Jerry Brown speaks on the American Dream, Trump and more

By Lynn La | CALmatters Jerry Brown, California’s longest-serving governor (1975-83, 2011-2019), had a lot to say Thursday.In an hour-long conversation hosted by the Public Policy Institute of California, Brown was typically blunt on a wide range of topics:The American Dream:& In response to a& PPIC poll that found most Californians& do not believe that hard work will get you ahead, Brown said that the world has changed dramatically since his time as Secretary of State (1971-75) when he was able to buy a $75,000 home on a $35,000 annual salary. But people all over the world, Brown said, have economic and financial fears — not just Californians.Brown: “There’s cause for anxiety and there’s a lot of it. How do you navigate all that? I think it’s going to take real talent and … luck.”Donald Trump:& Brown anticipates that the incoming president’s& pledges to dismantle environmental policies& will, “in a very paradoxical way,” help climate change efforts by galvanizing both advocates and those who may not yet prioritize environmental issues.Brown: “He’s going to prove the environment is really important. … It’s called reductio ad absurdum — take something far enough, you demonstrate it’s absurd and people want the opposite.” To...