Commentary California, despite being the wealthiest and highest taxed state in the nation, ranks at the bottom among states when it comes to the essential things people expect government to provide. It ranks at or near the bottom in crime, homelessness, schools, roads, and energy prices. This is because rather than focusing on such things, its progressive leaders prefer instead taking on controversial leftist dream projects, regardless of whether they have popular support. This includes California’s incredibly costly attempts to unilaterally change the temperature of the globe by imposing massive taxes and regulations on energy, driving up the cost of everything in California. Or its incredibly costly COVID lockdowns and mandates designed to end a global pandemic. More recently, it includes a state law forming a “Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans.” The initiative comes despite the fact that reparations are supported by only 20 …