Tuesday, February 17, 2026
MUST READ!!-----California's 20 Highest Unnecessary Costs & Cuts | Question to Grok - Shared Grok Conversation
California's 20 Highest Unnecessary Costs & Cuts | Shared Grok Conversation
- Please list 20 of the most unnecessarily high expenses for residents living in CA and how to cut out the crap. Think gas taxes, annual fees, and all the other junk costs.
Here’s a realistic list of 20 of the most notoriously high (and often criticized as “unnecessarily” inflated) costs for California residents. These stem from state taxes, regulatory mandates, fees, and policy-driven price hikes that push expenses well above national averages. Many are hard to avoid entirely, but there are practical ways to minimize or sidestep the worst of them...
- Gasoline taxes & surcharges (excise tax ~$0.61/gallon + sales tax, cap-and-trade, Low Carbon Fuel Standard) California has the nation’s highest gas tax, often $1.50+/gallon above states like Texas. Cut it: Drive a fuel-efficient/hybrid/EV, carpool or use transit/bike, fill up near borders (e.g., Nevada/Arizona), maintain tires and avoid aggressive driving. Shop apps for cheapest stations.
- Vehicle registration & DMV fees (0.65% Vehicle License Fee on value + base/renewal fees, often $500–$1,200+ for nicer cars) Annual hit that scales with car value; extra junk fees keep piling on. Cut it: Own a lower-value/older car, keep one vehicle long-term, check for veteran/senior/disabled exemptions, renew online to avoid extra processing fees.
- Smog checks (required every 2 years for most gas vehicles 8+ years old, $30–$70 + $8.25 certificate) Plus smog abatement fee for newer exempt vehicles. Cut it: Buy newer (or very old exempt) vehicles, maintain your car to pass first try, shop around stations, or go electric (no smog check).
- State income tax (1–12.3% brackets + 1% mental health surcharge over $1M; top rate highest in U.S.) Progressive but very high on middle/upper incomes. Cut it: Max 401(k)/IRA/HSA contributions, itemize deductions, bunch deductions, or (drastic) relocate to a no-income-tax state when feasible.
- Sales tax (7.25% state base + local add-ons, often 9–10.75%) Highest base rate in the country; hits everything. Cut it: Buy used (no sales tax on private-party in many cases), shop essentials only, use tax-free online from out-of-state sellers when possible (still owe use tax, but many don’t pay).
- Electricity rates (among the highest in the U.S., up ~39% in six years, often 2x national average) Driven by renewables mandates, wildfire costs, and utility profits. Cut it: Install solar + battery (despite NEM 3.0 changes), switch to time-of-use plans and shift usage, LED bulbs, efficient appliances, smart thermostat, conservation.
- Water & sewer bills (high statewide, rising 50–60% in some areas over a decade; $60–$80+/month typical) Infrastructure, drought rules, and treatment costs. Cut it: Low-flow fixtures, xeriscaping, fix leaks, shorter showers, rainwater harvesting (where allowed), check for low-income assistance programs.
- Auto insurance (full coverage average ~$2,500–$3,100/year, 16%+ above national) High due to traffic, fraud, repair costs, and regulations. Cut it: Shop quotes annually, raise deductible, bundle with home, maintain clean record, take defensive driving course, drive older/less expensive car, good credit.
- Homeowners insurance (rising sharply; $1,300–$3,000+ typical, much higher in fire zones; FAIR Plan often $3,000+) Wildfire risk + reinsurance costs. Cut it: Create defensible space, fire-resistant roofing/siding, shop multiple insurers yearly, bundle, consider higher deductible, or join FAIR Plan only as last resort...READ ALL!
COP30 pushed the world to fear an “unstoppable” 1.5°C tipping point — but the truth is far less dramatic.
The 1.5°C limit wasn’t discovered through science. - Heartland Institute
- It was invented by a small political advisory group in the 1990s.
- Real-world data shows we’ve likely already surpassed that number without the climate catastrophe activists warn about.
Watch our full fact check to see what the science actually says.
'Buffoonery to a whole new level': Gregg Jarrett stunned at Tim Walz's newest demands for Minneapolis * WorldNetDaily * by Mariane Angela, Daily Caller News Foundation
'Buffoonery to a whole new level': Gregg Jarrett stunned at Tim Walz's newest demands for Minneapolis * WorldNetDaily * by Mariane Angela, Daily Caller News Foundation:
"Law enforcement was essentially told to stand down. If their people had actually done their jobs, it wouldn't have happened or unfolded in the way that it did. But for the federal government to reimburse them for their own damage, it's absurd," Jarrett said.
My favorite Obama “coming together” moment was when him and Hillary financed a phony dossier to sabotage the rightfully elected President.
“The other side does the mean, angry, exclusive, us/them, divisive politics. - The Drunk Republican@DrunkRepub - Brandon Straka #WalkAway@BrandonStraka
OBAMA:
OBAMA:
“The other side does the mean, angry, exclusive, us/them, divisive politics.That's their home court.Our court is coming together.”
History for February 17
History for February 17 - On-This-Day.com 
Thomas Malthus 1766
- 1801 - The U.S. House of Representatives broke an electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Jefferson was elected president and Burr became vice president.
- 1934 - The first high school automobile driver’s education course was introduced in State College, PA.
