California presents a different option. Generous in social services, progressive on social issues, culturally diverse, advanced in infrastructure (shit, they are building a high speed train to nowhere), and other things that attract talented, bright people. They also have high taxes which goes hand in hand with those features.
There are a lot of people that like that stuff, and are begrudgingly willing to pay for it, and there are people that don't like it, and want to get the hell out of dodge.