is simply another government power move against the California Constitution, Article II, Section 1, and what is supposed to be the inherent power of the people to alter or reform government.

We need less tyrannical government and more self-governing democracy to recover California and survive.

Daniel B. Jeffs, founder
DDC
September 6, 2011

The San Francisco Examiner

August 23, 2011

Prison release gambles with Californians’ safety

When the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a court order for reducing California’s 140,000 prison inmates by 46,000, the strongly contested 5-4 decision brought dissenting Justice Samuel A. Alito’s prophetic warning, “The majority is gambling with the safety of the people of California.”

Apparently 13,000 inmates have already been given early releases, leaving 33,000 inmates for the state to shed over the next two years.

Instead of contracting with private jail facilities, Gov. Jerry Brown’s AB-109 law will inject many of those inmates into county jail facilities as of Oct. 1, forcing local authorities to release county inmates to offset the mandated increase of state inmates. Inevitably, some of the early-released state and county inmates will be housed in group homes.

It’s bad enough that so many of our neighborhoods are terrorized by burglaries, thefts, assaults and sex crimes, which have increased because of the recession and job losses. But when the state surreptitiously adds more criminal group homes to residential areas, it is unconscionable.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Original letter:

Forced release of inmates threatens our safety

When the Supreme Court affirmed a 3-judge federal court-ordered the reduction of 46,000 of California's 140,000 inmates, the strongly contested 5-4 decision came with dissenting Justice Samuel A. Alito's prophetic warning, "The majority is gambling with the safety of the people of California." Apparently, 13,000 of those inmates have already been given early releases, leaving 33,000 inmates for the state to shed over the next two years.

Instead of contracting with private jail facilities, effective October 1, 2011, Governor Brown's AB-109 law will inject many of those inmates into county jail facilities, which will force local authorities to release county inmates to offset the mandated increase of state inmates. Either way, some of the early released state and county inmates will be housed in group homes.

It's bad enough that so many of our neighborhoods are terrorized by burglaries, thefts, assaults and sex crimes -- which have increased because of the recession and job losses. But when the state surreptitiously adds even more criminal group homes to residential areas, it is unconscionable. Indeed, our home values have already suffered from foreclosed vacant homes.

Adding insult to injury, more criminal group homes further diminish home values -- and worse, pose serious threats to our safety, property and privacy. Alas, it wasn't that long ago when a criminal walked away from a group home and murdered an elderly couple in their nearby home -- in our town.

The Daily Press
Press Dispatch
August 21, 2011

Global warming

The AB-32 Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 was and is a very bad idea that will surely sink California's economy. Indeed, as if California wasn't crashing enough -- with over-reaching government, out of control entitlements, and money-pit miseducation -- the energy and cost of living explosion with the implementation of AB-32 could not have come at a worse time in what will be a protracted nationally depressed economy.

At least Proposition 23, if passed in 2010, would have suspended the implementation of AB-32 until California unemployment was reduced to 5.5 percent for one year. Unfortunately, foolish, indoctrinated voters blocked the proposition with a 61 percent NO vote, essentially contributing to what will become voter-assisted economic suicide.

With a California's environmental extremist, Democrat-controlled legislature, along with former RINO governor Schwarzenegger, and current Governor Jerry Brown leading the economic demise -- and running business and jobs out of town to safer and lower-taxing states -- they will soon zip up what is left of the state into an economic body-bag.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

San Diego Union Tribune

August 9, 2011

Gay history should include Frank fiasco

As if California’s public schools were not indoctrinated enough with a liberal agenda at the expense of core academics, Gov. Jerry Brown is taking it another step further. He signed a law requiring the inclusion of the contributions of “sexual minorities” in California public school history lessons and textbooks to sensitize students as early as kindergarten.

Surely, the history lessons and textbooks should begin with the contributions of Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., for being largely responsible for the affordable housing bubble that burst and took the housing and financial industry down with it, causing the collapse of the economy, loss of jobs and the deepening recession currently upon us.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

Los Angeles Times
Opinion LA
June 4, 2011

Re: Will Jerry Brown provide the leadership California needs?
California Fix

What would it be like without Proposition 13?

