During the 1992 Presidential Debate, independent candidate Ross Perot famously warned that “there will be a giant sucking sound going south” due to the cheaper Mexican labor and lower regulatory demands on businesses. That sound is being heard again, but this time it is coming from California, which is virtually chasing taxpayers and companies out of the state with a massive state deficit, rising taxes, crippling regulations, and wasteful programs.
Recently, Gavin Newsom boasted, “California isn’t just keeping pace with the world — we’re setting the pace.” Recent data shows he is right. There is a record number of U-Hauls fleeing the state — more than any other state. Indeed, the only thing harder to find than a wealthy taxpayer in California appears to be a U-Haul.
According to U-Haul’s data, the state is again leading blue states in the exodus. The Washington Post noted this week that “California came in last. Massachusetts, New York, Illinois and New Jersey rounded out the bottom five. Of the bottom 10, seven voted blue in the last election.” Conversely, “nine of the top 10 growth states voted red in the last presidential election,” with Texas again leading the growth states.
The Post wrote that the conclusions are inescapable: “People want to live in pro-growth, low-tax states, while the biggest losers tend to be places with big governments and high taxes.”
What is most striking is how Democratic politicians and many voters are simply defying the data and logic. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents part of Silicon Valley, recently mocked billionaires moving to escape a planned wealth tax. Some of us have criticized the tax as perfectly moronic for a state with the highest tax burden, soaring deficit, and shrinking tax base.
The “2026 Billionaires Tax Act” would impose a one-time 5% tax on individual wealth exceeding $1 billion. While technically using 2026 wealth figures, it would apply to billionaires who resided in California in 2025. So you cannot hope to flee… at least with your wealth intact. It is a penalty for those who stay too long hoping that rational minds would prevail in California.
Yet, Rep. Khanna mocked his own constituents planning to flee the state, quoting FDR in saying ‘I will miss them very much.”
Indeed, you will. Democrats continue to act as if wealthy citizens are a type of captive audience. They are expected to be voluntary prey in a canned hunt for wealthy taxpayers. Many have chosen to take their money and businesses elsewhere.
As I discuss in my forthcoming book, Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution, there is a common myth that the top five percent of this country do not “pay their fair share.” However, putting that debate aside, the question is whether it will produce more revenue than it costs the state in the long run. As these politicians campaign on clipping the “fat cats” who are not paying their fair share, many are likely to follow the exodus to lower tax states with greater fiscal discipline.
From New York to California, Democrats are pitching new programs from free buses to state-run stores to reparations as their tax bases contract. San Francisco recently approved the reparations plan that could give up to $5 million to qualified residents. The city faces a billion-dollar deficit, yet it continues to assume greater debt obligations.
Once again, denying basic economics will only lead to a rude awakening when these leaders, to quote Margaret Thatcher, “run out of other people’s money.”
Whoopsie – looks like Professor Turley got caught fibbing again. But good news, readers – he still got a plug in for his new book!!!
“California sees population growth for third consecutive year after pandemic-era exodus.” LA Times, Dec 19, 2025 Link below.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-12-19/california-sees-population-growth-for-third-consecutive-year-after-pandemic-era-exodus#:~:text=The%20state's%20population%20grew%20by,but%20still%20paltry%20at%200.58%25.
If so, then its all illegal aliens. Some 19,200 wetbacks from the CA Dept of Finance a leftist organ of the CA Democratic Party?
More important is what the census bureau says it is.
Nice try.
LA Times…..ROFLMAO
Was the Caracas Daily Herald not available?
Slurs are harmful speech but you don’t know anything better to do with free speech. Do it no more.
There it is – the Turley faithful reader in his full display of racism and ignorance. So tell me, oh enlightened one, where are all these illegal “aliens” coming from? I thought your orange dear leader got rid of them all?
Whoopsie…illegal aliens multiplying like rabbits. It’s money and production that are leaving.
When the state pays for everything. It’s no wonder ILLEGALS flock to CA
Yes, households with zero income.
Is that because all of the people who got their houses burned down last year because of Newsomes stupidity had to look for new homes?? Or is it because of the millions of illegals Newsome welcomed to come and get free everything including healthcare.
“. . . population growth for third consecutive year . . .”
If I take a squinted view of anything, I can conclude whatever I wish.
But if I look at trends properly:
California population 2020: 39,538,223
As of mid-2025: 39.43 million
Pretty sure that counts as a net *loss* of population.
