Yea, well...
The survival instinct is an awfully hard thing to ignore -- for some.
"...telling me all is lost."
Is hardly cowardice, gc.
Sounds to me like perhaps you're angry these people tried explaining to you they could read the handwriting on the wall?
They were being as honest with you as any human being could ever ask; and, more than we all have experienced in these recent, wierd times?
There're some of us out here who find no honor, no glory whatsoever being runover by the forces the Californians are having to deal with.
-None-
To do so might even be considered an act of insanity; for, those forces mean to get their way come hell or high water, you must realize.
Now, if that means these forces must first destroy people -- their lives & families -- seize *individual's* property in part or whole?
~Then so be it, as far as they're concerned.
They're more than up to the task, gc.
The *just* fate awaiting those forces must be one so brutal, so cruel as to be an almost inhuman act to inflict it upon them.
Nonetheless, they asked for it; & as such?
Let the chips fall where they may; after, sentence has been carried out.
For those forces then, those who've left that place have sentenced 'em to be, left to themselves.
Let their Utopia begin now, in earnest.
Whatever you do, don't be bitter towards the only ones who give a damn about you, your life & welfare.
For in the bloody end?
When you too, are finally forced to flee the monstrous SOBs?
You're going to need their help getting reestablished & settled -- somewhere.
Your enemies are my/our enemies.
How we deal with those enemies will most certainly vary as wildly as the personalities that're behind the act(s).
...let us be vigilant not to permit the enemy to become ourselves.