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It all started about 40 years ago in our pristine, incredibly beautiful, and peaceful Santa Cruz, population about 15,000. While many rejoiced when the regents of the University of California chose Santa Cruz for their new campus, I felt uneasy, sensing that this quiet little piece of heaven would never again be the same, and that the changes would not be for the better.

Despite my opportunity to enter the new campus as a re-entry student, the political environment I encountered confirmed my fears that in some ways UCSC would prove to be our deterioration – or even our nemesis.

The U.C. plan was to make the Santa Cruz campus a cluster of small colleges patterned after Oxford in England, where the free exchange of ideas between faculty and students would encourage inquiring young minds to flourish. The small colleges did become a reality, but the young minds were not allowed to flourish, at least not in the political sciences department. Conservative students taking part in KSCO programming confirmed that fact. They felt stifled, intimidated, and ostracized. Some professors in the political sciences called themselves the New Left and made sure that their students understood the Marxist philosophy, and they did not – I repeat, did not – encourage dialog from students with differing points of view. One Professor, Michael Rotkin, decided to run for City Council and make Santa Cruz a model for his doctoral dissertation, which was “How To Create A Socialist City”. He was elected, became mayor at least twice, got elected again, and still makes policy for us. One could admire the tenacity of purpose of Rotkin and other leftist newcomers, who embraced Santa Cruz as their own and set out to make sweeping changes in our formerly conservative city. It should be noted that our previous leaders did not allow any pollution producing industries. They were sensitive to the environment long before the lefties thought they had invented that concept.

Among the new changes, Santa Cruz was declared a Nuclear Free Zone (whatever that means), and war was rejected because it was hateful (duh). Now, peace is patriotic (whatever that means). Our navy ships are denied permission to come to Monterey Bay, new businesses are discouraged, and the ultimate short-sighted foolishness, our leaders actually declined federal funds to widen Highway 17. It is deja vu all over again now. Our present city leaders – yep, still Rotkin and Cynthia Matthews, who are making careers out of serving on the City Council – have just declined to participate with adjoining counties to help widen the gridlocked Highway One. Santa Cruz has become a place not allowed to grow but growing anyhow, a place to bypass, a place run by liberal extremists who spend money foolishly and make many of us ashamed to admit that we live here.

Back to around 40 years ago… the New Left leaders let it be known to all the country’s needy – that is, the real needy whom most of us will always be willing to help – and the by-choice, able-bodied needy, that Santa Cruz was a great place to live and that our leaders were happy to provide for all of their needs. In return, all that was expected from them was to continue to vote their benefactors into office. Word spread like wildfire and now, decades later, what do we have? A stroll on the Pacific Garden Mall will reveal the appalling answer. Dignity and self-respect have been robbed from the gullible able-bodied recipients still on the dole, a very large price to pay for years of accepting freebies. The deep satisfaction of independence and self-worth, these poor souls will never know.

Since 9/11, the world has forever changed. Global terrorism will have to be dealt with, probably forever. To deny that reality will be deadly, literally. Now our country is buckling under the years of state, local, and federal excesses, not the least of which are enormous salaries, pensions, and hidden perks which our leaders quietly give themselves – plus open borders, validation of illegals, and the rewarding of illegals with amnesty, driving licenses, and the right to vote. Our leaders are ignoring the Rule of Law and making a farce of our Constitution, all for the Almighty Vote. Corruption is acceptable, but where do we go from here? Our role models are unacceptable.

The prophetic parting words of my Cabrillo College history professor in 1967 continue to haunt me. His chilling prediction was that the United States will eventually become a third-world country. What can we do to stop the madness?