If voters had not engaged in a constitutional initiative tax revolt and passed Proposition 13 in 1978, the economic conditions in the liberal Democrat-dominated state of California would be inconceivable.

Ironically, current governor, Jerry Brown was the 1978 governor who railed against Prop. 13 as a budget and education buster that would sink California's ship of state -- something he later had to recant simply because it didn't happen. Instead, it has been the only thing keeping us afloat. He was wrong and the voters were right.

However, it hasn't kept the public education establishment and the tax and spenders in Sacramento from keeping tax limitations under unrelenting siege. So much so, that careless voters gave in to scare tactics and allowed tax increases to creep under our economic skin as ideological infections.

It's bad enough that California has the worst business climate, highest corporate taxes, costly-unreasonable environmental regulations, 12 percent unemployment, increased mortgage and foreclosure crisis -- and is hanging from the economic cliff by a thread.

Governor Brown and the Democrat Legislature are abusing their corrupted power to extend personal, sales and vehicle taxes -- even to the point of passing the buck down to counties and cities to impose their own vehicle taxes -- to relieve the state's $9.6 billion deficit.

Instead of cutting the economic thread, voters should seriously consider using the power of the initiative to remove the state's grip on most taxes and education funding, and transfer those responsibilities to local government and voter control -- to reduce bureaucracy and costs.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

San Bernardino Sun
May 15, 2011

Point of View (guest commentary)

Credit grand jury, D.A. for rooting out political corruption

The people of San Bernardino County should be grateful to their Grand Jury and District Attorney Ramos for tirelessly investigating and rooting out the political corruption that has plagued our County for so long. Indeed, those who seek political power, seemingly for noble purposes, are too easily corrupted by exercising, then abusing that power.

Most people believe that the purpose of grand juries is to hand down criminal indictments. However, most grand jury work is accomplished by the county civil grand jury of 19 members -- serving a one year term -- which investigates county and city government operations, including special districts and elected boards of public entities. For those who do not fully understand the importance of grand juries, they are the volunteer citizen watchdogs for the people's interests in maintaining honest, efficient and effective local government.

Lest we forget, it was our grand jury that investigated and issued a critical report against former supervisor, then County Assessor, Bill Postmus, which ultimately resulted in criminal complaints and criminal grand jury indictments in the 'Colonies' corruption cases.

However, there is a clear and present threat to California's grand jury system. As a former grand jury member, I am deeply concerned by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson's AB 622 -- proposed legislation that would amend Section 939.1 of, and add Sections 939.5 and 939.22 to the Penal Code, relating to grand juries - which would seriously undermine grand juries and change the way they operate.

An April 7, 2011 Sacramento Bee editorial, "Bill to undercut Civil Grand Jury is Misguided," correctly noted that "civil grand juries play a vital watchdog role over local government. They have exposed corruption, protected taxpayers and spotlighted important issues." The editorial criticized AB 622, pointing out that during Dickinson's "17 years as a Sacramento County supervisor, was on the receiving end of seething grand jury reports."

Dickinson's legislation would require sworn testimony be taken in public, and would allow those testifying under oath to have their lawyers present. In other words, sweeping changes that would reverse much of grand jury authority and the necessary closed sessions of grand jury operations.

Surely, Dickinson's assertion that grand juries are a secret "star chamber" system abusing their power is absurd. Indeed, the abuse of power more aptly describes what too many legislators and other elected officials do when gaining the personal power of public office. Power that is too often subject to conflicting selfish interests.

It is more than apparent that Dickinson's allies, including the Conference of Bar Associations, have members who would clearly benefit from representing those called before grand juries to give testimony. That conflict and other unnecessary costs of open sessions would further drain the limited budgets of grand juries.

Certainly, the people's interests are well-served by grand jury watchdogs over local government operations. Grand jury systems throughout the country have been under attack by questionable interests of elected and unelected government officials who resist public accountability -- no less than the attacks on the people's right to voter initiatives and referendums.

The legislature should not pass AB 622. Indeed, people in government should be reminded that, California's Constitution, Article II, Section 1 (Purpose of government) clearly states that "All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require."

