We've been vacationing in the People's Republic for the last several days and some observations are in order. I know some of these can apply to other states or cities but we just happen to be in California, so...
I have spent time in a lot of big cities, Dallas, Miami, St. Louis, Phoenix, Detroit to name a few, but I can say without any hesitation that people in the Palm Springs area are the most self-centered, conceited, self-important jerks that I have ever had the displeasure of being around. I have watched more people demean others that are working the 'menial' jobs than I could have imagined possible. It's really sad how so many people are condescending to those that work hard for a living.
Looks are everything. A couple of those condescending wretches have clearly made value judgments based upon how my companions and I were dressed. We are here to watch a tennis tournament and entering a stadium is controlled. You have to wait until a specific time in the match to go to your seats. And sometimes, heaven forbid, you have to walk through the cheap seats to get to the high dollar court-side seats. On more than one occasion, I've had people tell me they are cutting the lines because they have to get to the lower tier seats, "I'm sure you understand." Imagine their shock when we sat down right behind them. I guess we weren't wearing enough Gucci or Rolex watches.
Stuff is so expensive here. We are staying in an VRBO house. We went to buy coffee and a few staples. A small can of coffee, store brand, costs as much as we pay for a full size can of Folgers in Silver. A half gallon of milk is $2.69, about what we pay for a full gallon. A six pack of Bud LIght is $14. I don't know how anyone working a regular job can afford to live here.
In a state that is worried about climate change and energy usage and all of those liberal pet causes, they have accent lighting on the palm trees lining the streets. Not buried in the ground but actually bolted to the trees. How is that energy efficient? Don't the trees feel the pain caused by having bolts drilled into their trunks? Don't get me started on the accent lighting in people's yards.
I thought CA had been mired in a drought? Natural landscaping had been mandated by law. Not in Palm Springs, where the rich folk live. Grass is everywhere. The parking lots at Indian Wells Tennis Center are grass. They mow them every morning and water them every night. The mowers are big diesel engine mowers pouring out green house gases. Every day, there is water running down the streets and sidewalks from sprinkler systems.
Yes, there are paper straws in every plastic cup of soda, lemonade, margarita. The straw lasts about half way through the drink before disintegrating. But don't worry, there are plastic straws available if you want to pay for them. You see, there is price on saving the dolphins and sea turtles. Oh, and you do have to pay for plastic bags at the grocery store.
The wind turbines outside of Palm Springs, designed to provide the majority of electric power for the climate change conscious residents; those essentially have been turned off. The power coming from those is inconsistent; never provided enough power to handle even a quarter of the valley's needs and it's killing birds and butterflies since it was built in the migratory path.
Despite all the incentives to purchase electric vehicles, including preferred parking spots or low interest loans, you rarely see any Tesla or Leaf logos. The preferred parking spots or areas are generally empty. Maybe they can't keep up with the speed on local streets (50 mph) or there aren't enough charging stations. They exist but I know at least 2 have been taken out since our trip here last year.
The People's Republic is the stereotypical socialist paradise. The 'little' people suffer while the rich people exempt themselves from the regulations.