It seems like scarcely a day goes by without news of more California lunacy. Now it's toys; the government of the state of California, having solved every other problem vexing the people of that state, is set now to fine (read that, punish) stores that eschew carrying woke "gender neutral" toys.

California stores with more than 500 employees will soon be fined for not having a "gender-neutral" toy section once a new state law kicks in Jan. 1.

The bill, signed in 2021 by Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, will force stores that sell childcare items or toys to pay a $500 fine should the store fail to create a gender-neutral toy section for kids 12 years old and under. 

A childcare item, according to the legislation text, "means any product designed or intended by the manufacturer to facilitate sleep, relaxation, or the feeding of children, or to help children with sucking or teething."

Traditional boys and girls sections won't be outlawed, but a gender-neutral section must also be created.

There is no sane world in which government, at any level, has the legitimate authority to regulate business to this extent. But California's government has not been sane for years now. As should surprise no one who has been reading my work, I have a few predictions as to how all this will play out.

1. Notice that this applies to stores with more than 500 employees. Prediction: The number of retail establishments with 499 employees will explode.
2. To that end, the big chain stores (I'm presuming that the 500-employee bar applies to the company as a whole, not the individual store) will either close their stores, adding to the exodus of businesses from California, or divest their locations into local corporate structures; see 1. above.
3. Prices for toys will go up. This stupid law will increase costs; the stores will not be required by law to stock toys they wouldn't otherwise, presumably because they don't sell as well; they will have to set aside a section for these toys and hire people to staff them. Businesses don't absorb costs; they pass them on.

Also, I'd be curious to know how California is going to define "gender-neutral." One of our granddaughters, when she was little, loved playing with toy trucks. If the toy companies paint a toy truck pink and put flower decals on it, is it still not "gender-neutral?" Or is it now for girls? What about board games? Is Chutes and Ladders gender-neutral? How about Candy Land? Has anyone thought this through?

California's lunacy is getting out of hand. Here's what the author of this legislation had to say:

California Democrat lawmaker Evan Low, the author of the legislation, said after its passing, "We need to stop stigmatizing what's acceptable for certain genders and just let kids be kids.

"My hope is this bill encourages more businesses across California and the U.S. to avoid reinforcing harmful and outdated stereotypes," Low told CBS News in 2021.

My hope is that Evan Low will be tossed out of elected office and preferably hounded out of the state, which, sadly, probably won't happen. The only legitimate role of government is to prevent other people from harming us or taking our stuff. This law does none of those things, the whining about "harmful and outdated stereotypes" notwithstanding. It's intrusive, it's tyrannical, it's barking nuts. This, folks, is what you get with one-party rule.

To those of you right-of-center Californians who remain in your home state, fighting the good fight, our hopes, sympathies, and admiration are with you!