Fortunately, the Assembly Appropriations Committee has just indicated that because of the costs of the bill, AB 622 has been placed in 'Suspense File' where it can languish forever, or move out to a vote. Credit must be given to the California Grand Jury Association for extended efforts in opposing AB 622. If it were not for concerned citizens calling our elected officials to task, this power-grab might have slipped by into law. If we don't defend ourselves, who will? California's failure is the prime example of insidious government 'wagging the dog -- and we pay for it.

Indeed, under the dire economic and budget circumstances of inept California government, now would be the appropriate time for a voter initiative to allow voter signatures to be collected over a secure internet system to qualify voter-initiated propositions for the ballot, and to vote on them. Among the first ballot initiatives should be proposition to strengthen California's civil grand juries on behalf of the people.

Daniel B. Jeffs lives in Apple Valley

NewsMax Magazine
April 2011 Issue

Re: “Arnold – He wasn’t so bad, Baby.” December issue)

Farewell Governator

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should simply fade away into his liberal fantasyland at home.

His record is a betrayal of why he was elected.

Indeed, Arnold’s performance was the antithesis of a job well done.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

Los Angeles Times
February 25, 2011

Re: Brown: $25 billion in cuts if tax effort fails
Re: Green energy bill advances

Governor Brown's threat to cut $25 billion in state services if the tax increases are not extended is a challenge that ought to be called. Indeed, it's doubtful that California voters can be intimidated to extend the taxes when so many people are under worsening economic stress. Republicans seem ready to give in if Gov. Brown and the Democrats agree to curb and cut state pension costs.

Adding insult to injury, Californians will be facing large increases in the cost of electricity if the recently passed Senate bill nearly doubling the use of green energy is passed by the Assembly and signed by the governor. California is a great place to live, but not at any cost. Particularly, when gas prices are on the rise again, and government won't budge on producing more domestic oil.

On the other hand, with voters foolishly supporting AB32 by voting down Proposition 23, it seems that environmental zealotry has unduly frightened people into believing in the global warming hoax enough to be self-destructive by driving more business out of the state, driving up the cost of living, and driving our economy into the ground. Indeed, it's simply a stupid dilemma, absent common sense.

San Bernardino Sun
January 16, 2011

Insanity runs deep

Gov. Brown's proposed cuts in spending notwithstanding, he certainly cannot expect voters to approve extending the tax increases on income, vehicles, and sales tax for 5 years. Indeed, attempting to tie tax extensions to protecting K-12 school funds simply won't cut it.

Particularly, when teacher unions funded Brown's election, and the education establishment refuses to rise above mediocre.

It should be clearly be noted that the defeat of Proposition 23, allowing the economy-busting-effects of implementing global warming (AB 32) to happen with no tax relief will surely wreak even more havoc in the worst of times.

Hopefully, misguided voters will understand that unreasonable environmental laws, rules and regulations have already contributed heavily to California's economic demise and job losses -- with businesses moving out of state to avoid punishing taxation -- and the painful cost of living rising.

There will be no restoration of voters' faith in California government's habitual malfeasance without restoring sanity to government. Unfortunately, that's unlikely to happen any time soon -- despite Governor Brown's efforts -- simply because it's too deeply engrained in the selfish-interest establishment.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
January 13, 2011

Tough budget choices

Brown's intended cuts in spending notwithstanding, he certainly cannot expect voters to approve extending the tax increases on income, vehicles and sales.

Indeed, attempting to tie tax extensions to protecting school funds simply won't cut it, particularly when teachers unions funded his election and the education establishment refuses to rise above failing.

There will be no restoration of voters' faith in the state government without complete reform. The defeat of Proposition 23, and the voter-assisted economic suicide that will be AB 32's implementation, will see to that.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Original letter:

Re: Gov. seeks cuts, tax extensions
L.A. Times - January 9, 2011 - A33

Governor Brown's intended cuts in spending notwithstanding, he certainly cannot expect voters to approve extending the tax increases on income, vehicles, and sales tax.

Indeed, attempting to tie tax extensions to protecting school funds simply won't cut it. Particularly, when teacher unions funded his election, and the education establishment refuses to rise above failing.

