EXITING CALIFORNIA! -- Invasion Of The Fleeing Golden Staters!

ICONOCLAST ^ | by Lin Anderson

[Apolitical]

ICONOCLAST EXCLUSIVE!!

EXITING CALIFORNIA!
-- Invasion Of The Fleeing Golden Staters!



Bye, Bye, California; Nevada, Here They Come!

by Lin Anderson

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the traditional American immigration pattern -- East to West, for those of you who slept through "U.S. Demographic History" that day -- seems no longer to be operative here in the 21st century.

For the record, also inoperative are common sense and the Detroit Tigers.

"Go West, young man, and grow up with the country," wrote Horace Greeley back there in 1865 in an editorial in the New York Tribune. Modern-day researchers have, however, found that the same exact words were penned 14 years earlier by a Mr. John Soule in a Terre Haute, Indiana, newspaper. It must be gratifying for former New York "journalist" Jayson Blair to serenely contemplate that in his tenure with the New York Times, he was in fact just carrying on a longstanding Empire State tradition established by Horace Greeley.

No matter its provenance -- as they say pretty much hourly around the New York Times these days -- the quote has long been a linchp in in the annals of the western United States, even though the odds are pretty good that Greeley was drunker than a convention of Dean Martin impersonators when he plagiarized it.

According to an article by Haya El Nasser, in a recent very colorful edition of USA Today, the Census Bureau has determined that today's immigration patterns are from West to East -- more specifically from California to anyplace distraught Californians can think of to flee to.

"Most of the people leaving California," the USA Today piece notes, "are going to other Western states such as Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Colorado." And most of the most of them are going to Nevada. Or, as writer Haya El Nasser hilariously phrases it, "Nevada was the biggest beneficiary" of these refugees from Gray Davis's Worker's Paradise.

Lucky us.

The bureau estimates that some 200,000 Californians made tracks to Nevada in the late 1990s, hoping to escape such happy Golden State features as "earthquakes, race riots, economic downturns, a wave of foreign immigration and skyrocketing housing prices." While we haven't had the earthquakes or race riots yet, we seem of late to be quite well represented by the other items on the list, so I'm thinking it's just a matter of time before some unpopular court verdict or other causes the ground to start shaking and the good china to come hurtling off the shelves.

It's not exactly a stunning revelation that a sizeable chunk of the Golden State's population is scurrying over the border and into our hearts. We're handy, after all. Right next door, you might say. In the line of fire, certainly.

Nevada is also attractive by virtue of our having no state income tax; but, per capita, we have just as many nutball legislators as the Californians are used to. I'd say that would make the immigrants feel right at home, but their goal always seems to be something along the lines of making our home feel an awf ul lot like their former home.

It has been a recurring theme of mine -- for at least the past four years or so-- that, as Nevada has become more and more a Haven for the Disaffected Soul (particularly the Disaffected Soul from our neighbor to the West), we have found many of our own cherished Silver State traditions relentlessly assailed. As the folks from Fresno, the beings from Bakersfield and the peeps from Pomona have arrived, so, predictably, have the demands for smoke-free casinos, smog inspection stations, vegetarian menu alternatives and draconian zoning ordinances.

It's as if these refugees had risked their very lives fleeing the Nazis and then suddenly decided upon reflection that maybe they liked that whole crazy "we VILL rule da VORLD" concept after all.

I was a Californian long ago, and have many acquaintances who presently live -- if you call that living -- Over There. I also lived in Seattle back when the California license plates started showing up in unsuspecting neighborhoods with alarming frequency, so I know how this thing works -- or, more to the point -- doesn't work.

I had a conversation with a Seattle-based friend of mine awhile back during which we reminisced about the California invasion. He noted with some degree of cynicism that the hordes which had poured into the city during the 1980s and 1990s were, as the new century dawned, rapidly tiring of the area and were even now pointing their fuel-efficient vehicles south, toward Oregon.

If you've scanned the news out of Oregon lately, you know they arrived there safely.

I fear the upcoming recall election will find even more of our neighbors dropping next door to borrow a cup of sanity. With Gray Davis "alternatives" including Arnold Schwarzenegger ("The Governator"), Arianna Huffington, tiny Gary Coleman ("Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Davis?"), and big blob Larry Flynt already on the goofy ballot -- which may includ e the names of dozens of candidates by the time voters finally trudge wearily to the polls in October -- men, women and children from Redding to Riverside are likely even now nibbling low-calorie things like their fingernails and planning a daring escape to a more hospitable climate such as, for example, us...Nevada!

What's to be done? ...............

[Age of Reason]

California may be getting rid of Davis, but it seems most "Republicans" out here only want to replace him with "Davis Lite."

Small wonder this state is tanking as hard as it is. It's already hit rock bottom...now it's skidding a few thousand yards by sheer momentum alone.

