Just a note to all those that are suggesting that we Freepers and or conservatives in California be air lifted out or offer us multiple daily warnings about dire consequences if we stay in California because of the evil leftist, socialist and what they will do to us, etc. Some have even suggested that if we don't pick up and leave California, we can't be real conservatives or are somehow not good Americans.
Let me start off by saying that I love California very much. I am a third generation Californian and my entire family lives here and our dead are buried here.
None of us would ever consider leaving this beautiful state. I mean, where else can you go from coastal plains to the beach, spend a few hours at the beach and then drive to the mountains and ski if you wish. Like the desert? After skiing you can drive down to the desert and go off roading in your jeep or dirtbike and yes, even go target shooting. Yes you can do all this in one day and, on one tank of gas, even if the tank of fuel cost 45 bucks. Not to many places where you can barbeque on Christmas day. (Our family tradition). Not to many places where you can walk around in shorts in January and eat Oranges fresh off your own tree.
We have been all over the United States and there are some very nice places out there. But California they are not. I feel this needs to be said as the negative and the outright attacks, threats and anger towards California have gone WAY beyond the leftist AH Grey Davis and the energy problem. I think some here need to be reminded once in a while why some of us prefer to stay in California and not flee.
I have no time for people that flee trouble or problems. I felt compelled to write this after reading literally hundreds upon hundreds of DAILY post about how bad my state is, accompanied by nasty foul threats, warnings and jokes etc that exceed and go far beyond the current energy problem. One Freeper told me they were tired of my endless bragging about my California after a few times that I boasted about my state. I guess my love for California really hit a nerve with this person. That's to bad, after hundreds of daily slams, jokes, warnings, threats etc I figured someone needed to stand up and say something positive about California.
And for those of you that care, there is no mass exodus here. As a matter of fact as far as real-estate goes there is none in our area available. We have not seen a for sale sign in a long time. A friend of ours in real-estate told us the prices have been driven up partly due to no inventory of existing homes. Folks just aren't selling. We personally know of people that have left California and most return within several years or less. And as I have said before, if a few million did leave, it would not bother us in the least.
We are inordinately aware of our energy problems here and agree most were created by the leftist socialist. We know we have an immigration problem, thanks to the Federal Government. But we would never leave this great, beautiful state.
We have been through earthquakes that occur with absolutely no warning, where we thought the world was coming to an end, literally. So bad, that after the quake was over, there was a line of people waiting to use the bathroom. We have seen fires that looked like the entire planet was on fire, that last for weeks not days. We have had riots that make out of state, big city riots appear as a minor disturbance. Droughts where we have not had a good rain for years, not months. This energy problem is a walk in the park compared to some of the things we Californian's have lived through and experienced. A few blackouts will not scare most of us. Most of us here are pretty tough players and would never consider giving up what we have worked so damn hard for.
PLEASE keep in mind that there are approximately 15 million conservatives, patriots in California. This is our home, and we have no desire to leave. We love our STATE and our NATION and would rather fight than flee.
California is the crown jewel of this great country. If any state is worth fighting for, It's California!
And you're being taxed to death. There are places in California that are really bad, but as for the entire state -- no way. The great bulk of California (geography-wise) is marvelous -- from great mountains to ski, beaches and coastlines, the greatest farmland in the world. It was practically a paradise before the 1960's hit.
I haven't been to every state -- but the one that I have been to that I thought the least of was New Jersey. So my vote would have to go there.
Every state from the Rocky Mountains west has a whole lot to recommend it, even California and my state (Washington), if you can put up with all the wacko-leftists and taxes. But then I'm a skier, so I've got a tunnel-vision problem.