There will be no restoration of voters' faith in California government's habitual malfeasance absent complete reform. The defeat of Proposition 23 by the voter-assisted economic suicide-effects of implementing global warming AB-32 will certainly see to that.

San Francisco Examiner
January 11, 2011

California will soon learn error of its voting ways

To all the voters who elected Jerry Brown governor, and Kamala Harris attorney general at the campaign-financed behest of teacher's unions, other public employee unions, and the SEIU -- and/or based upon misguided ideology -- it will be too late for self-inflicted voter remorse when California finally crashes with Brown and the Democrat Legislature behind the wheel in the driver seat of their joy ride.

As Brown said, at this stage of his life, he will make the painful state budget cuts in all the wrong places and dump it on local governments, save the miseducation money pit to pay his union debts, call on the same voters to approve tax increases, and drive more businesses and jobs out of the sinking state.

And as former San Francisco Mayor, now Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom once said, "Like it or not," you will accept our rules. And as Attorney General Harris vowed, she will vigorously enforce environmental laws, including the AB32 cap-and-tax economy-buster.

Indeed, there are no unintended consequences of the failures of good intentions when they result in careless harm to the public good. Hopefully, truthfully informed voters won't forget the survival alternatives of ballot initiatives and recall.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise
January 6, 2011

Losing governor no loss

Former RINO Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should simply fade away into his liberal fantasyland at home. His record is a betrayal of why he was elected. And he finished it off by commuting the 16-year sentence of former Assembly speaker Fabian Nunez's son -- who was convicted of participating in a gang stabbing murder -- to seven years ("Commuted sentence draws DA protest," Jan. 4).

It was a blatant injustice, and an unconscionable quid-pro-quo to political ally Nunez for helping Schwarzenegger get cap-and-tax global warming AB 32 passed -- which will certainly exacerbate California's government-induced failing economy.

Indeed, Arnold's performance was the antithesis of a job well done.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

San Bernardino Sun - A7
December 1, 2010

Insult to injury

When Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor in the Governor Gray Davis recall election, it was because Davis mishandled the California energy crisis and raised taxes, all of which was a devastating blow to California's economy and its people.

Since being re-elected Schwarzenegger betrayed the voters with tax increases and a potentially worse blow to the economy with the passage of AB-32 Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Then -- in the face of an already mortally wounded economy -- he was instrumental in defeating Proposition 23, which would have delayed implementation of the Act until unemployment was reduced to at least 5.5% for a year.

Adding insult to injury, the governor is still crusading for highly questionable claims of global warming, with his "Governors' Global Climate Summit 3," which was held recently at UC Davis.

Like most environmental zealots, Schwarzenegger's shameless push for costly carbon regulation and unreasonable green energy requirements will only serve to devastate California's economy further. Still, the irony is that it didn't deter the hapless majority of voters from electing Jerry Brown to lead his newly elected wrecking crew in knocking down the state, and grinding the people into the ground of economic ruin.

Alas, the only thing worth looking forward to is not having to spell Arnold's last name anymore, and letting him be known as just another political jerk. In this case, a RINO Republican with a lot of liberal baggage at home, and the audacity to suggest amending the Constitution so he can run for president. Amend the Constitution? Yes. With a series of amendments restoring the strict constitutional limitations on the federal government, power to the states and to the people.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
November 26, 2010

California crashing

The results of the 2010 election makes it painfully clear that California is unduly influenced by a superficial society of socialist aggression, political chaos, selfish interests and extremes. Indeed, coupled with over-reaching government, punishing taxes, rules and regulations -- and a failed miseducation system of factories of ignorance and warehouses of indoctrination -- the once Golden State is sinking into the depths of deception replete with fools' gold and tarnished ideals.

All of which was corroborated by the elections of the liberal cabal headed by Governor Jerry Brown, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, and Attorney General Kamala Harris -- along with the re-election of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer -- and the passage of the wrong Propositions and the defeat of the right Propositions.