In Awakening a Forgotten Republic, I argue that republics don’t collapse in a single dramatic moment. They erode as citizens abandon self-government and governments shift responsibility onto others. What we’re seeing in California fits that pattern exactly.
“They erode as citizens abandon self-government and governments shift responsibility onto others.”
100% agree with the premise, but for me, “decay” would be the word choice over “erode”. Admittedly, that is a really, really tiny nit… OTOH I am a word weenie, so I’m just staying in character; no offense intended or desired.
All the data, from the U-Haul report to IRS tax filings, gross mismanagement of the states finances and soon all the fraud investigations, show what a failed state CA is. And Newsome is going to try to run on how great of a governor he was! He will be a laughing stock!!
How marvelous!!!
Candidates – They only need only to “Talk-the-Talk” not having to “Walk-the-Walk” these days more than ever.
Kinda always been that way.
Re:
“A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage” symbolizes national prosperity and was a Republican campaign slogan for Herbert Hoover in 1928, promising economic well-being, though he never said it himself; it originated from King Henry IV of France’s wish for peasant prosperity and became a mocking reminder of Hoover’s failure to prevent the Great Depression, as highlighted by the Democrats in the 1932 election.
You do realize its 2025? Nothing like using AI to think for you huh?
A.I. is get for making present day Analogies, don’t you think?
your reply reminded me of George Santayana’s famous quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” It serves as a powerful reminder of the role history plays in shaping the future. You have forgotten that apparently. This was AI? His? or yours?
MICHAEL A CROGNALE says: January 9, 2026 at 11:37 AM
This was AI? His? or yours?
From (Original) Anonymous says: January 9, 2026 at 9:07 AM
The Hover Campaign Slogan ‘s sentiment (regardless of Party Affiliations) was the analogy to the candidates today that: “Talk-the-Talk” not having to “Walk-the-Walk”.
Correction: A.I. is great for making present day Analogies.
Gavin Newsom will be making the “A chicken in every pot and a Tesla in every garage” Campaign Slogan pitch in 2028 one way or another some how, given how much Red Ink we’re in (today’s Californian Great Depression).
You’re Spot On: George Santayana’s famous quote.
“All the data, from the U-Haul report to IRS tax filings, gross mismanagement of the states finances and soon all the fraud investigations, show what a failed state CA i”
Did you collect that data yourself or are you just mouthing conservative news? If its a failed state, why then does it still exist as a functioning state? The only laughing stock is you mouthing the MSM.
Reading comprehension, critical thinking, logic and reason are not your strong points. Does it matter who is reporting the news if they are citing the U-Haul reports, IRS filing data?
Here are some past news proving the point,
Outmigration cost California $24B in departed incomes as poorer people move in
“304 companies have left California since January 2019, according to the California Policy Center’s California Book of Exoduses, which tracks corporate exits from California.”
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/outmigration-cost-california-24b-departed-incomes-poorer-people-move
Escaping from LA and the rest of California
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/washington-secrets/3281568/escaping-la-and-rest-of-california/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=offthepress&utm_campaign=home
“Does it matter who is reporting the news if they are citing the U-Haul reports, IRS filing data?”
NTM that Turley was citing an article from the Washington Post. WaPo isn’t exactly a bastion of support for conservative takes on issues…
I am afraid that the taxing authorities in California will make no changes until the state collapses economically. All you have to do is look back at NY City in 1970’s-1980’s when it faced fiscal collapse and continued to dish out free services despite multiple observations it was unsustainable. Eventually they needed billions of dollars of a federal bailout and then finally elected a Mayor Ed Koch who slowly got them back to fiscal sanity. Same in Detroit which was taken over by the state.
California, if it fails, is going to have a difficult time trying to convince the rest of the country to bail them out. The trend is certainly in that direction. The state and its governor have made few friends over the resent years, especially those with money and a willingness to spend it on California. I suspect it will have to crash before it can be resurrected.
It’s really unfortunate because the state has so much to offer but right know they are short on sanity in the governor’s office and the legislature.
“Collapses economically”? A $4 trillion GDP and a population of nearly 40 million and you think that scenario is happening now?
So, when’s the collapse going to happen?
This is a snowball rolling down hill.. The collapse while not apparent now will become more visible as time passes. Capital is under attack its only defense is to move. The more movement that takes place obviously the less capital there is to sustain and grow the CA economy. You are either getting better or getting worse you dont stay the same.
