Conservatives Say California Is A Disaster, But Facts Show The Opposite

[applegrove]

Conservatives Say California Is A Disaster, But Facts Show The Opposite

By MAX TAVES March 14, 2022

https://www.dcreport.org/2022/03/14/conservatives-say-california-is-a-disaster-but-facts-show-the-opposite/

"SNIP......

Productivity

California is the fifth most productive population in the country, federal Bureau of Economic Analysis data posted at Statista.com show.

In 2019, California’s economic output per person was $79,000, almost 22% above the national average of $65,000, (Editor’s note: adjusted the data to 2019 dollars.)

Income, Wealth and Poverty

The typical California household took home more than 45 other states; 22% more than American households overall. The nearly $15,000 in extra income has not, however, deflated the state’s poverty rate. It is persistently high at 11.8%, yet still below such darlings of conservatives as Mississippi (19.5%), Louisiana (18.8%), Arkansas (16%), Alabama (15.6%) and Oklahoma (15.1%), federal data show.

A state study in 2019 found that while California is 12% of the American population, its residents own 17% of American wealth despite its high taxes and environmental protections. Of course it’s hard to get rich in states that don’t provide the commonwealth benefits that foster wealth creation and high-paying jobs with benefits such as quality research universities that Californians have long supported.

Crime

You were more likely to get killed in 27 other states than in California, the federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported for 2020.  Interestingly, you were far more likely to get killed in Mitch McConnell’s Kentucky than the Golden State. The highest rates were in Louisiana and Mississippi, more than triple the California rate, while the rates in Arkansas and Missouri were more than double the California rate.

......SNIP"

[vanlassie]

1. California is only a disaster for Republicans.

We don’t approve of them here.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Whatever it takes for them to move out.

Just make sure they don't come to Florida.

[Tickle]

9. I'm not trying to ruin your day

but they are

[Baitball Blogger]

10. If Florida's government body is doing this intentionally, there should be legal recourse

when the obvious hostilities begin.

I'm pretty sure my City has been marked as an Anglo-sanctuary. All the signs are here.

[walkingman]

2. The right loves to hate California but let's face it....it is probably one of the

Last edited Thu Mar 17, 2022, 11:58 AM - Edit history (1)

most desirable areas in the US. I like their politics, I like their climate (prefer northern) and EVERYTHING starts in California and has for decades. If I could afford it I would move to Northern California in a heartbeat. I will admit it the containing drought is troubling and not sure if that is going to change.

[Caliman73]

3. California has problems like any other state...

Our housing is horrendously unaffordable in many areas. We do have a problem with homelessness, related to the previous problem and a general aversion to affordable housing development. I mean, we all appreciate affordable housing, just no one wants it near them.

Gas is super crazy expensive in many places.

You can focus on the negative aspects, or only the positive ones, or you can understand the good and the bad and make a decision about the state based on your values.

I like having a state that tries to balance the needs of the people and tries to promote progressive values. I have lived in California my entire live and can't see myself moving anywhere else as long as I can afford to stay.

[spooky3]

4. I love California. Every time I visit I wish I could stay. Nt

[modrepub]

7. A Philly Thing

You don't put a place down unless you live there. Only then have you earned the privilege to complain.

So if you're an outta towner, go stick it in your ear!

[Nictuku]

16. Buying a House in 2010 was the smartest thing I've ever done

I wanted to be able to take care of my mom as she grew older, and so I told her I would buy us a house if she would move from Memphis back to California. I ended up buying a house in the hills above Napa in 2010, it is about 5 miles from where her Nephew lives (mom wanted to be near him). I didn't really want to live in Napa, I worked in SF, and the commute was horrendous. Mill Valley was a much better commute, and I so love the Redwoods. But it was too expensive for me there, and I promised her, and now, 12 years later, I am so glad I did it.

Until, my 21 year job as an IT Support Guru forced me into early retirement (I was only 59 1/2), and at first I was kind of panicked. Looking for a job at my age... and after a year of working from home I couldn't face finding another job in San Francisco. A 4 hour (round trip) commute. Every Day. For 10 years!

Early Retirement... freaked me out. I don't get SS for another couple of years, and the pension was 1/4 of the income I was accustomed to. I thought I would end up having to get some kind of thankless job in my area that might pay $15/hr (I was making over 100K in SF, but a lot of it went to insurance, retirement and taxes), but I was staying above water.

With sudden early retirement, my new income wasn't going to be enough, so I was looking for ways to cut back. And here is the good news:

So I've been paying the mortgage for 12 years, still owed over 200K on it. Last week, I closed on getting a Re-finance on it, and locked in a lower interest rate (3.37%), and it dropped my mortgage payments down by $300 (and I ended up getting 2 months with no mortgage before the new one kicks in). So now, I pay $1500./mo for the mortgage, insurance, AND property taxes.

I COULDN'T RENT A STUDIO FOR THAT AMOUNT TODAY! And I live in an incredibly beautiful area, especially in Spring. I literally can walk out back and see deer, turkeys, all kinds of birds. Neighbors are far enough away that I don't see them (but am glad to be living near other people). The only drawback really is the drought and fires. I have been evacuated twice now in the 12 years I've been here.

I actually don't care that the Re-Fi is for another 30 years, because because when I do turn 62 in 1.5 years, I'm going for a "Reverse Mortgage". (I don't have any kids, just my mom, and after we are gone, I don't care who gets the house). As long as she and I have a place to live for as long as we live, then that is the way to go. My mortgage payments will magically 'go away', all I have to do is keep up with the Insurance and Property Taxes (and upkeep), and I can live here for as long as I live, and my mom will also have a place.

