--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: California always struck me as a police…" description: "\"California always struck me as a police state.\" — Leon Russell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/leon-russell-8247_always_california-always-struck-me-as-a-police_34702.jpg" --- # California always struck me as a police state. ![“California always struck me as a police state.” quote by Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/leon-russell-8247_always_california-always-struck-me-as-a-police_34702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/leon-russell-8247_always_california-always-struck-me-as-a-police_34702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/leon-russell-8247_always_california-always-struck-me-as-a-police_34702.jpg) > “California always struck me as a police state.” [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker perceives California's governance as overly controlling, suggesting a loss of personal freedom and pervasive surveillance. **In simple terms:** California feels oppressive. Key Takeaway Government overreach can feel authoritarian. Themes authoritarianism civil liberties state power surveillance political critique Mood skeptical critical Type political observational When to use this quote - living in California - discussing state policies - debating civil rights Key Concepts government citizenship freedom Practical Applications - political commentary - social critique Questions to Reflect On - How does state authority affect daily life? - When does regulation become oppression? A Different Perspective Some argue California's regulations protect public welfare, not suppress liberty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Police state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-state/) ## Related quotes > [“Life in a police state is pretty good—if you are the state police.” Though”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-cameron/life-in-a-police-state-is-pretty-good-if-you-are-the-state-police/) [Marc Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-cameron/) > [I mean a real police state just to get a token recognition of a law. It take, it took, I think, 15,000 troops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-mean-a-real-police-state-just-to-get-a-token-recognition-of-a-law/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Terrorists are overjoyed when we shut down our freedoms and turn ourselves into a police state and when we retaliate, swatting the Middle East…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hitchens/terrorists-are-overjoyed-when-we-shut-down-our-freedoms-and-turn/) [Peter Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hitchens/) > [“Guadalupe Fuentes: --They're not paid to kill honest people, to shoot for no good reasons. Rubenia Fuentes: --Ah, my little girl, then why do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manlio-argueta/guadalupe-fuentes-they-re-not-paid-to-kill-honest-people-to-shoot-for/) [Manlio Argueta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manlio-argueta/) > [I confess I am at a loss to discover what temptation the persons entrusted with the administration of the general government could ever feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-confess-i-am-at-a-loss-to-discover-what-temptation-the-persons/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Americans have no idea why they have been at war in the Middle East, Asia and Africa for a decade. They don't realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/americans-have-no-idea-why-they-have-been-at-war-in-the-middle-east/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The notion that Americans can be protected from "terror" by giving up the Bill of Rights is absurd. Democrats are complicit in this absurd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-notion-that-americans-can-be-protected-from-terror-by-giving-up/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [If middle-class Americans do not feel threatened by the slow encroachment of the police state or the Patriot Act, it is because they live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bageant/if-middle-class-americans-do-not-feel-threatened-by-the-slow/) [Joe Bageant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bageant/) > [There was no doubt that there was a vast organization which was making fools of all the liberals in Hollywood and taking their money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/there-was-no-doubt-that-there-was-a-vast-organization-which-was/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [There's one overriding issue, namely, that we live in a police state so long as the police get to police themselves. And that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/there-s-one-overriding-issue-namely-that-we-live-in-a-police-state-so/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [“Police not enforcing laws results in a high crime rate that is formally reported as a low crime rate in police statistics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/police-not-enforcing-laws-results-in-a-high-crime-rate-that-is/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [What must be addressed in the most immediate sense is the threat that the emerging police state in the United States poses not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/what-must-be-addressed-in-the-most-immediate-sense-is-the-threat-that/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [“Always Remember... Once You Give Up Your Rights, You Can Never Get Them Back. Once You Turn On That Police State, You Can Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/always-remember-once-you-give-up-your-rights-you-can-never-get-them/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [The climax of terror is reached when the police state begins to devour its own children, when yesterday's executioner becomes today's victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-climax-of-terror-is-reached-when-the-police-state-begins-to/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Oklahoma was a dry state, and consequently, there was no liquor laws. And I was able to take advantage of that by playing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/oklahoma-was-a-dry-state-and-consequently-there-was-no-liquor-laws/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) ## More by Leon Russell > [For years, when I was popular, I would face the blank page to write, and I couldn't think of anything that I thought was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/for-years-when-i-was-popular-i-would-face-the-blank-page-to-write-and/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I studied classical music for a long time, maybe 10 years, and I realized finally I was never going to have the hands to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-studied-classical-music-for-a-long-time-maybe-10-years-and-i/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I'm just concerned with going about my business and making the records I want to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-m-just-concerned-with-going-about-my-business-and-making-the/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I've always felt I struck out with Doris Day. Her son, Terry Melcher, was a producer I worked for at Columbia, and one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-ve-always-felt-i-struck-out-with-doris-day-her-son-terry-melcher/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I'm happy to have a job. I play a little, write a little, perform some. It's not like it's an engineered, well-manufactured plan or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-m-happy-to-have-a-job-i-play-a-little-write-a-little-perform-some/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I started out playing 'Chopsticks.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-started-out-playing-chopsticks/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [Oklahoma was a dry state, and consequently, there was no liquor laws. And I was able to take advantage of that by playing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/oklahoma-was-a-dry-state-and-consequently-there-was-no-liquor-laws/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I would have to say Sam Cooke is the one I admired most. His artistry and vocal, just the way he did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-would-have-to-say-sam-cooke-is-the-one-i-admired-most-his-artistry/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I was always trying to write standards, songs that anybody can sing. I figured that's where the money was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-was-always-trying-to-write-standards-songs-that-anybody-can-sing-i/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I'm kind of the Forrest Gump of rock n' roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-m-kind-of-the-forrest-gump-of-rock-n-roll/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I have a certain amount of difficulty dealing with too much limelight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-have-a-certain-amount-of-difficulty-dealing-with-too-much-limelight/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [Sometimes one misses the sign posts as you're going down the road. They aren't as obvious as they become when you get to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/sometimes-one-misses-the-sign-posts-as-you-re-going-down-the-road/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I was on the road with Jerry Lee Lewis when I was 15 - I can't imagine not doing it. That's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-was-on-the-road-with-jerry-lee-lewis-when-i-was-15-i-can-t-imagine/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [When I was in grade school, I had a little duet act with a guy who was a beautiful singer, and somebody recorded it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/when-i-was-in-grade-school-i-had-a-little-duet-act-with-a-guy-who-was/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) > [I had two parts of my body: my left side, which was strong and somewhat dumb, and the other side was weak and hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/i-had-two-parts-of-my-body-my-left-side-which-was-strong-and-somewhat/) [Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) [Explore all 82 Leon Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "California always struck me as a police state.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leon Russell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/california-always-struck-me-as-a-police-state/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/california-always-struck-me-as-a-police-state/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/leon-russell-8247_always_california-always-struck-me-as-a-police_34702.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/leon-russell-8247_always_california-always-struck-me-as-a-police_34702.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/leon-russell-8247_always_california-always-struck-me-as-a-police_34702.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“California always struck me as a police state.” — Leon Russell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leon Russell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "California always struck me as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/california-always-struck-me-as-a-police-state/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/california-always-struck-me-as-a-police-state/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```