IT already has “Collapse economically”, When you reconcile the state’s economy and you end up in continuous deficit year after year in the Red Ink.
then is it “Collapse”. The difference is the in the semantics of the People of California perception of what is a Sound Economic reality and an Unsound Economic reality. That’s only taking into account the State’s Ledger, The Local Governments (Cities and Counties) are bleeding Red Ink also. “Economic Collapse” is what you get when Spending outpacing Revenues, year after year.
California Dreaming is the semantic Economic reality of the Californian Mind.
California on your mind: 2025
California in 2025: Another Bad Year of Governance
This is my annual review of California governance and policies. Sadly, it wasn’t a good one. Let’s begin with infrastructure.
By: Lee Ohanian ~ December 5, 2025
https://www.hoover.org/research/california-2025-another-bad-year-governance
And the year before (2024)
California on your mind: 2024
After A $100 Billion Surplus, California Now Faces A $73 Billion Budget Deficit
Last month, California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office, or LAO, which is the nonpartisan state department that advises California’s policymakers on the state’s fiscal issues, increased their estimate for the state’s 2024–25 budget deficit to $73 billion.
By: Lee Ohanian ~ circa: March 26, 2024
https://www.hoover.org/research/after-100-billion-surplus-california-now-faces-73-billion-budget-deficit
Where’s that hi speed rail cash? Some people are mighty rich now and living in foreign countries. If fraud investigations go well the calif legislators will not exist?
Re.: Unfunded Liabilities by State
What a $1.48 trillion pension gap means for cities and states
Unfunded liabilities have dropped, but public pensions remain deeply underfunded, a new analysis found. The report’s author calls for benefit-structure and cost-sharing reform.
By: Lori Tobias ~ Dec. 15, 2025
https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/reason-foundation-pension-report-cities-states/807872/
Study: Illinois, Connecticut, Alaska, Hawaii, New Jersey and Mississippi have the most per capita pension debt
Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Mississippi, and Connecticut have less than 60% of funding needed to pay for promised pension benefits.
By: Ryan Frost – Managing Director, Mariana Trujillo – Managing Director, Jordan Campbell – Managing Director ~ circa: October 30, 2025
https://reason.org/data-visualization/state-pension-debt/
Financial State of the States 2025
Truth in Accounting.org
We rank the states based on these numbers. When liabilities are offset against assets available, the states had unfunded debt totaling $765 billion at the end … 140 pages PDF
[Link] truthinaccounting.org/library/doclib/Financial-State-of-the-States-2025.pdf
Now post their debt. Most of all from CALPERG. (retirement) fund.
AI: CalPRES debt
As of late 2025, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (
CalPERS) has an estimated unfunded liability, or “pension debt,” of around $180 billion. The fund’s funded status is approximately 79%, meaning it has assets covering roughly four-fifths of its long-term pension promises.
Key Details:
Total Debt: The unfunded liability is the difference between the benefits promised to government workers and the assets currently available to pay for those benefits in the future. This debt is a long-term liability that California taxpayers are ultimately responsible for funding.
Funded Status: The 79% funded status is slightly below the national average for public pension funds, which was around 80.2% in 2024.
Causes of Debt: The debt is attributed to a combination of factors, including:
Overestimating investment returns over the past two decades.
Investment losses, such as a reported 71% loss on a specific clean energy and technology private equity fund investment.
Benefit increases and an aging workforce.
Impact on Employers and Taxpayers: State and local governments must make annual contributions to cover a portion of this debt. These increasing costs can strain local budgets, potentially leading to diversions from other services or the need for tax increases.
Strategies to Address Debt:
Investment Strategy Changes: CalPERS has recently adjusted its investment strategy to include more investments in private markets (private equity and private debt), aiming for higher returns to close the funding gap.
Employer Contributions: Public agencies can make additional discretionary payments or use a Section 115 pension trust to prefund their pension obligations and reduce their unfunded liability.
Legislative Measures: Past efforts include the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013, which aimed to manage costs. The state also uses the “rainy day fund” (Proposition 2) to pay down long-term liabilities when capital gains tax revenues are high.
Outlook: Payments on the existing debt are scheduled to gradually decrease until the debt is projected to be paid off in the mid-2040s, provided investment performance meets expectations. However, underperformance or an economic recession could set this schedule back.
Re.:
CalPERS takes unnecessary risks that could cost taxpayers
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System has $180 billion in unfunded liabilities.
