This month the CalBizBlog’s website, www.CaliforniaBusinessMinute.com is showcasing
California’s green tech sector.

Thus, it was fortuitous that this past week, the well known California urban futurist
Joel Kotkin wrote an article that was published in Forbes magazine on the movement
revolving around the state’s green economy.  Kotkin takes the position that the green
policies and outcomes of California are those akin to those of a religious extremist
movement.  He entitles his article “California’s Green Jihad.”  The premise is that
of an Islamic Republic and the crazy theology that leads to misallocating resources
to support repression at home and terrorism abroad. Kotkin believes that in California
green zealots compel companies to shift their operations to states that are still
interested in growing their economy— like Texas. Kotkin believes that the green regime
is one reason why CEO Magazine has ranked California the worst business climate in the
nation.

Kotkin’s article, while a light hearted read, however does illustrate several serious
issues from ultra regulation and a lack of vision.

                        

California has been home to the cartoon cult classic redux of both the Green Hornet
and the Green Lantern but now it appears it is witnessing the premier of the Green
Jihadist. The question must be asked will this be a classic? We will let you be the
judge. See Kotkin’s article at
http://www.newgeography.com/content/002273-california%E2%80%99s-green-jihad

 Tim Johnson
California Business Minute