Of course the voters would elect a "Davis Lite"--what else would you expect from voters in a state with so much overpopulation?

[Jay D. Dyson]

Of course the voters would elect a "Davis Lite"--what else would you expect from voters in a state with so much overpopulation?

I suppose I fell for the lies of many a self-described Republican in California who insisted that they were as conservative as any other Republican; that the abberations of this state were anomalous and that they were the "actual majority"; and that they would rally around a true conservative candidate in a heartbeat.

...but along came Arnold "Total RINO" Schwarzenegger and *poof*, it was like a DU convention...even on a number of threads here on FR.

-Jay

[Age of Reason]

On the upside, one of my friends there who is a professor says that the state is becoming more conservative every day as people move there.

How conservative--in matters of money, right?

I expect they wouldn't think of disturbing legalized vices like gambling and prostitution--that would be bad for income.

I suspect the kind of "conservative" you're thinking of, is the kind to whom money is the measure of all things--even of principle.

[Age of Reason]

In many respects, most republican politicians today sound less conservative than democrats did thirty years ago.

Hey, if they didn't, the increasingly crowded and liberal voters wouldn't vote for them.

[Riley]

The last data I saw shows that more people left California for other states than came to California from other states.

That's true now, but one meets so few California natives. We've been building up to this for a long time.

[Age of Reason]

I suppose I fell for the lies of many a self-described Republican in California who insisted that they were as conservative as any other Republican; that the abberations of this state were anomalous and that they were the "actual majority"; and that they would rally around a true conservative candidate in a heartbeat.

...but along came Arnold "Total RINO" Schwarzenegger and *poof*, it was like a DU convention...even on a number of threads here on FR.

Might it be your observation that those so-called republicans think making money is all there is to being a conservative?

[The KG9 Kid]

You can't trick me. I'm coming to AZ.

Move over.

[Riley]

You are welcome here in South Carolina. To give you an idea of how different we are from California, South Carolina recently made available "In God We Trust" license plates.

Very cool! I may have to get one. Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina are on my list of places to look for computer support work and generally check out.

My ancestors fought in the Revolution at King's Mountain, SC, amongst other places. It's definitely going to get a visit!

[Riley]

Seriously dude, I hear in some states the FIRST thing you want to do is stop by the DMV and snag a set of new tags as windshield and tire insurance. :0 !

Thanks for the tip. I am going to be staying temporarily in NYC, maybe for a couple of months. I don't know if I'm going to get plates for just that short time there, before I move on South.

[Riley]

Test the waters when meeting new people. Let 'em get to know you before you announce, "Hey, I'm from California!" Our reputation precedes us.

I know, I have some concern about that. I do have a secret weapon though. I have an extremely keen ear for accent and dialect. In a week or two, I will sound like I was born wherever I happen to be at the time. I just pick it up without realizing it.

[Riley]

I wish you well on your journey. Travel safe and enjoy the trip. I hope your new home is everything you expect and more.

Thank you! I am going to be driving the southern route, and I plan to take it easy and see the sights along the way. I am thinking of using a laptop and my digital camera and doing a 'trek across America' webpage, updating it from motel room connections as I go along.

[BlazingArizona]

A frightening invasion! Time to call out the Nevada National Guard!

We're getting a lot of them in Arizona, too. What they can sell a dumpy California house for will buy a substantial estate here, so home builders are raking in a fortune. On the othe hnd, we worry about Californians changing our political climate.

The latest "East German" to consider leaving for Arizona is -- my mother.

[BlazingArizona]

Reno is a mess of dirty freezing snow in the winter and you if you want to live like a lizard, move to Vegas. It's like Phoenix, it's not a temperature, it's an oven setting.....

Please spread the word about this. West and north Phoenix is already a sea of Californians stretching over the horizon. While you're at it, be sure not to tell anyone about the cool high country parts of the state.

[Joe Hadenuf]

While you're at it, be sure not to tell anyone about the cool high country parts of the state.

Cool parts of Arizona? What, did you find a deep cave? Even Flagstaff at 7000 feet cooks in the summer.....Don't get me wrong. Arizona is nice, but for me, only in Feburary. Hell, California's high desert is too hot for me in the summer and compared to Arizona, it's cool.. But don't feel too bad, you guys in Arizona may only have another three months of your solar living hell.

[BurbankKarl]

I started getting those comments in Seattle in the late 1980s! Whenever I showed my drivers license to write a check, the clerk would look at me and say, "You're one of those Californians!"

My reply of, "Funny, you didnt act that way when you recruited me to play football at the UW!" That usually shut them up.

Starbucks only had 4 stores back then.....

Karl in Burbank, CA

[Joe Hadenuf]

West and north Phoenix is already a sea of Californians stretching over the horizon.

