We had a functioning economy in NJ as well - then we taxed it to the point where it left for greener pastures. CA faces the same danger; businesses and their employees are being forced to foot the bills for a rapidly expanding class of people that will contribute NOTHING. Here in NJ the straw that is breaking the camel’s back is public school funding; years ago the makers’ children filled schools, now the makers often are childless and funding the education of takers’ children.
“..now the makers often are childless and funding the education of takers’ children.”
They are childless because they don’t have the money to support them and probably don’t even have the time to “make” them.