In a time when socialist policies are seeping into our society, Supervisor Jim Desmond stands tall as a beacon of resistance, fighting for the hardworking citizens of San Diego County. While others turn a blind eye to the dangers of socialism, Supervisor Desmond is the only one on the Board of Supervisors who has the courage to bring light to this alarming trend.

The allure of buzzwords like “equality” and “equity” may sound appealing, but history has shown us the dire consequences of countries that have embraced socialist ideologies. These misguided policies have crushed the middle class and created insurmountable gaps between the rich and the poor. Yet, some politicians continue to peddle these ideas, using them as a means to secure votes and retain power.

Recent proposals from the State of California and the Federal Government serve as clear indicators that we are sliding down the treacherous slope towards socialism. The California utility companies’ fixed-rate bill proposal is a prime example. Under this plan, San Diegans will be forced to pay exorbitant monthly fees based on their household income, irrespective of their actual energy usage. This discourages energy savings and burdens hardworking individuals and families, especially during a time when energy supply is struggling to meet demand. Even those who have installed residential solar panels will still be subjected to these unjust charges.

The Federal Government’s new rule further exacerbates the problem. Homeowners with good credit scores are now being penalized with higher mortgage rates and fees to subsidize those with riskier credit ratings. This blatant wealth redistribution scheme punishes responsible individuals who have worked diligently to secure a home for themselves and their families.

While the theory behind these proposals may claim to promote wealth redistribution, the reality is far from it. Instead, they punish those who strive to get ahead and diminish the very essence of the American Dream. The American spirit is rooted in the belief that hard work and determination can lead to a better life. Implementing socialist policies undermines this ethos and robs individuals of their opportunity to achieve their dreams.

One cannot help but question where this slippery slope will end. Will grocery prices soon be tied to tax returns? Will the price of gas be based on one’s income? These intrusive measures encroach upon personal freedoms and stifle individual growth, undermining the principles upon which our great nation was built.

It is alarming that a recent poll revealed that over half of young Americans hold a favorable view of socialism. Politicians, eager to secure votes, continue to perpetuate a culture of entitlement and handouts. Meanwhile, hardworking Americans who embody the bootstrap ethic that built this country are being left behind.

Supervisor Jim Desmond recognizes the concerted effort to crush the middle class and undermine the hardworking citizens of this nation. The utility and mortgage proposals are just the latest examples of socialist policies that incentivize mediocrity and conformity. These misguided measures destroy the American spirit of opportunity and hard work.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial for all Americans to wake up and reject this destructive nonsense. Supervisor Jim Desmond stands as a steadfast defender of our values, fighting against the encroachment of socialism and championing the rights of hardworking individuals and families. Let us join him in preserving the American Dream and reclaiming our freedom from the clutches of socialism.

San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond is a true advocate for the people, and we must stand with him in this crucial fight.

The Road to Socialism

We continue to hear politicians tout buzzwords like equality and equity, as a way to lift people out of poverty. Blame the rich to help the poor, and you’ll continue to get re-elected. Yet, as we’ve seen throughout history countries that have prioritized this socialistic point of view have crushed the middle class, creating large chasms between the rich and poor.

The word socialism is thrown around flippantly in today’s society, yet two proposals, one from the State of California and another from the Federal Government, show that we are on the slippery slope moving from a meritocracy toward a socialist society.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, California utility companies are in the process of rolling out a new fixed-rate bill proposal. The basics of the proposal are: the more income you make, the more you pay for the flat rate. Then there will be reduced usage charges, subsidized for all households by the flat rate.

Here’s the breakdown of pricing for San Diegans.

• Household income $28,000 – $69,000 would pay $34/month.
• Household income from $69,000 – $180,000 would pay $73/month.
• Household income above $180,000 would pay $128/month.

All these fees are tacked on before using a single kilowatt hour, meaning median-income San Diegans will pay $876 a year in electricity rates, regardless of whether they use any electricity. Also, San Diegans will still get charged these monthly rates if they installed residential solar.

These fixed rate charges have nothing to do with actual energy use (or savings). They are based on household income and everyone will pay them. This will discourage energy savings and increase electricity use in a time where supply is not meeting demand, and people’s health and safety are at risk through summer blackouts.

Two days later, the Federal Government announced a new federal rule forcing homeowners that have earned good credit and can (many times barely) afford a home to pay higher mortgage rates and fees to subsidize people with riskier credit ratings who are also in the market to buy houses.

Mortgage industry specialists say homebuyers with credit scores of 680 or higher will pay, for example, about $40 per month more on a home loan of $400,000. Homebuyers who make down payments of 15% to 20% will get socked with the most significant fees.

The theory behind both of these proposals is “redistributing wealth.” It may sound great in theory, but in reality, it punishes those trying to get ahead. These proposals are not in line with the American spirit. The American Dream is based on the idea that anyone can work hard and make a better life for themselves. The introduction of socialist policies such as these takes that away.

We already have income tax and, by design, the more people earn the more they pay in taxes. The same goes for property taxes- the more expensive the home the higher the property taxes. If this is a priority to the State of California, they should better use the billions of tax dollars already collected to reduce the cost of energy, for example.

It begs the question, where will this stop? Will grocery prices be based on your tax return? Will the price of gas depend on how much you make?

None of this should be a surprise, as a poll last year showed fifty-one percent of young Americans said they had a favorable view of socialism. Handouts and entitlement are the way many politicians are elected and reelected, and the hard work and bootstrap ethic that created America is no longer their expectation.

A concerted effort is happening in this country to crush hardworking and middle-class Americans. Whether it’s charging people more for their electricity based on their income or making homeowners pay more if they have better credit, hardworking Americans are being punished. The new utility and mortgage proposals are the latest examples. These proposals incentivize mediocrity and conformity by punishing those who work hard to get ahead. These socialist policies are destroying the American spirit of opportunity and working hard. It’s time for all Americans to wake up and reject this nonsense.

San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond
http://www.supervisorjimdesmond.com/

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