Americans have come to the conclusion there's nothing 'better' over the hill.
California was once the 'land of opportunity'... now it's a South American hellhole with a small groups of 'elites' and large numbers of miserably poor peasants. Who would want to go there?
Americans use to wonder how the world's wealthy could go home to their mansions while stepping over starving children now understand... - it's the elitist 'California mentality'... The 'poor' make them feel wealthier...
Your last sentence says it all. God’s honest truth, I never figured it that way but you are right.