But the dangers posed by the state's tax-and-spend mentality, however, are not the only ones conservatives face. California is the most important state when it comes to presidential politics, and lately this has paid off for the Democrats. Because of the traditional size of California's population and the bases of wealth in places like Los Angeles and San Francisco, California is a fundraising waypoint for any national political candidate. Millions of dollars leave this state annually to feed the campaign coffers of major Democratic candidates. Obama's electoral victories in Nevada, Virginia, and Iowa--all of which were red in 2004--were aided heavily by California dollars. The state is, in short, the center of political gravity for the Democratic Party. And as long as this remains the political culture in California, conservative causes nationally will find themselves at a disadvantage.

California has not always been in this condition, however. Every presidential electoral vote cast in the 1980s, for example, went to Republican candidates. Not long ago California actually attracted businesses and new residents from neighboring states because of the opportunity it promised them. In 2000, the state's Department of Finance indicated that nearly 150,000 people moved to the state, not away from it. Moreover, in 2001 California's budget actually boasted a surplus of $10 billion--a feat no doubt aided by California's expanding tax-base and the conditions which were more conducive to growth of business and industry. Such a thing can be achieved again, but only if we reign in the reckless spending in Sacramento, bring accountability back to the state legislature, and return to our nation's first principles.

But what are these principles? Reagan said it best when he spoke of the necessity of restoring to government the principles of limited constitutional government--the greatest blueprint for freedom in the history of human affairs. We must return to the principles that have worked for 200 years--the principles which made America not only great, but also good. These principles include ordered liberty, responsibility, fiscal restraint, accountability over our politicians, and economic recovery by Americans--not government--holding the reins of business and enterprise. We need courage and resolve to stand up for what is right, even if it isn't easy.

Only by adopting these principles can we unlock the great potential of California's greatest resource: its people. It is these people who dared to turn California into a national leader, who put to wonderful use the bountiful natural resources of California's Central Valley, who built up the high-tech industry in the Silicon Valley, and who took advantage of some of the world's greatest seaports at San Diego, Long Beach, and San Francisco to open up arteries to international trade. California has been truly blessed in its beauty, resources, and daring spirit. We only need to get government working with us--not against us--to take advantage of this state's innumerable blessings.

To do that we must return to what once made us great: a government by, for, and of the people. We need to return to our roots and to the old ideal that sees government as our servant, not as our master. Conservatism, in short, needs a renaissance.

It is safe to say that if California is restored to its political and moral greatness, and once again embraces what made it good, the nation cannot help but follow in line. For, "as California goes, so goes the nation..."