- 1947 - The Voice of America began broadcasting to the Soviet Union.
- 1964 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that congressional districts within each state had to be approximately equal in population. (Westberry v. Sanders)
- 1995 - Colin Ferguson was convicted of six counts of murder in the December 1993 Long Island Rail Road shootings. He was later sentenced to a minimum of 200 years in prison.
Monday, February 16, 2026
'Fraud is a real risk': Court gives election integrity supporters huge victory * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh
'Fraud is a real risk': Court gives election integrity supporters huge victory * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh:
A three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has given a huge victory to election integrity supporters.
Its ruling said Texas is allowed to ban paid political vote harvesting.
Alexandra Davis - Once again this is going to ruffle some feathers...
For the moms and dads defending the Superbowl halftime show… - Alexandra DavisIf an English speaking artist stood on that stage and sang:
“My dick is being chased and I want you to hide it.”
“She took a pill that made her horny.”
“She fcks in the Audi, not in the Honda.”
“If your boyfriend doesn’t eat your ass, he better fck off.”
“Let the ones I already f*cked smile.”
“The coke is white… the 2CB’s pink.”
Would you still call it empowering?
Inclusive?
Cultural?...
Imagine the meltdown if the list was mostly republicans! - BOMBSHELL: Pam Bondi Announces ALL Epstein-Related Materials Released — Pelosi, Obama, Newsom, Biden and Other Democrats Named in Files — HERE IS the Complete List of 300+ Individuals
The Department released materials tied to the following nine categories:
- Jeffrey Epstein — all investigations, prosecutions, and custodial matters
- Ghislaine Maxwell
- Flight logs and travel records — aircraft manifests, itineraries, customs records, vessels, vehicles used by Epstein or related entities
- Individuals named in connection with Epstein’s criminal activity, civil settlements, immunity deals, plea agreements, or investigations
- Entities (corporate, nonprofit, academic, governmental) tied to Epstein’s trafficking or financial networks
- Immunity deals, non-prosecution agreements, plea bargains, sealed agreements involving Epstein or associates
- Internal DOJ communications regarding decisions to charge or decline prosecution
- Communications regarding destruction, deletion, or concealment of evidence
- Documentation of Epstein’s detention and death, including incident reports, witness interviews, autopsy files...
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez crashes and burns on international stage when asked simple foreign-policy question * WorldNetDaily * by Anthony Iafrate, Daily Caller News Foundation
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez crashes and burns on international stage when asked simple foreign-policy question * WorldNetDaily * by Anthony Iafrate, Daily Caller News Foundation:
Ocasio-Cortez, a rumored 2028 presidential candidate and a leader of the Democratic Party's far-left flank, spoke at the 62nd Annual Munich Security Conference in Germany on Friday. There, Bloomberg Television's Francine Lacqua asked the progressive lawmaker, "Would and should the U.S. actually commit U.S. troops to defend Taiwan if China were to move?"
"You know, I think that — uh — this is such a — you know, I think that this is a — this is, of course a — uh — a very long standing policy of the United States. And, I think what we are hoping for is that we want to make sure that we never get to that point," Ocasio-Cortez replied.
Outrage erupts as Hillary Clinton hosts panel on 'Fundamental Rights for Women' with man pretending to be a woman * WorldNetDaily * by Cristina Laila, The Gateway Pundit
Outrage erupts as Hillary Clinton hosts panel on 'Fundamental Rights for Women' with man pretending to be a woman * WorldNetDaily * by Cristina Laila, The Gateway Pundit:
On Saturday, Hillary Clinton hosted a "Fundamental Rights for Women" panel, and her first guest was transgender Congressman Tim "Sarah" McBride.
"Sarah" McBride is a biological male pretending to be a woman.
Hillary Clinton praised McBride and said he is trying to bring people together around issues of gender.
Father of Transgender Canadian School Shooter Breaks Silence
There was an inkling of this when Canadian police used the phrase ‘gunperson,’ which accompanied an update stating the shooter was a “woman wearing a dress.” - Matt VespaThis was confirmed when Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, a transgender, was identified as the suspect...
Now, the father has broken his silence about this heinous crime (via NY Post):
“I was estranged from Jesse Strang and was not part of his life,” he told the CBC in a statement, using the last name of the shooter’s mom, Jennifer Strang, who was among the eight shot dead Tuesday.
“His mother declined my involvement from the beginning, and I was not given the opportunity to be a part of raising him. Jesse did not use the [Van Rootselaar] family name at any point in his life,” he continued...
We need to DOGE Michigan!-----Unofficial CAL DOGE dredges up $370M state funds that allegedly went to Dems' 'voter mobilization machine'
The staggering sum, sourced from the California Cannabis Tax Fund, was sent to a tangled web of organizations that “build the Democrat voter base,” - Caitlin McCormack
- The cash, collected whenever anyone buys marijuana in the Golden State, ended up with 517 companies who got checks averaging $700,000, the group alleged.
- The money was controlled by Elevate Youth California, which was supposed to send taxes raised from cannabis sales under Prop 64 to support substance abuse programs in the state.
- But those that received the sum instead included Young Invincibles and the Jakara Movement, nonprofits in LA and Fresno that misused the grants, according to the investigation...
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