CNN host Fareed Zakaria blasted California\u2019s \u201cfailing\u201d Democratic leadership, taking aim at the state\u2019s education, homelessness, housing and overall cost-of-living problems.<\/p>\n
During the Sunday episode of \u201cFareed Zakaria GPS,\u201d the news anchor argued that strong runs by Republicans in California \u2013 including Steve Hilton\u2019s advancement<\/a> in the gubernatorial race and Spencer Pratt\u2019s<\/a> third-place showing in the Los Angeles mayoral race \u2013 should serve as warnings to top Dems.<\/p>\n \u201cCalifornia Democrats will be tempted to dismiss all of this as a sideshow, but the frustration is real and justified,\u201d Zakaria said.<\/p>\n CNN host Fareed Zakaria (above) blasted California\u2019s \u201cfailing\u201d Democratic leadership. Getty Images<\/p>\n He called the Golden State \u201cone of the most dynamic places on the planet,\u201d home to Silicon Valley, Hollywood and top universities, as well as agriculture, ports and natural beauty.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it is a case study in how a rich society can spend more and more while producing less and less of what its ordinary citizens need. The paradox of California today is a successful economy attached to a failing model of governance,\u201d he continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n California\u2019s population has grown about 15% since 2000 \u2013 but its spending has increased<\/a> by more than 200% to $248 billion, Zakaria said. That means the state is spending roughly $6,300 per person, up from $2,300.<\/p>\n \u201cDoes anyone think that California government and its benefits have gotten 200% better in the last 25 years?\u201d Zakaria pointedly asked.<\/p>\n He said housing is the state\u2019s \u201ccentral failure,\u201d as extensive red tape has made it too difficult and expensive to build in the area \u2013 raising home prices and rents<\/a> \u2014 while homelessness is on the rise and young people are fleeing the state.<\/p>\n