Hopefully, as California goes, the nation will not follow into the clutches of a one-party totalitarian state. Hopefully, the Tea Party-influenced majority in the House of Representatives, with gains in the Senate, and an imploding Obama presidency will preclude a total collapse of America before the 2012 election. Meanwhile, we must hold on to our liberty and keep a tight grip on our freedom.

San Francisco Chronicle
November 18, 2010

Shame on Governor Schwarzenegger

Adding insult to injury, the governor is still crusading for highly questionable claims of global warming, with his "Governors' Global Climate Summit 3," which was held this week at UC Davis.

San Diego Union-Tribune
November 18, 2010

Shame on Governor Schwarzenegger

Adding insult to injury, the governor is still crusading for highly questionable global warming claims, with his "Governors' Global Climate Summit 3," which was held this week at UC Davis.

Like most environmental zealots, Schwarzenegger's shameless push for costly carbon regulation and unreasonable green energy requirements will only serve to devastate California's economy further. Still, the irony is that it didn't deter the majority of hapless voters from electing Jerry Brown to lead his newly elected wrecking drew in knocking down the state, and grinding us to economic ruin.

Alas, the only thing worth looking forward to is not having to spell Arnold's last name anymore, and letting him be known as just another political jerk.

Los Angeles Times
November 17, 2010

Re: Charles Rangel

Too much personal power corrupts. That's what happened to Rep. Charles Rangel -- and too many people holding public office -- simply because government is too big and over-reaching at nearly every level.

Each house of Congress is supposed to police itself. It hasn't worked because they have become the political elite in the most exclusive clubs.

Rep. Rangel should be expelled from the House, but that won't happen. Government is supposed to police itself, but it seldom happens.

The American people and the states are the only safeguard, however, we are too limited by the corrupted institutions which have compromised our Constitution and usurped power from the states: Congress, the presidency, and the federal judiciary.

We must look out for ourselves, which will take a few serious amendments to restore the Constitution. Congress won't do it. Only the states can make that happen. It's a matter of survival, liberty and freedom. We need a Tea Party of the states and a constitutional convention.

San Bernardino Sun
November 16, 2010

Revolution is on

Deeply concerned and frustrated voters swept out many Democrats in the nation's congressional elections Nov. 2, clearly signaling that the Tea Party revolution is under way.

Indeed, Republicans took the majority in the House, and narrowed the gap in the Senate. However, if they don't hold fast and true to our founding constitutional principles, they will be replaced with those who do.

Surely, the same goes for President Obama and many Democrats who were barely re-elected, and those in the Senate who are up for re-election in 2012.

If the president, the Congress and for that matter, the Supreme Court, don't take the pathway to right the wrongs they've done to society, the economy, our constitutional democracy and the American people, they should certainly be voted out of office and/or otherwise impeached and removed from office.

Alas, the Tea Party revolution is unlikely to keep California lemmings from blindly running off the cliff and pushing the rest of us with them.

DANIEL B. JEFFS
Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise
November 4, 2010

Voters choose suicide

As if voters aren't suffering enough from the economic crash, the worst case scenario for California is the election of Jerry Brown and the slate of Democrats in the executive branch, the retention of a large Democrat majority in the Legislature, the passage of Prop. 25, and the defeat of Prop. 23's delay of the AB32 global warming law.

This certainly amounts to voter-assisted, job-killing suicide when coupled with the state implementing forced Obamacare and enforcing AB32's skyrocketing energy costs, which will raise the cost of living to new heights.

Indeed, driving the national economy into a ditch will be mild compared to our state government and political zealots driving California's economy over a 2,010-foot cliff, in a union-driven green machine. Problem is, the indoctrinated and deceived majority of voters are pulling the rest of us over the cliff with them.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times
Opinion L.A.

November 4, 2010

The Tea Party revolution is on

Deeply concerned and frustrated voters swept-out many Democrats in the nation's congressional elections November 2nd, clearly signaling that the 'Tea Party' revolution is underway. Indeed, Republicans took the majority in the House, and narrowed the gap in the Senate. However, if they don't hold fast and true to our founding constitutional principles, they will be replaced with those who do.

