In Chaotic Times, California Offers Leadership
After a Century of Earthquakes, Fires, Booms, and Busts, We Are the Masters of Disaster
America, I see you flailing—and failing—to respond to this pandemic. Why don’t you just let California handle it?
No joke. In normal times, you’d be wise to avoid letting Californians run anything. While our artists and businesses are strong at creating culture and technology, our elected leaders typically struggle with everyday issues like managing budgets, schools, housing, and traffic. And in our daily lives, Californians famously flout the rules in favor of going our own way.
But in emergencies, we transform into very different people—calm, competent, and cooperative. You’ve seen it during …
