I know that those who live there love it, and I had an amazing childhood in the Bay Area, and love going back to see family members and friends. Imagine a place with near perfect weather, low population density, proximity to the ocean and mountains, and a then fiscally responsible and fairly libertarian population. California in the 70s, 80s, and 90s was great.
However, the linked site has a point in that the cost of everything has gone up a lot, the carrying cost is not reasonable for services received, and the model can't really be replicated elsewhere absent an analog to the tech industry. That doesn't even take into consideration the thought orthodoxy that is prevalent. California during COVID was the epicenter of masked virtue signaling while driving an electric vehicle. Hence the significant out-migration.
Maybe it is a badge of honor to pay too much for a worsening product, but when the highest marginal state income tax rate exceeds 13%, sales tax rates are pushing 11% in some places (e.g., ballot measure in Campbell for an 11% sales tax), a gallon of gas is $5, home prices are elevated due to tech and foreign buyers, public transportation and congestion are ever-present, and school performance is lacking and higher education continues to prioritize based on skin color, it's a rational decision for many to move elsewhere.
So, for those who live in CA and love what the state has become, awesome, just keep it in your state and don't pollute the rest of the U.S. That seems fair. And oh, the rest of the U.S. is an absolute shithole, and you should never leave California and move anywhere else, ever. You won't be happy. It's basically Lodi with snow except for NYC.
Link: A nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there.
“Blah blah blah…I hate California because I’m a MAGA moron on top of being jealous because I can’t afford to live in paradise….”
Fair?
Just messing with ya’ and don’t worry, we operate the 6th largest economy in the world. Not much of a chance that we’d try to spread our success to the rest of you dolts.
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