By: Mariana Trujillo – Managing Director ~ January 31, 2025
https://reason.org/commentary/calpers-takes-unnecessary-risks-that-could-cost-taxpayers/
California is $1.08 trillion in debt. More than a third of that debt is unfunded pension liability.
Having a $4 trillion economy is meaningless argument because that money isn’t going to the state. What counts is the California’s obligations, i.e., debt, which grows greater every year.
As more and more people flee the state, and the state continues to spend money it does not have, nor attempt to control its spending, California will collapse financially.
Don’t leave out the judicial branch. California’s supreme court has ruled that any tax can be passed by 50% of voters, so We the People are the taxing authorities. California is a true democracy, not a republic.
Especially in college towns, perpetual taxes are adopted at every election. Counties, cities, unincorporated parts of counties, transit districts, plus the state all have their own sales taxes and many other agencies tax or assess real estate, with inflation factors built in.
The local mosquito district (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the county) asked for an increase from $19 to $32 with a 3% annual escalator and voters said yes.
Tailgunner Turls: California has the 4th largest economy in the world. The sucking sound you hear is the sound of whatever’s left of your soul leaving your body as you disgustingly shill for magat land. And, of course, the Russians.
I guess having the 4th largest economy prevents you from collapsing? Ask Venezuela about that.
Hull slobby. Checking in with the proper amount of staggering idiocy at precisely the right moment. As usual.
You should see his friend Dustoff’s comments.
You should stop replying to yourself. It is embarrassing.
LOL…
“You should stop replying to yourself. It is embarrassing.”
Its mental masturbation might be constructive (wrt the alternative) in minimizing the need to wipe down the display…
So ANO
How about posting CA debt. Most of all their retirement system for state employees.
Mic drop. Well done.
The USSR once had the second largest economy in the universe. It’s now just a bad memory for most normal people but a Utopian wonderland to aspire to for Mamdani and other Demorats.
Still not posting the debt I see.
Remove federal funding and see where CA stands, more like a 3rd world country.
As for whom he is shilling for, he is just pointing out the obvious, those with means are leaving CA and taking their tax dollars with. Those moving there are of a much lower tax bracket or none at all, i.e. illegals who suck up resources/money.
Who pushed the Russia collusion hoax?
Of course, this supposed migration may have an upside.
The net effect would be to dramatically increase the average IQ of residents of both California and Texas.
+100
“The net effect would be to dramatically increase the average IQ of residents of both California and Texas.”
By what mathematical sleight of hand would losing wealthy entrepreneurs for whom intelligence presumably played a large role in building their financial empires, and replacing them with immigrants who have failed to sustain a minimal standard of living in Mexico, also presumably attributable at least in part to intelligence level, improve the average IQ of California residents?
The oldest trick in the book that lying politicians rely on is to promise a proposed tax is a “one time” event that will automatically “sunset.” We just lived through that obvious lie with Obamacare subsidies. The increase in the subsidies was promised to be a one-time event because of Covid. Yet the lying politicians have already extended them once, and a bunch of lying Republicans just joined the perpetually lying Democrats in the House to extend them again.
Also, people should acquaint themselves with the sordid history of the lies told about the income tax and the income tax amendment ratified.
The second oldest trick is to pit the top 5% against the bottom 95%. This was, of course, Obama’s favorite trick. It’s the ole “democracy is 2 wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner” trick – except it is 95 wolves and 5 sheep voting on who to fleece.
People seem to have caught on to that trick. It took every bit of political capital and rhetorical skill Obama had to demonize the 1% for months, and yet he was barely able to get the votes to steal more of their money from them.
The proposed wealth tax, if passed, will NOT be a one time event and over time it will NOT be limited to the top 5%. That is the TRUTH, no matter how emphatic and convincing the Democrats are in their lies promising otherwise.
You needn’t be concerned about the 1%. There’s a 50 point IQ difference minimum.
In an effort to address CA deficits maybe Pelosi can give a class on options investment to the state treasurer, her system seems to be very successful?
State governments are restricted from investing in certain types of investment vehicles (not cars): U.S. Treasury securities, municipal bonds, corporate and municipal bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), money market funds, and other fixed-income instruments.
Options (calls/puts) ain’t one of them. Pelosi does not have the mental acuity to teach anyone anything.
