Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words

VDH: California’s Peak Dystopia, LA’s Mayoral Chaos, and New York’s Toxic Empathy

4 snips
May 12, 2026
Victor Davis Hanson, historian and Hoover Institution fellow, reflects on California’s decline and LA’s mayoral chaos. He discusses policy failures, outmigration, and fiscal strain. He critiques New York’s lax enforcement and what he calls toxic empathy. He also examines urban flight, tech-enabled migration, and geopolitical leverage in recent U.S.-China-Iran dynamics.
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INSIGHT

Local Cocoons As A Response To Failed Cities

  • As big-city systems fail, people form local 'cocoons' that reestablish meritocratic, community-focused governance.
  • Hanson describes rural districts recruiting top teachers, limiting transfers, and enforcing classical curricula as examples.
ANECDOTE

Rural School Rebuilt By Migrating Families

  • A rural K–8 district attracted concerned families and rebuilt by recruiting the nation's best teachers and restricting enrollment.
  • Now parents must register newborns to secure a spot, showing practiced local control and high demand.
INSIGHT

Wealth Flight Is Straining California Budgets

  • California has seen massive adjusted gross income outflows ($503B) and budget pressure tied to high taxes and outmigration.
  • Hanson warns a 13.3% top rate could cost over $50B in revenue and notes welfare and fraud strains in low-income areas.
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