I continually hear people (myself at times, too) complaining about the taxes and cost of living in California. Also, the changes in demography. But let’s take a look at California vis-a-vis the rest of America.
We have the best weather on the planet. I lived in the South & East, and had heat & humidity that would rust plastic! I had to drive on black ice every Winter after I shoveled a foot of snow off the driveway.
Earthquakes? Yes. But tornadoes? Hurricanes? Yearly flooding? I’ll take the shaking!
Traffic is bad everywhere, so that is a wash.
Just like other states, WE CAN OWN GUNS. We are just more cautious about nutcases.
Diversity of food is incredible. You can only eat biscuits & gravy, and fried everything for so long.
The variety of ethnicity is unequaled. Yes, to some that is a negative, but it fosters understanding and expanded ideas, invention, tolerance and less bigotry.
While costs are high, so are wages.
Our thriving economy creates more good paying jobs than any state.
The homeless problem here is to a large part because so many red states don’t take care of their own people. They ship them to us. Blame them.
The generally liberal attitude here fosters discussion and welcomes both left and right. We may not like your stance, but we will respect your right to speak out.
Our taxes are high. But most states with low taxes, give the farm away to corporations and have lousy health care and corrupt cops in exchange.
Wages are better here because we have unions, and a government that protects workers. Unlike those with the “right to work” laws that suppress workers.
Yes, it costs me more to live here, and there are issues. But I get it back in spades.