California Libs Get Tough on Crime
Bubba
09 Oct
Even in liberal strongholds, the tide may be turning on crime enforcement. (Politico)
The latest: A new Berkeley IGS poll shows 60% of likely voters support Proposition 36, a ballot measure which would increase penalties for some drug and theft crimes in the Golden State.
That figure is up from 56% in early August.
The measure is particularly popular with Latino voters (73%), and even 47% of Democrats back it.
Unexpected: The situation’s gotten so bad for Prop 36’s liberal opponents, they’ve resorted to making fiscal conservative arguments against the measure, citing an analysis claiming Prop 36 would cost state and local governments tens of millions of dollars.
Politico reporter Emily Schultheis:
That new focus represents an implicit concession by opponents that, in a year in which voters nationwide say they’re deeply concerned about crime, a progressive message on criminal justice may not be a winning one.
The vibes: A Gallup poll from November shows the share of Americans who want the U.S. to get tougher on crime has spiked sharply since 2020.
Bubba’s Two Cents
I think the public’s current attitudes on crime can be compared to immigration. In both cases there was a relatively radical policy shift on a broad scale (lax border policies and progressive criminal justice reform, including decriminalization). In both cases, we’re now seeing lots of backlash, even from Democrats and liberals.