Now show us how great CALPERG investing has worked out
CalPERS and CalSTRS can invest in or trade options, stocks, and real estate.
https://www.calpers.ca.gov/newsroom/calpers-news/2025/calpers-announces-preliminary-116-return-for-2024-25-fiscal-year
Their problems are more due to overly generous benefits than poor investment returns.
The funniest line of the great column is “one time 5% tax”. Yeah sure, after the state takes the 5% of billionaires total net worth nd spends it as they always do then what happens? Does anyone think that in 5 years when they are facing another shortfall that they won’t implement another “one time” tax?
One other point. If you have 100 million dollars in stock holdings and the state taxes you at 5% or 5 million dollars CASH and then the next year the stocks tumble to 75 million dollars do you get to take a loss? Or if your Picasso is priced at 100 million today and then the art world shrinks? Or if your family business suffers?
“do you get to take a loss? ” Yes! Depends how you’re registered/report with/to the IRS. And there’s a thing called loss carried forward for the plebeians.
You really have no idea what you’re talking about.
So does the California department of revenue equate with the IR in your world? Did anyone here mention the IRS? Other than you. Please explain how you deduct a (paper) loss of the worth of your Picasso. Idiot.
You always manage to prove what people here say about you.
Folks, he claims to be a retired lawyer, and he’s from Hull, Massachusetts. That alone says it all.
I am from MA (formerly), I am a retired lawyer but I am not from Hull, I am a huge fan of the Golden Jet. Google it.
You mean retarded?
Is that the best retort you’ve got?
Pathetic.
What area of the law did you practice? Tax law? Then what about the punitive taxation of a targetted group?
No, I admit to not being a tax expert, or even very knowledgeable about taxes, but you would never admit to not being an expert in anything.
HullBobby,
HAAHHAAHAHA!!! Good one!!
This is a major problem for California. Consider that over 50% of the taxpayers in California do not pay any Federal Income tax. The top 1% of earners contribute 40% of the state’s tax income.
Driving out people that have a job and pay taxes is going to reduce the tax income for California almost 80%! Communists don’t care because no matter what, they are going to have
expensive wine, lobster and great food on the table for dinner!
Since the democrats that run EVERYTHING in California don’t have a money printing machine their corruption is running out of place to hide.
Democrats are claiming that California is actually gaining residents. So they can say there is no reason to change course. That giant sucking sound is Gavin Newsom running for president. “Let me do to America what I did to California” will make a great campaign slogan.
Lovely. This is the typical story of the “boy that went too far,” but in real life. Ahead is the most critical point, the tipping point, where recovery is no longer possible. So, when? As well as their well-oiled taxing machinery may be, California is also running its own little “Shop of Horrors,” with an estimated 1.75 million undocumented aliens now growling the refrain “Feed me.” California, you have a problem.
gobbledygook …
The tipping point will be when all the government employees from city workers, firefighters, police and others retire and exceed the number of those working in the govt.. They will then start receiving their pension that is grossly under funded.
Plus CA can’t even pay for that super-fast train, they still haven’t built.
end Federal Aid to cities, states, non-profits and colleges
Outlaw Public Unions
States like California, New York, Illinois, NJ, etc are the HIGHEST recipients of Federal Aid per capita.
END THAT. NY gets twice as much per person as FL….Democrats FAIL on purpose!
As of 2023, Connecticut received the highest federal aid per capita at $17,193, followed by Massachusetts at $16,945 and New Jersey at $15,012. Other top recipients include New York ($14,842), Washington ($14,773), and California ($14,381). More recent data from 2025 indicates that Virginia has the highest net federal funding per resident at $10,301, while Alaska received $8,628 per person in 2021, the highest that year.
Exactly! What we see a failure is actually Democrats’ success advancing their Cloward-Piven strategy:
1. Overload a system
2. Create mass panic and hysteria as the system is overloaded
3. Oversee the destruction of the system
4. Replace the former system with socialism.
The strategy was devised by two Columbia university professors in the mid 1960’s. Perhaps to explain the rationale behind LBJ’s “Great Society.”
Interesting comment.
Illinois, Maryland and NY are close behind!!!!
I still want to know what qualifies as a “fair share”. The only answer just seems to be “more”. Which means that no matter how much the top earners pay it will never be enough.
What exactly is your ‘fair share’ of what ‘someone else’ has worked for? – Thomas Sowell
All of it! Look at the debt to per capita hand outs. $38 Trillion plus whatever debt the state carries. Distribute that and do the math.
