Hellish economic predictions and concerns over massive social upheaval are usually the things you hear from Tea Party conservatives like Ron Paul or Glenn Beck. The Old Media ignores these prophets of doom and holds them at arms' length as if they were infected with ebola.

I'm curious what journalists think when the exact same dire predictions come out of the mouths of mainstream experts who are frequently cited in their stories.

The Ventura County Star routinely calls upon California Lutheran University's Center for Economic Research and Forecasting for comments on business and economic stories. The center just released a forecast today that said California is on a fast track to a "postindustrial hell."

Did Glenn Beck get a job there or something? No, it's the center's executive director, Bill Watkins, who said the data is "disturbing."

That's the sort of reaction you get from the lead government scientist in when he realizes the giant asteroid might be headed straight for earth.

Watkins even expects the European Union will break up by the end of 2012, leading to another financial crisis.

Can we avoid this fate?

Watkins said the outlook for California is "pretty grim" and likely to get worse unless politicians in Sacramento recognize there is a problem and start doing something about it.

"At the very least, they need to do a comprehensive review of the cost-benefit analysis of the regulatory environment that we have," he said.

Oh, California is on a fast track to hell because of all the Progressive-inspired laws that stifle business. Now where have I heard that before--oh yeah, from every single Republican and conservative in the state.

 I would love it if it weren't up to just me and other conservatives to make this connection, but if we want politicians in Sacramento to "recognize there is a problem and start doing something about it," I think the mainstream media leads the way.