‘One-Party System’ Blamed as California Families Struggle Under Rising Costs

As California’s affordability crisis deepens, community leaders in Los Angeles County are voicing sharp criticism of the state’s political leadership, warning that a lack of electoral accountability is compounding financial hardships for working families.

In a candid assessment of the state’s political landscape, local advocates argued that California’s Democratic supermajority has created what they called a “one-party system” that stifles meaningful change.

“The Republicans have given up California. I would wish we had a two-party system because you have a one-party system. It’s very hard to change anything and nobody is accountable,” one community leader said.

The same speaker likened the relationship between Californians and the state’s ruling party to an “abusive relationship,” adding: “That one party is the California Democrat party and they think we’ll never leave and that they’ll never turn away and vote different. My message to people locally and in all our elections is to vote different. We cannot sustain this. We need change.”

Business climate under fire

Critics pointed to a hostile environment for employers, arguing that regulatory burdens are driving economic distress.

“In the state of California and the city of Los Angeles, we are not a business-friendly climate. The state has made it so tremendously difficult to work. The state punishes you for trying to do the right thing, for trying to run a business,” a spokesperson said.

Gas prices were singled out as a major pain point. “We have probably the highest gas prices anywhere in the country. Everything has gone up at least 25%. Change needs to come,” the spokesperson added.

Oil potential ‘surrendered’

The state’s energy policy drew particularly sharp rebuke, with one advocate lamenting California’s shift from a major oil exporter to a net importer.

“We had a thriving oil industry in California. California was one of the big exporters of oil in the ’30s and ’40s. We have a lot of oil potential, but the problem is we have an administration that consistently has been trying to destroy the industry, particularly under Newsom,” a spokesperson said.

“So what we end up doing is we’re importing oil, sometimes refined oil, even from China. It makes absolutely no sense that here is a state that was a leader in the energy industry, and it’s basically surrendered that. And that’s reflected in the gas prices, reflected in the electricity prices. The sad truth is that California is sitting on unbelievable oil and gas energy reserves.”

The spokesperson argued that California could follow Alaska’s model: “We could pump and refine our own gas right here. We should be like Alaska where citizens get checks because we are selling so much oil to the rest of the country and the world — and we’re not. And that lays squarely at the feet of the Democrats in Sacramento.”

Call for gas tax suspension

With global conflicts driving prices higher, local leaders demanded immediate relief through a temporary halt to state fuel taxes.

“Any conflict in the Middle East is going to raise the price. But historically, California has always been either the one or two most expensive price of gas in this country, and that is because of the highest taxes and fees that we put on as a government,” a spokesperson said.

“Sacramento needs to change things, and that’s why I introduced a resolution asking Sacramento to actually suspend the gas tax while we are going through this crisis. This is a topic everyone is talking about because this affects not only gas prices but food prices and everything — the whole entire economy.”

The spokesperson noted the heavy reliance on driving: “We have so much driving that we have to do, especially parents, working people — a lot of people commute. The inner areas, the places with the most jobs, are the most expensive to live in. They could repeal the gas tax, just suspend it for a while. That would save us a lot of money. None of it has gone, by the way, to fix roads or do anything else. But they also require and mandate summer blend versus winter blend, so it adds additional cost.”

Another advocate echoed the call: “That gas tax that has been placed on us over the years — that is something that can provide immediate relief. Suspend that tax, lower that amount, and we will see a price difference in every part of our city.”

‘Families are not feeling that’

Skepticism toward official economic data ran high among the speakers.

“They’re going to have to show me where we are saving money. I don’t care what any spreadsheet is telling them, but all you have to do is look up at the price of gas and ask any person in the city of Los Angeles: Do they feel that the price is going down? So I don’t know what they’re talking about, but I’ll tell you this — the families are not feeling that,” one spokesperson said.

Another pointed to the disconnect between Sacramento and Southern California: “We are the big economic engine of the state of California, which is one of the largest economies in the world. You would think that Sacramento would pay attention to us a little bit more and understand the differences between a city down here and maybe a city up there. And unfortunately, Sacramento loves to come up with these one-size-fits-all type of legislation that just don’t work.”

Lack of political moderation

The absence of a competitive two-party system was cited as the root cause of extreme policies.

“The problem is we are a one-party state now,” a spokesperson said. “Let’s say you take a place like Orange County where it’s basically 50/50 — the parties have to be responsive to some extent. You can’t go crazy. You can’t be a far-left Democrat or a far-right Republican and do too well in Orange County. You have to moderate to some extent. In California, there’s no need to moderate. So the two most likely people to be the next governor are way out in left field.”

The same speaker added: “Someone has to stand up for Californians when people are going after them. Here in California, we’ve been voting Democrat over and over and over and over again. And look at the results. I’ve challenged why we send so many businesses out of this state. I’ve challenged why we have the highest gas prices, the highest utility costs, the highest home prices in the United States of America.”

Media and accountability

A former journalist who has worked for The Washington Post and The New York Times offered a critical view of news coverage.

“I’ve worked for the Washington Post and for the New York Times, so I know the beast from the inside a bit. And basically these institutions have lost the trust of a lot of people. If Newsom is the guy, they’re going to make him look good. The question is: Are there enough people to say, ‘Hey, this is what’s really happening?’”

A plea to Sacramento

Despite the frustration, one advocate urged continued civic pressure on lawmakers.

“What we can do most to help families is to put more pressure on Sacramento to change some of the fees, the taxes, the regulations. They have the power to spend these, and we are relying on them, and we are going to keep working with them. I know my colleagues — I know that they are feeling the same pinch too, that they are understanding that their constituents are hurting as well. They need to express their voice, raise their voice, and make sure that they are expressing their frustrations with what’s going on and how their constituents are feeling right now.”