and they are strictly enforced.

would be totally ineffective.

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=2130



FIRES are permitted only in facilities provided for this purpose. This is necessary to prevent disastrous fires. Portable stoves may be used in designated areas. It is the responsibility of every visitor to use extreme caution with any burning materials, including tobacco. All fireworks are prohibited. 

on all roads and highways everywhere that you are under a Burn Ban. No fires whatsoever. No campfires. No leaf burning. No cigarettes out the window,. Nothing. State and federal campgrounds enforce,

California doesn’t do that?

Or you can ask, "What did you think of the election results?"

To discussing anything other than the mundane

I usually discuss politics in political situations such as block walking etc.

Sometimes I would just ask people if they were Republican. I was usually wearing a Beto shirt, so if they kinda had a blank look, I would just ask them if they were Republican and usually they would say they were.

If you want to meet Democrats, you could go to some local Democratic meetings.

Controlled burns and under growth removal are performed in National Forests by the USDA to prevent large fires. Brush accumulates over years, dries and it becomes fuel for fire.

The problem is the Forestry Service has been underfunded and that is why so much brush has accumulated.

People live and breath love of the land. Bet they are livid about this, I tried to communicate with old friends there...but I could tell they were worried about being candid in an email.

Or a family member, she may get slapped to next week.

It truly is a cult. If he broke out the cool-aid lots of them would drink greedily.

Yes, Virginia, they voted to have no rules about campfires and never to tell the public about dry conditions. Especially in a state that's ravaged by wildfire every year.

in TX. CA rules even include what you can and can't do with home bbq'ing. I have been debating about pressing her on all this - with facts - but not sure it would be taken well since her precious daughter now lives in OC. It's what we face every day in a red state. Whether or not to try and educate vs. becoming a social pariah. I know, it's hard to understand unless you live among these people. You can either bite your tongue and have some semblance of a social life (not a good one, but one nevertheless)...or just live in a complete bubble.