Year in Review: California Got Even Crazier in 2022

Progressives had a banger year in California, even by the Golden State’s standards.

From the Democratic supermajorities in the legislature to progressive city councils and a governor who likes to run campaign ads in Florida, California liberals did their best to, in the words of the late, great, P.J. O’Rourke, "enfeeble the individual and exhaust the economy."

California Democrats love to say their state’s laws lead the way. But where, exactly, are they leading us? Here are some guideposts.

In August, the state legislature approved a plan to reduce carbon emissions by at least 85 percent by 2045. Critics predict the plan will cost about $4 trillion, add $50,000 to the cost of every new home, endanger "hundreds of thousands of jobs," and could intensify the number of companies leaving the state. It’s unclear if the rules will apply to Democratic politicians’ wineries, which climate activists say hurt the climate by sucking up water, using pesticides, and employing gas-powered tractors. California also banned the sale of gas-powered cars starting in 2035.