I Opt-out of California (A High-earning Californian explains why he's leaving)

New Goegraphy ^ | 12/07/2010 | Robert Cristiano

[mstar]

someone should write a song about what happened to our California.

Afraid that song will need to be placed in a major blues catagorey.

return to SoCal and did in late 1990.

My daughter began attending a university near the Azusa/Pasadena area in '99. She graduated, then married, and is still there. In what, just over a decade we can not believe how quickly the greater LA area has gone down. Those pricey slums are diff spreading.

I couldn't’t wait to get the hell out of California!

oh yeah

[moodyskeptic]

The badger is in the barn. Over.

[Reeses]

1981 $22 billion spending to 2009 $114 billion, works out to 6% annual increases. Inflation was about 3% during this time, and population growth 1.6%. That leaves between 1% an 2% real annual government growth. Increasing automation/higher salaries should be able to handle that. CA’s downfall has more to do with government unions, increasingly progressive tax rates, and increasing regulation forcing business out.

[mstar]

CA’s downfall has more to do with government unions, increasingly progressive tax rates, and increasing regulation forcing business out.

Well said and a glimpse into America's future is we don't throw the commie libs out soon. . . very very soon. Imagine this. . .

America one big California with Detroits everywhere and get the usurpers out

[joe fonebone]

not really........the peoples democratik republik of michiganstan has plenty of land available that you can buy with your credit card....and not all counties here are communist....you can do quite well here in michiganstan, if you stay on the west coast, and the UP area’s...unfortunately, i live in the metro detroit area...stay the hell away from here, ‘cuz all that is left is desolation, crime and unemployment...

[Myrddin]

CA took their share as income tax on earned income.
They have no legal claim on anything more. I’m
going to get hammered with CA state income tax
starting next month due to the amount of time I
have to spend on site in San Diego. My co-workers
may face state income tax filing in 3 states next
year due to site visits. It only takes 20 days inside
a state (cumulative) to trigger state income tax
apportioned to the amount earned in that state.
TurboTax must be salivating at the prospects of
all those multi-state filing sales opportunities.

[greatplains]

I know what you mean. Colorado is a prime example. The front range (don’t know about the western slope) has gone to hell in a handbasket. So sad. It was a beautiful place to live, but wasn’t where I wanted to raise my kids. I have relation in San Diego, don’t know how they stand it.

[MayflowerMadam]

“I am one of those evil “high-earners” in California with income over $200,000 per year.”

We were in a similar situation in California — over $200K/yr. Also Christian and conservative. We moved to eastern Tennessee in the spring. We just couldn’t take it any longer.

[ladyvet]

I hear you and Colorado was where I was thinking of. I lived there from 1980 to 2001.

[longtermmemmory]

California will eventually pass an excape tax.

[SeekAndFind]

Can they go after you if you leave and fail to pay?

[Seruzawa]

“Any other CA escapees on this thread?”

I was born in LA in 1948. It wasn’t a bad place until the 70s. Heck, I even took my .22 rifle to school and went to the range at Centinella Park after school in 1960. But by the 70s the houses had been torn down to put in apartment buildings. The Calif govt became more and more fascist... that’s the only word for it. I left in 1982 and moved to Utah to raise a family. I’m not LDS, but I find the average LDS person to be far more tolerant than any f***ing liberal.

I haven’t made as much $ as I would in Calif. But I’m much much richer.

[GOPJ]

Great post. Thanks.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Where ever you move too, check your liberalism at the door.

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Remember the lyric from that old Eagles song?

YOU CAN CHECK OUT ANYTIME YOU LIKE, BUT YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE ! (sound the air guitar).

[SeekAndFind]

RE: California will eventually pass an excape tax.

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Remember the lyric from that old Eagles song — Hotel California?

YOU CAN CHECK OUT ANYTIME YOU LIKE, BUT YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE ! (sound the air guitar).

[greatplains]

1979 to 2003.

[karnage]

Shuddup you! We try to fly beneath the radar, and yer blowin’ it!

[Jack Hammer]

When the enthusiastic Marxists have kicked out all the producers, and are reduced to plastic shoes, ageing bicycles, and cabbage soup, they’ll kick up a fuss. It may take a while, but it’ll happen.

[A CA Guy]

We have 600 billion in unfunded retirement pensions as well that are going to hit.

First they are going to breach Prop 13 and at least double property taxes leaving many homeless.
They will IMO keep the temporary raise in the sales tax.
Fees for the permission to breath will probably be created.

I came here in the 60s and the state has totally turned to sh!t since the 70s IMO.

So many either government employed or on welfare programs that they vote is locked in at this time for Democrats.

As CA burns financially, it is not beyond the bums who raid the treasury to do so all the way down to the gutter and beyond. There is no honor among all the thieves in CA taking other people's money.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: We have 600 billion in unfunded retirement pensions as well that are going to hit.

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I’ve spoken to someone who knows a legislator in Sacramento very well as a friend when I was there just 2 months ago.

He tells me that there is talk in the legislature (in hush hush tones) of asking for a Federal bailout. There is no freaking way California can get the money to pay for this. You can’t print money, so guess who can? That’s right... your main choice is to go to the source that CAN print money.

And we thought QE2 is the end of it...