Surely, the same goes for President Obama and many Democrats who were barely re-elected, including those in the Senate who are up for re-election in 2012. If the President, the Congress and for that matter, the Supreme Court, don't take the pathway to right the wrongs they've done to society, the economy, our constitutional democracy and the American people, they should certainly be voted out of office and/or otherwise impeached and removed from office.

Even though there was also a Republican shift in state governments, New York and other hopeless states held fast to their liberal decline. Indeed, clueless Californians kept Sen. Boxer and elected hapless Jerry Brown to lead the Sacramento Democrat hole-in-the-wall-gang, as a defiant gesture of voter-assisted economic suicide. Alas, the Tea Party revolution is unlikely to keep California lemmings from blindly running off the cliff and pushing the rest of us with them.

Los Angeles Times
Opinion L.A.
November 3, 2010

California's worst case scenario: Voter-assisted economic suicide

As if voters aren't suffering enough from the economic crash -- and Washington-aggravated aftermath -- the worst case scenario for California is the election of Jerry Brown and the slate of Democrats for the executive branch, the retention of a large Democrat majority in the Legislature, the passage of Proposition 25, and the defeat of Proposition 23's delay of the AB-32 Global Warming laws.

Coupled with the State implementing forced Obamacare -- and enforcing AB-32's skyrocketing energy costs -- raising the cost of living to new heights, that certainly amounts to voter-assisted -- job-killing -- economic suicide.

Indeed, driving the national economy into a ditch will be mild compared to our state government and political zealots driving California's economy over a 2010-foot cliff, in a union-driven green machine. Problem is, the indoctrinated and deceived majority of voters are pulling the rest of us over the cliff with them.

Los Angeles Times
October 28, 2010

Voter-assisted economic suicide

As if voters aren't suffering enough from the economic crash -- and the Washington-aggravated aftermath -- the worst case scenario for California will be the election of Jerry Brown and the slate of Democrats for the executive branch, the retention of a large Democrat majority in the Legislature, and the passage of Propositions 19, 21, 24, 25 and 27.

Indeed, driving the national economy into a ditch is mild compared to our state government and political zealots driving California's economy over a 2010-foot cliff, in a union-driven green machine. If voters don't at least pass Proposition 23 and defeat Proposition 25, that would certainly result in voter-assisted economic suicide.

San Bernardino Sun
October 26, 2010

California's worst case scenario

Though there is hope on the horizon for congressional elections, hopefully, California's worst case scenario won't materialize as a result of the people's vote November 2, 2010. Indeed, as it is often said, as California goes, so goes the nation. However, since the national social, political and economic meltdown jerked most people to their senses, California government has played its usual suspects role of Mad Magazine's Alfred E. Neuman's, "What? Me worry?

Unfortunately, California has a long decaying history of progressive political ideology, more so than most of the country. Alas, if it were not for a few bright spots such as Governor Ronald Reagan, the Proposition 13 backlash, and the energy crisis recall of Governor Gray Davis -- California would be even further along to becoming a socialist state under the indoctrination of bureaucrats, public education's factories of ignorance, extreme environmentalists, and the entitlement culture. In effect, under the benevolent dictatorship of the ruling elite.

As if voters aren't suffering enough from the economic crash, the worst case scenario for California will be the election of Jerry Brown and the slate of Democrats for the executive branch, the retention of a large Democrat majority in the Legislature, and the passage of Propositions 19, 21, 24, 25 and 27. That would certainly amount to voter-assisted state suicide, and ensure the demise of the California economy. Surely, the worst scenario would not be complete without remembering the gross mistake of electing RINO, Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor instead of Tom McClintock.

On the other hand, there is a better case scenario of electing Meg Whitman and the Republican slate, plus passing only Propositions 20, 22, 23, and 26 as a matter of survival. Clearly, the best case scenario would be to break the progressive stranglehold on Sacramento, including the public miseducation money-pit, with a voter initiative repealing Proposition 98's grip on half of the state budget. As always, it's up to we the people to be self-sufficient and responsible, and limiting government to only that which is necessary to ensure our security, liberty and freedoms. I, for one, have already voted to survive.

Los Angeles Times

Opinion L.A.

October 26, 2010

California's worst case scenario