Had I not bought the house in 2010, I would still be renting, my mom and I would be crammed into a smaller place (Now we have a 2-story house, it works well, she has the upstairs, I have my own space downstairs, but I'm here for her if she needs me, we get along quite well, she is a great cook, so that is another plus). We are happy, content, and able to afford what we need, and then a little more for our entertainment expenses.

When I get the reverse mortgage, then we will have a small pile of money for some improvements we want to make on the house (my electric bill is outrageous, and I need to get solar installed at some point to bring down that expense). We will be able to actually do some of the things we can't afford just now (Visit friends, go on trips, go back to Hawaii for a vacation.)

And I did this all by myself. No wealthy parents to help me out. Only on my income (no spouse). And on top of all that, I actually never graduated from High School (I lived in Hawaii, there were too many other things to do other than school in the 70's80's) ... i digress.

I don't know why I typed all this, I guess I needed to feel better about myself. Been so down and depressed lately.

Oh, one other benefit of having a house: I actually have a guest room which I have now signed up to offer a peaceful safe place for a Ukrainian Mother & Child. Mom is all for it, and we want to help, somehow. If I was renting, I doubt I would have a spare room.

So, any of you young whippersnappers out there, if you can do it, buy a house. Think of it as an investment. It is going to save me and my mom now that I'm 60. And if you are fortunate enough to have some kind of pension or 401(k), contribute as much as you possibly can! I only wish I had put in more than 6% for the 21 years that I worked there.

I love California! We have everything here. Beaches, Mountains, water sports, skiing, skydiving, hiking, hunting. You name it. Even with the drought/fires. aside from living in Hawaii again (which I really can't afford now). Every state has their problems. Every city has crime.

Anyway, thanks for listening, and Maluhia (Peace) for Ukraine!

Fuck You Putin!

[Mr.Bill]

5. I've lived in California since 1961, when I was eight years old.

I spent 30 years in Silicon Valley and 31 years farther north in the wine country. There are affordable places to live in our state, but you're not going to be near the beach and the weather is not quite as nice, but still better than much of the country.

What's sad is while I don't travel as much as I used to there are some states (Texas comes to mind) where it feels like I am in a foreign country. I don't want to bash the good people who live in Texas, and I have relatives there. But you must admit your lawmakers are doing some very strange things that wouldn't have been considered just a decade ago. I hope the pendulum swings the other way for you soon.

I read the article in the OP recently in Yahoo News. Thanks for posting it.

[UTUSN]

8. K&R

[WarGamer]

11. The income part is misleading.

Californians make more money than those in other states, true.

But the cost of living eats it all up, and then some.

[madville]

12. Very true

I lived and worked in California from 2017-2019, was making $130k a year in the Bay Area. No way I could afford to buy a house there, not much under a million at the time, many people I worked with had a 1+ hour commute to an area they had bought a $500k’ish house in and now those houses are easily $800k+ If not a million themselves. Most of the “middle class” folks there were dual income families, like a coworker of mine who made about the same as me and his wife was a nursing manager making $150k, so they did ok making almost $300k a year.

I moved back to FL to a $80k a year job, built a house on 6 acres for $230k and my payment is $1336 a month with taxes and insurance included. Crazy how cheap it is to live outside of California, I don’t know how many do it there.

[WarGamer]

13. +1000 nt

[madville]

14. My 600 sq ft apartment in CA

Was $2200 a month, And I think it still had the original carpet from the 70’s lol. It was a condo complex and the 600-1000 sq ft units there were selling for $400-600k when I was there, basically about $600 a square foot.

[Xolodno]

15. They often point out to the debt...

...California has dollar wise. Well, yeah, if you had that debt in Wyoming or Mississippi, you're up shit creek without a paddle. But as a percentage of state GDP...pffft, its nothing.

Sure our gas prices are a lot higher, but unlike most states, the ground frequently moves, so more roadwork is needed. One other aspect, home insurance...what they pay in tornado ally is jaw dropping here in California.

[Nictuku]

18. Question: Do you mean they pay more or less for insurance in tornado ally?

Just curious.

My House Insurance (does not include earthquake, but does include fire) is around $250/month. This is for a 3 bedroom 2-story house (1600 sq/foot) up in the hills above Napa. I bought it in 2010 for $295K, now it is valued at $550K.

[Xolodno]

19. Oh hell yes.

In California, you most likely have one deductible. And a separate one for earthquake on the state plan. In tornado alley, you have a deductible and a "Wind and Hail" deductible which is considerably more.

Let me put it this way, people in California pay for a new roof, people in tornado alley, don't as weather conditions..well you get the idea. But it all gets passed down to the consumer. I should know, I personally presided over a lot of rate hikes and as much I tried to segment, quite often it was "fuck it, just slam the state, less business might actually make us more profitable"

[Nictuku]

17. Thanks for posting Applegrove!

It is good to have a link with good info to combat all the negatives you hear about California, most of which are just simply not true.

Yes it is expensive here, but it is worth it if you can do it.

[DSandra]

20. California is a victim of it's own success.

SSOOO many people have wanted to live here because of the great job opportunities, great weather, and amazing natural beauty that it has boosted prices way too high and have made it harder to manage cities. In Southern California here I am able to see beautiful snowcapped mountains in the horizon during temperatures in the 70's at this time, and bask in the balminess at a beautiful beach with lots of activity. I feel almost guilty of avoiding most of the cold that is attributed to winter. Cities are year round here, they don't slow down for the weather. Real humidity is rare. Buying property in this state, you don't have to worry about (major) tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. I've been to Texas several times, and Florida once, and they can't hold a candle to California.

I don't mean to boast about California but I had to state this due to the attacks it continually receives by the right wing.