California ranks number 26 in State and Local Tax burden, pretty much in the middle and behind a lot of "red states". The average Californian pays 9.8% in State and local taxes. Nevadans, who don't pay state income tax pay 9.7%. When Federal taxes are added in, the State's tax burden rank jumps to number 10. Your welcome for the support. My local sales tax is 7.75%
California gives medical benefits to illegal immigrants.
Only because the Federal government is forcing us to. Californians passed Prop. 187 which restricted giving medical benefits to illegals, only to be slapped around by the Feds. If the Federal government would do it's job and controlled the borders, the tax burden on the state would be less because we wouldn't have to pay for millions of this country's illegals.
Many California cities and counties have rather draconian hoops that a property owner must jump through just to remodel a house. Some counties and cities have rent control laws that prevent a landlord from raising the rent to a market level, which further reduces the supply of housing, because no one wants to be a landlord if they can't profit from raising the rent. Moreover, California landlord-tenant law is so biased in favor of the tenant that it can take months to get a non-paying tenant out.
City and County laws do not cover the whole state. As for landlord tenant law, I am a landlord and have evicted tenants for nonpayment. It may take a month or two to get them out, but the money owed can be and is recoverable.
Because of zoning laws, much of the open space in California cannot be developed, further driving up the cost of land and housing.
Again zoning laws are a county or city matter. A lot of the open space you speak of is left open due to Federal law, such endangered species statutes, and wetland or forest protection.
Instead of being guided by the free market, most of California is controlled by leftists who know what's best for everybody.
That's pretty general and very vague. The Governator is working on removing some of the regulations controlling business. He is especially working on lessening the Workman's Comp. burden on businesses.
As for Socialism, Californians rejected socialized medicine in the last election. There will be another run in the next election on limiting benefits for illegals. There are many areas of this state, The Bay Area and LA County for example, that are leftist. But to brand the whole state socialist, is not based in fact. The county I live in, Orange voted for Bush 60%. The county where I have a vacation home, San Bernardino, voted for Bush 54% and my Congressman there, Jerry Lewis (R) was re-elected with a 84% vote tally.
Thanks for correcting some of my misconceptions! I'm glad it's not as bad as I thought!