California’s Collapse: How Progressive Policies Are Destroying the Golden State
30th March 2025
Once the embodiment of the American dream, California has become a cautionary tale of failed policies and ideological excess, writes Steve Hilton, author of the new book, “Califailure: Reversing the Ruin of America’s Worst-Run State.”
In an interview with The Daily Signal, Hilton, a Fox News contributor who moved to California in 2012 and has since raised a family and built a business there, explained why he felt compelled to document the state’s dramatic downfall.
“California means to America what America means to the world,” Hilton said, highlighting what originally drew him to the Golden State. “But that’s not how it is today. We’re not known for the positive things that inspire people around the world. We’re famous for the apocalyptic scenes of wildfires, dystopian urban chaos and crime, and thousands of homeless people wandering around like zombies.”
The statistics paint a grim picture. California, Hilton noted, ranks “bottom of the list if it’s a list you want to be the top of, and top if it’s a list that you want to be the bottom of.” The state has the highest poverty rate in America, the highest taxes, and the highest costs for housing, electricity, gas, and water. It also has the lowest home ownership rate, the worst business climate, and among the highest unemployment.