To the Point
California and America’s future
Less than 10 years ago, historian Kevin Starr warned that California might be “the first failed state in America.” But, despite that dire prediction, the Golden State is now roaring back. Is California’s resurgence establishing pattern for America?
By Warren Olney • • 42m ListenFrom World War II until the 1960s, California invested in growth and welcomed newcomers. It boasted world-class infrastructure, the State Water Project and the Master Plan for Higher Education. But class and racial divisions then led to discriminatory politics. There were tax cuts, service reductions and a struggling economy. Now, the state is once again back in business. Social scientist Manuel Pastor sees a pattern that applies to the rest of the country. He and Warren discuss his new book, “The State of Resistance.”
Photo courtesy of USC Dornsife.
