The Problems of Southern California Essay

One of the biggest problems surrounding the protection of California’s plants and crops, is the threat of pests and invasive species. Pests are a constant danger as they can ruin plants by infecting them, or destroying them by eating away at the inside. There is also the danger of invasive species. The National

Its population increased by 48% within few years. The expansion of cities resulted in destroying unbuilt and farm lands to further the constructions. Landowners with land interfering with “planned residential communities” were forced to give up their lands and see them destroyed. As the author states, families such as Warnes were forced to see their family lands bought and built. Even though such intact lands are rare in the area and beneficial to the population as somewhere to connect with nature, entrepreneurs prefer the economical profit. The suburbs expand and with every new family moving in the area, more cars are purchased adding to the gridlock.

The struggles of the City of San Bernardino, California are well documented; one of the highest crime rates in the state and the country, extensive acres of urban blight, a median household income under forty-thousand, which has left residents living in poverty, a cash insolvency as a result of mismanagement, which has left the City in chapter nine bankruptcy for three and a half years, and a political climate distorted from lack of experience, and conflicting ideologies and agendas. Also well documented is the strained relationship of between the City and the Unions that represent its employees. Most notably the firefighter’s union, which has sued the City on numerous occasions over pension, overtime and overall work conditions. As part of the City’s plan to exit bankruptcy the firefighters will be annexed into San Bernardino county fire. This moves makes it that much more important for the City and the union to resolve its differences for the good of the firefighters.

To people foreign to California, the state is boxed into a set of stereotypical characteristics. The Golden State has received labels such as ‘surf nation,’ and ‘liberal land.’ But to those who’ve gotten a chance to live within this great state appreciate the opportunities and ambitions that come with living in California. Furthermore, what truly differentiates California from any other place in the world is the consistent paradoxical environment. This notion is best epitomized by the city of Sacramento and the cultural, economic and social change that the city has undergone. Gary Snyder communicates this theme through building around John Muir’s ideologies in his work of “Covers The Ground.” Snyder’s work exemplifies the contradiction between nature and innovation. It presents the paradoxical state individuals around the world face on whether to accept the innovation and accept the benefits that come with it, or stay true to the roots of nature and the history that accompanies it. This dilemma boils down to whether we as a race embrace the progression of time and the paradoxes that follow, or we find solace in our current state.

Didion’s tone was serious, ominous, and dark, and was very different from Thomas’s tone which was more positive. Although acknowledging the destructive nature of the fires caused by the Santa Ana winds, Thomas generally talked about positive results of the fires. She describes the “amazing sight” of the fire as she watches “the flames lick up a hillside” and ends the essay by reminding the reader that the “chaparral will return.” By this, she means that many of the plants in chaparral country need the heat of the flames to reproduce, so within a few weeks, new plants will rise from the ashes. The fire also helps get rid of the dead plants that need to be burnt so they can get out of the way for new plants to come in. Didion has a very different tone regarding the winds. She describes the various hints of change with dark words. To her, there is an “eerie absence of surf” and the “heat was surreal,” instead of it simply being hot with no waves in the water. The author particularly chooses words with creepy connotations to make the reader feel a similar feeling to the uneasiness that the Southern California natives feel. These contrasting tones make the authors' opposing views on the winds very evident.

Those who have lived through natural disasters view them differently than those who have not. Experience helps us understand circumstances in a new way. In the essays “Brush Fire” by Linda Thomas, and “The Santa Ana” by Joan Didion, the authors perceive the mysterious Santa Ana winds that blow through California, and the deadly brush fires that it creates. Through the use of imagery, word choice, tone, and description the authors depict the beauty and destruction that they see from the point of view of a native or an outsider.