You do realize that $38T is cumulative.
So this high of debt is good?
“Once again, denying basic economics … Thatcher, “run out of other people’s money.”
And those people who made those decisions (reparations etc.) who are no longer in office, not responsible for the outcome, the residents are. Need a solution, but what?
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Perhaps Californians should consider changing their voting habits. Steve Hilton for Governor!
Would you consider changing your voting habits in the same situation? Your response, an emphatic NO! So why should they? You make no sense.
Interesting assumption by someone who hides behind anonymity…
Just like you Suze. You’re still not making sense.
Even if people are fleeing blue states, those blue states remain blue. The red states are then diluted. And that means …
The end of republicans as we know it. Power to the people.
This is what libs do to whistle-blowers
_______________________________
MINNESOTA WHISTLEBLOWERS WARNED TO STAY SILENT: “YOU’LL LOSE YOUR JOB, YOUR HOME, & THEY’LL TRACK YOUR KIDS”
Minnesota State Rep. Marion Rarick says whistleblowers trying to expose fraud in state-run programs are being hit with threats straight out of a political thriller.
She warned that the intimidation is systemic, and basically if you speak up, expect your life to be dismantled.
Whistleblowers are supposed to be protected by law, and if they’re being hunted for telling the truth, the system is being weaponized.
What does that have to do with the subject at hand?
To try and help you understand, the fraud takes not only Federal Government funds but state funds. If the Feds claw back the fraud funds the state will be in the same situation as Ca. deeply in debt that they can never pay off, if it is not already.
Perhaps this will help you understand but I have little hope.
Blue states will get bluer, but red states seem to be getting redder, even with the influx. It is a common feeling in FL that these transplants are bringing their failed liberal politics with them but FL has become even redder in recent years. Blue states are full of republicans that can’t wait to escape.
“Blue states will get bluer, but red states seem to be getting redder, even with the influx. ”
How do you figure that its a common feeling?
Move Blues to Red and do you get?
Reds ain’t moving to Blue?
We left Ca in 2013. Unfortunately, since I work remotely for my California company they still have their claws in me for state taxes. I have not set foot in that state since 2017 and yet every quarter I have to make that painstaking income tax estimated payment. All the people that told us to stay and fight for the state, have since left also. You can only bang your head on the wall for so long and it is a shame. My husband and I both moved to Ca in 1978 and met there- sure, Ca was quirky but it was prosperous and sane and beautiful. The beautiful part (northern Ca) is still beautiful but the prosperous and sane part flew the coop ages ago. It is a shame….we never thought we would leave there. When we first moved there we were the envy of everyone we knew- by the time we left, we were laughingstocks.
No pity from me. You made the decision …
Libs only know two things. Taxes and more taxes. Look at every blue city.
And you know even less than that. Dustoff you’re an idiot.
Sure, sure. Try again
DustOff,
I would add to taxes, and turning a blind eye to fraud, enabling fraud to occur, disregard for law and order, lionizing criminals and demonizing those criminals victims, judges who let criminals out of jail who then go on to commit more crimes even murder.
Upstate, you are correct, but I would shorten the list to SHORT-TERM raw power, believing that once they get enough power, they can do what their authoritarian fascist instincts tell them to do.
I lived in Northern Ca. for 65 years (born S.F.), and left in 2015. Never happier except for missing the Ocean. So I fill my gas thank before I enter and only once while there. I wish my 2 kids that live there could move and they do have it on the horizon.
My wife and I have friends in San Francisco who’ve also thought seriously about moving. I suspect everybody knows a Californian who’s thought about moving. In my visits to Nashville, I’ve seen a lot of “leftugees,” all seeking to escape the iron incompetence of the Democrat Party. Sorry you had to move.
I’ve been to San Francisco twice. The last time was the January before the pandemic hit. It was beautiful, but I could already see the signs of Democrat governance: human scat on the sidewalk and my wife’s car was broken into the first night she was there.
I also noticed that the state was deeply divided. Our hotel concierge “politely” hinted that Californians like her didn’t tolerate any talk against the narrative. I guess she noticed we were visiting from the Southeast. Then we had two Uber drivers who–unsolicited–complained bitterly about Democrats, and we didn’t have to guess why.
I travelled to SF every couple of years, but as it deteriorated two decades or more ago, I stopped traveling there. Its charm disappeared.
Smash ‘n’ grab?