That reminds me, we had friends that moved to the Phoenix area about two years ago. They call us every once in a while, admitting they made a mistake, they just cannot deal with the heat, and their kids hate them for the move can't understand why they would leave almost perfect, year round weather of Southern California, and go to Phoenix. He was offered a slightly better paying job, but you see they made the mistake of going to Arizona in the winter, and never knew how bad the summers really were. Now my buddies wife is pissed, as they can't afford to move back to where they were in So Cal, which was a pretty nice area. The family is not happy at all. Everytime we turn around, we hear she is here visting her relatives. LOL!

True story......

[dufekin]

Flagstaff climate summary from WRCC

FLAGSTAFF WSO AP, ARIZONA

Period of Record General Climate Summary - Temperature

Station:(023010) FLAGSTAFF WSO AP
From Year=1950 To Year=2003
	Monthly Averages			Daily Extremes				Monthly Extremes				Max. Temp.		Min. Temp.
	Max.	Min.	Mean	High	Date	Low	Date	Highest Mean	Year	Lowest Mean	Year	>= 90 F	<= 32 F	<= 32 F	<= 0 F
	F	F	F	F	dd/yyyy or yyyymmdd	F	dd/yyyy or yyyymmdd	F	-	F	-	# Days	# Days	# Days	# Days
January	42.7	15.9	29.3	66	30/1971	-22	04/1971	37.1	103	22.2	***	0.0	4.2	30.4	2.8
February	45.3	18.0	31.7	71	26/1986	-23	01/1985	37.2	95	22.5	***	0.0	2.4	27.7	1.3
March	49.7	21.7	35.7	73	31/1966	-16	04/1966	41.8	89	26.8	***	0.0	1.4	29.7	0.6
April	58.1	27.1	42.6	80	07/1989	-2	02/1975	50.4	89	36.2	75	0.0	0.3	24.7	0.0
May	67.6	33.7	50.6	89	31/2002	14	06/1975	56.8	84	44.9	53	0.0	0.0	13.5	0.0
June	78.0	41.1	59.5	96	26/1970	22	02/1951	66.5	74	53.0	65	1.2	0.0	2.9	0.0
July	81.8	50.3	66.0	97	05/1973	32	05/1955	70.0	102	61.7	55	1.7	0.0	0.1	0.0
August	79.2	49.1	64.1	92	01/1977	24	23/1968	66.9	95	59.5	68	0.4	0.0	0.1	0.0
September	73.9	41.3	57.6	90	01/1950	23	21/1955	61.5	56	53.0	86	0.0	0.0	2.6	0.0
October	63.6	30.9	47.2	85	01/1980	-2	30/1971	52.5	88	38.6	71	0.0	0.1	18.9	0.0
November	51.1	22.0	36.6	74	08/1973	-13	18/1958	42.3	95	29.6	72	0.0	1.1	28.0	0.4
December	43.7	16.3	30.0	68	11/1950	-23	08/1978	39.8	80	21.9	72	0.0	4.3	30.0	2.1
Annual	61.2	30.6	45.9	97	19730705	-23	19781208	49.4	81	43.4	79	3.2	13.7	208.4	7.1
Winter	43.9	16.7	30.3	71	19860226	-23	19781208	37.4	81	24.2	79	0.0	10.8	88.0	6.1
Spring	58.5	27.5	43.0	89	20020531	-16	19660304	48.8	89	39.0	75	0.0	1.7	67.8	0.6
Summer	79.6	46.8	63.2	97	19730705	22	19510602	66.6	81	60.5	65	3.2	0.0	3.1	0.0
Fall	62.9	31.4	47.1	90	19500901	-13	19581118	50.6	77	41.7	71	0.0	1.2	49.5	0.4

By your standards, Boston bakes in the summertime, too!

[Central Scrutiniser]

I will do anything in my power to keep Californians from moving here, usually I lie about the scorpions, the rattlesnakes, the trunk murderesses, the poisonous wild condors, the indian burial grounds that all the houses are built on top of, the flesh eating bacterium, the slow drivers from Minnesota....

Phoenix native...

[Joe Hadenuf]

Ok, OK, LOL! So it only gets into the 80s at 7000 feet in Flagstaff....... But -23 in December? Boy, not exactly BBQ weather huh?

[Joe Hadenuf]

I will do anything in my power to keep Californians from moving here, usually I lie about the scorpions, the rattlesnakes, the trunk murderesses, the poisonous wild condors, the indian burial grounds that all the houses are built on top of, the flesh eating bacterium, the slow drivers from Minnesota.... Phoenix native...

How funny, we are always telling people here how nice and mild the weather is in Arizona, and it never gets over 90 and it's a dry heat, and we usually go on to tell them how green and lush everything is...