In 1849, the California Gold Rush attracted the massive people immigrated to gold finding from all over the world. The gold-seekers travelled by the ship boarding in San Francisco port or by feet to leave their hometown and families from west because they believed that they could gain more money and had a better life than their original place. In the early days of California was an unknown place however after the gold-seekers arrived to California growth rapidly with crowded population. Later, the Rocky Mountains establish to be a state which called California. The gold-seekers came over to California because they wanted to achieve their goals for a better life, as they experienced by their hard working and created lots of the potential

The first essay, “Brush Fire” by Linda Thomas, viewed the Santa Ana winds as something good. The message that was conveyed in this essay was that

Before diving into the relevant action steps, it is important to understand the history that led to this crisis. Thompson (2010), states that after World War II, cities were highly valued and popular until conflict, poverty, and distress led to the demise of these cities; thus increasing the value of suburban

Richard Walker in his California’s Golden Road to Riches, described California’s economic order as “prospector capitalism,” or “resource capitalism.” Walker quotes David and Wright (1997:1) in order to describe this form- “intensity of search; new technologies of extraction, refining and utilization; market development and transportation investments…” (http://geog.berkeley.edu/PeopleHistory/faculty/R_Walker/CaGoldenRoad.html, Walker). This statement has clear comparisons to Takaki’s America Errand as both put a large focus on economic expansion via technology, increased transportation, and market development. Similar to when Takaki’s argument that the land must not go to waste, in the four statements that correspond to the dimensions of the capitalist economy it is written that “nature…converted into ‘resources’ or nature staked, claimed, and commodified”

The US national government and California state governments each have their fair similarities and differences. For instance, they are very similar involving the president and governor. As the United States of America has a president, California has their own governor as well. Even though they are not entitled to the same exact responsibilities, they each have a huge importance to their people. The citizens of the United States look up to the president, as the residents of California look up to their governor. The governor is essentially seen as the “state’s symbolic leader” whereas the president is seen as the “nation’s symbolic leader” (Spitzer, 2015, p. 93). A huge advantage that California carries is that the state constitution is typically known for creating a stronger governor than in other states. In some cases, even, the governor can be just a strong as the president. As they are both important members in congress, they each have the ability of making executive and judicial branch appointments. In addition to this similarity between the national and state government, they are also alike in having to do with women’s level of involvement in the legislature. The amount of females working in the legislature is not as common than it is for males. Unfortunately, men have a huge advantage over women in this aspect of the government. On the other hand, there has actually been a significant amount growth of women working in the state legislature since 1975. Even though it has

Upon initial research of the rich heritage of California the two minority groups that stood out as especially influential in historic California and today’s society are the Native Americans and Hispanic Americans. To better understand and identify with these minority groups we must identify the common themes within their day to day life. By researching each culture’s common family traditions, religious beliefs, arts & entertainment, and language one can gain a greater appreciation of many different kinds of people, and in turn have more effective relationships in a multicultural society.

Yong emphasizes the term “landscape of fear” in a positive way rather than viewing it as something that would hurt ecology. One reason Yong views the “landscape of fear” in a positive way is because Yellowstone National Park specifically is having an elk issue in which they are destroying the park’s trees. Elk are prey to wolves in areas such as the Canadian wilderness.

When I thought of california I thought of sun, palm trees and warm weather. This is not one of those places. When I found out I was going to California, I packed a bunch of shorts. When I got to Petrolia I realized what a mistake I had made. Petrolia was not sunny and warm. For it was cold and dark where the hippies go to die and grow their weed.

An emerging issue is that of urban sprawl. While some aspects of urban sprawl has been seen since ancient times, this phenomenon has started gaining the most momentum in the past century, aided by the advancement of technology, especially with the rise of mass produced automobiles, houses and highway systems. Many people unknowingly contribute to this environmental problem, as is the nature of it. Urban sprawl deals with the growth of the suburbs, the area between the urban and rural areas of a city. Most of America’s largest cities and states, in terms of population, are prime examples of urban sprawl. Opponents of urban sprawl usually cite the government as a major cause of sprawl. The government may be a major catalyst of