California’s slow ballot count a symptom: The state can’t do anything

California’s slow ballot count isn’t just a political disgrace. It’s also a symbol of how California does everything: late, if at all.

The high-speed rail was approved in 2008, to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles by 2020. Not one inch of track has been laid.

The Sites reservoir was originally proposed in the 1950s. It was only approved this year, and nothing has been built.

The Delta tunnels were proposed decades ago. Now the project is down to just one tunnel, and it may never be dug. 

Gavin Newsom promised a 10-year plan to end homelessness — more than 20 years ago.

Why doesn’t California build anything anymore?

It’s not for lack of money. 

Newsom’s first budget was $215 billion. His last budget proposes nearly $350 billion in spending. 

That’s $135 billion more to spend.

So where does it go?

Some of it disappears through fraud. Some of it goes to politically-connected nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). 

Some pays for ever-expanding Medi-Cal benefits, which Newsom opened to illegal immigrants.

But even if none of the money were stolen or wasted, California would still struggle.

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That’s because the Golden State has a thicket of laws and regulations, like the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), that slow down public and private projects alike.

Everything in the state has to fulfill a variety of unrelated ideological goals: fighting climate change, promoting diversity, ensuring gender equality, fostering LGBTQ+ pride, and more.

And when public money is involved, it has to pass through a gauntlet of special interests. Everyone wants their cut: the unions, the consultants, the donors, and especially the lawyers.

By the time the money gets what it’s supposed to pay for, there is often nothing left.

Because California tries to achieve everything for everyone, we do nothing for anyone.

California is not completely unique. Democrats function that way almost everywhere they govern.

There is a joke on social media about President Donald Trump’s new reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.

It goes like this: If you ask a Democrat to fix the pool, the Democrat responds: “We need consultants, historians, DEI aquatic equity advisors, a 9-month environmental impact meditation, and an interpretive plaque about water as contested space.”

Trump responds: “Is the pool [messed] up? Call pool guys.”

California, whose political establishment sees itself as the vanguard of the left, epitomizes the Democrats’ approach. 

Check every box — but get nothing done.

Other blue states at least have the good sense not to extend that dysfunctional approach to voting.

California wants voting to be as accessible as possible. Therefore you can vote without ID. You can register on Election Day. You can hand in other people’s ballots. You can vote by mail. You can vote early. You can even have your ballot arrive after the polls close, as long as it is postmarked by Election Day.

It’s a recipe for dysfunction. And it’s the way Democrats, especially California Democrats, do everything. 

And it’s also the reason they do nothing at all.