Voters in New York and California Personify the Definition of “Insanity”
By Timothy H. Lee
Thursday, November 13 2025
When a state’s voters on tax policy, regulatory posture, labor mandates and other matters make it increasingly costly to live and conduct business, markets will respond.
Although the legal and clinical definitions may differ, popular conception defines “insanity” as repeating the same behavior and expecting different results.
By that definition, leftist voters in New York City, California and elsewhere recertified themselves as insane last week.
Year after year, election after election, voters in “blue” cities and states follow the same recipe that has brought self-imposed economic and demographic decay for decades: bigger government, higher taxes, more regulation, unsustainable benefits and sprawling public-sector obligations. They keep repeating their behavior, even as jobs evaporate, families leave and businesses take investment elsewhere.
https://cfif.org/v/index.php/commentary/61-state-issues/7464-voters-in-new-york-and-california-personify-the-definition-of-insanity