Example Image
Civitas Outlook
Topic
Politics
Published on
Dec 14, 2023
Contributors
Joel Kotkin

The LA Fires Are the Horrifying Consequence of Democratic Misrule

Contributors
Joel Kotkin
Joel Kotkin
Senior Research Fellow
Joel Kotkin
Summary
Blue states’ embrace of progressive fads over good governance was bound to end in disaster.
Summary
Blue states’ embrace of progressive fads over good governance was bound to end in disaster.
Listen to this article

Los Angeles authorities’ poor preparation for and lamentable response to the wildfires now devastating the city capture a broader problem – namely, the failure of governance across America’s Democrat-controlled regions. This pattern of incompetence has accelerated the shift of American economic and political power to regions outside the long dominant north-east and West Coast.

The reason for this shift lies in the clear failure of Democrats, writ large in the inferno now consuming large swathes of LA. In states like California, Democratic politicians no longer prioritise such things as public safety and key infrastructure, including roads, ports and, most importantly at the moment, water systems. Indeed, today’s ‘progressives’ generally shy away from things like building dams or maintaining water pressure in the name of protecting the environment. They are far more focussed on climate change and ‘social justice’.

Of course, California progressives will justify this by blaming the fires on climate change, even though a leading fire expert at the US Geological Survey suggests this claim is unsupported. Fires have been a regular feature of life in southern California for at least 20million years. Moreover, given the recent extremely dry weather conditions, LA should have been prepared for a conflagration. It was not. A councilperson representing the Palisades has noted the ‘chronic underinvestment in our critical infrastructure’.

Continue reading the entire article at Spiked

10:13
1x
10:13
More articles

The Myth of Europe’s ‘Fascist’ Revival

Politics
Jun 11, 2026

Gordon S. Wood's American Revolution

Pursuit of Happiness
Jun 11, 2026
View all

Join the newsletter

Receive new publications, news, and updates from the Civitas Institute.

Sign up
More on

Politics

Is American Nationalism Still Creed-able?

We are not there now, but there is reason to worry that the United States is in danger, if we are not careful, of ceasing to be a nation with the principles of 1776 at its core.

Richard Samuelson
Politics
Apr 29, 2026
National Civitas Institute Poll: Americans are Anxious and Frustrated, Creating a Challenging Environment for Leaders

The poll reveals a deeply pessimistic American electorate, with a majority convinced the nation is on the wrong track.

Politics
Feb 19, 2026
Liberal Democracy Reexamined: Leo Strauss on Alexis de Tocqueville

This article explores Leo Strauss’s thoughts on Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1954 “Natural Right” course transcript.

Raúl Rodríguez
Politics
Feb 25, 2025
Long Distance Migration as a Two-Step Sorting Process: The Resettlement of Californians in Texas

Here we press the question of whether the well-documented stream of migrants relocating from California to Texas has been sufficient to alter the political complexion of the destination state.

James Gimpel, Daron Shaw
Politics
Feb 6, 2025

The Three Whiskey Happy Hour

Steven Hayward brings you the Power Line Blog's perspective on the week's big headlines.

View all
** items
The Myth of Europe’s ‘Fascist’ Revival

Joel Kotkin
Politics
Jun 11, 2026
Sneaky Leftist Lawsuits Are Taking Aim at US Energy Dominance

Michael Toth
Politics
Jun 8, 2026
I’d like to Believe California Can Be Saved from the Left. It May Be Too Late.

Joel Kotkin
Politics
Jun 7, 2026
The Rise of the UnJews

Joel Kotkin
Politics
Jun 5, 2026

Palisades Fire Arson Trial Begins as Prosecutors Detail Alleged Rage, Motive

Politics
Jun 10, 2026
1:05

Fascism on the March? with Joel Kotkin

Politics
Jun 8, 2026
1:05

Minnesota Fraud Mastermind to Face Sentencing for $250 Million Scheme

Politics
May 19, 2026
1:05

"Get Real" With RCP's David Desrosiers: Voting Rights Act, New Affordability Agenda & Tax the Rich

Politics
May 11, 2026
1:05

May Day Protests Take Place Across the U.S.

Politics
May 1, 2026
1:05
No items found.
No items found.
“Democratic” Socialism Is Undemocratic

By promoting class hatred, suppressing private initiative, and seeking enhanced control of our lives, today’s democratic socialists undermine patriotism and individual initiative—two qualities that have long distinguished the United States from other major nations.

David Lewis Schaefer
Politics
Jun 10, 2026
America Doesn’t Need to Fear the “Thucydides Trap”

While American leaders can learn much from the ancient Peloponnesian War, the lessons run counter to Xi Jinping’s purposes.

John Yoo
Politics
Jun 9, 2026
Will Alberta Leave Canada?

Premier Smith is trying to navigate a camel through the eye of a needle.

James Allan
Politics
Jun 4, 2026
The Transnational Conservative Project

Intellectual conservatism has proved to be both durable and versatile over the last 250 years, and there is little reason to believe that it will be any less versatile in the future.

Miles Smith IV
Politics
Jun 2, 2026
No items found.