Inland Empire Progressive

Photo by Lea Kobal on Unsplash Something ugly is happening in our district: we are becoming a two-tier economy. The top earners are roaring ahead with inflated asset values, low mortgages rates, and strong returns on investments — while the bottom is sliding into stagflation! Make no mistake, the conservative economic policies supported by Representative Jay Obernolte and his MAGA republican allies failing the district.  The data paint a stark picture: Wage growth for the bottom third of earners is doing almost nothing, only 0.9% in August 2025. That’s the smallest gain since 2016. The top third saw 3.6% growth in the same period. That’s a huge divergence, and it’s only getting worse.  Spending patterns mirror this gap. The higher earners are spending more; the lower earners are cutting back, squeezed by higher housing costs, inflation, limited wage growth, and tougher job prospects.  These trends aren’t just statistics. They translate into households that can’t make end...

  Fight the Oligarch! Eat the Rich! While I agree with the sentiment, I just do not see the policies that channel this anger into policy action. While the moderates, such as Third Way and Center for American Progress are steadily building their power by making policies that can be sold, I do not see the same planning going or work from the Progressive side.   If anyone knows of an organization working on these issues let me know. What I'm looking for is a deep dive into the policy weeds on how to leverage government to enact our vision for the world. A Project 2025, but for the Left that lets us change government on Day One. Progressives believe in government to solve problems and be the bulwark against powerful business interests. I do not believe that the current representation of Progressives is a building the foundation necessary to achieve long term results.  The one thing that I have to thank President Trump for is that he has thrown out the norms and shown wha...

“Although we hear almost no one in the Obama administration taking credit for record index highs, they should. Because the President deserves attention for how well this economy has done during his leadership.” Economically, Could Obama Be America's Best President? - Forbes

I lament the fact that the political leaders in this city of mine continue to disregard data that will help build this community into a 21st Century All American City. By now they should all know the statistical data necessary  to establish a foundation for the necessary economic growth, at least I hope so. Nonetheless, I want to make clear what I want to see going forward. These things I will push for politically (running for office or trying to recruit others to run) because that is the only forum where these folks seem to pay the most attention. I know some of the economic policies I pursue will be unpopular, but they are necessary to begin a discuss about where we as a community would like to see ourselves going. Local Control A new localism must be established in order to secure precious sales tax revenue in our city. I want to educate folks that a lot of our money should reside here, in San Bernardino. A 70/30 split is necessary in the formative years because as our sal...

  The Rio Ranch Market on Highland and Sterling Ave is not renewing its lease on the property pod. They could not compete against the Walmart Neighborhood Market that opened across the street. Rio Rancho attempted to compete by establishing a Persian and Middle Eastern food section, but in the end it wasn't enough. In essence the planning commission replaced one empty building with another. I hope next time they take a look at the territory before they decide to put another grocer to fill that spot.