The "Entertainment Over Politics" Capital of the World Burns. Who’s To Blame?
If you're a Christian, you don't believe in coincidences. Everything happens for a reason. Why has California's most populous city, Los Angeles, been engulfed in a historic blaze?
The answer lies in LA's nickname: the Entertainment Capital of the World. Perhaps we should rename Los Angeles the Entertainment Over Politics Capital of the World.
Right now, Los Angeles is grappling with severe wildfires that, when it's all said and done, could be the most destructive in US history. As of this writing, the blaze has claimed dozens of lives, with dozens more missing. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed, and the economic toll is estimated to be between $135 and $150 billion. Adding to the chaos, criminal gangs are robbing evacuated homes and stores. Los Angeles has turned into a real-life Hollywood hellscape.
🚨 GANGS IN LA SET FIRES TO EVACUATE HOMES FOR MASSIVE ROBBERIES
— PeakPerspective (@PeakPrspective) January 10, 2025
Chilean gangs suspected of setting fires to force residents to evacuate their homes.
Via @shaunmmaguire #LosAngelesFire #CaliforniaWildFires #lafires
pic.twitter.com/nqdwpr4qN9
When disasters like this strike, it's natural to ask: Why? How did this happen? Who's to blame?
Jen Psaki, former Biden White House Press Secretary and current MSNBC talking head, dishonestly blames Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans. I say dishonestly because a Democrat is currently in The White House, Democrats run California, and have a supermajority in Los Angeles. Others throw the blame at the feet of California Governor Gavin Newsome, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and Representatives Maxine Waters and Adam Schiff. Though they all share some blame, the uncomfortable truth is that the residents of Los Angeles bear significant responsibility for the crisis engulfing their city.
Los Angeles is dubbed by many as the Entertainment Capital of the World. The city is home to 11 professional sports teams. The two major colleges in the area, USC and UCLA, have intense fanbases. There are endless festivals, concerts, amusement parks, strip clubs, and comedy shows for people's entertainment pleasure. And, of course, Hollywood itself.
While everyone was glued to their screens watching the Dodgers win the World Series, LeBron and Bronny James, and the latest Hollywood gossip, was anyone paying attention to legislation malfeasance in their state? Late last year, Gavin Newsome slashed over $100 million from California's fire prevention budget. Fire hydrants are without water as the fires rage, and Newsome is hiring Mexican firefighters to help.
The malfeasance goes back even further. In 2000, when California was in idol worship of Jim Carrey, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and "Lara Croft" Angelina Jolie, the state passed Proposition 36. It lessened penalties for drug offenders and allowed them to outskirt jail time in favor of rehabilitation programs. The effects are still felt in 2025 as California has laid the blueprint for many Democrat states to go soft on criminal activity.
As Taylor Swift, Diddy, Beyonce, and Mike Trout dominated headlines, how many patrons were paying attention to the ongoing insurance crisis in the city? In 1988, Californians voted for Proposition 103 to regulate insurance companies and promote fairness in consumer pricing. Advocates say California residents saved millions in insurance premiums because their rates weren't unjustifiably hiked. However, we should know by now that legislation made with the best of intentions is sometimes the one with the most damning consequences. Opponents highlight that Prop 103 is why many insurance companies left the Golden State altogether, leaving millions uninsured when calamity strikes. And, boy, did calamity strike. In short, Prop 103 saved Californians millions while costing billions. It laid the foundation for the insurance scam sure to ensue in the ashes of the Los Angeles wildfires.
Politics is the ugly cousin of entertainment—the one who shows up to Thanksgiving dinner and picks uncomfortable debates with everyone. Many would prefer to talk about athletes and actors over policies around the turkey. And I get it—it's fun debating the Top 5 All-Time NBA players or Terrance Howard's acting chops in Empire. We work long hours, juggle bills, and scroll through doom-laden headlines. So, when we finally get a chance to breathe, will we spend it arguing over filibuster rules? Or are we going to watch Monday Night Football? The choice is easy for most Americans. But entertainment is merely escapism for the masses. Entertainment provides laughs, thrills, and, in the case of reality TV, the glorious chaos of other people's bad decisions. For the elites and many in the political class, politics provides laughs, thrills, and the glorious chaos of working-class American's bad decisions.
I am not saying entertainment is all bad. Entertainment can energize a city's economy and culture. However, entertainment has surpassed many other industries in the hierarchy of importance. We can rattle off the names, jersey numbers, and points per game for every player on the 1992 Los Angeles Lakers, but we do not know who the mayor or congressional representative is for our city. We can’t name a single bill they advocated for and why. We largely don’t care about politics until it’s time to vote for the President.
There are severe consequences for ignoring politics. Conservatives all around the country have been banging the drum on how dangerous illegal immigration is. Chicagoans and New Yorkers didn't pay attention and are now dealing with the ramifications of thousands of foreigners invading their neighborhoods.
The Los Angeles wildfires are an example of working-class patrons ignoring politics. A cavalry of their beloved entertainers is not coming to save the day.
