Another day, another article lamenting California.
This time it’s from William Voegeli, a “visiting scholar” at Claremont McKenna College’s Henry Salvatori Center for the Study of Individual Freedom in the Modern World (a long-winded way to say “another right-wing think-tank”).
In this article — reprinted on the opinion page of the Los Angeles Times — Voegeli compares California to Texas and — surprise surprise — finds California lacking:
Overall, the Census Bureau’s latest data show that state and local government expenditures for all purposes in 2005-06 were 46.8% higher in California than in Texas: $10,070 per person compared with $6,858…
Between April 1, 2000, and June 30, 2007, an average of 3,247 more people moved out of California than into it every week, according to the Census Bureau. Over the same period, Texas had a net weekly population increase of 1,544 as a result of people moving in from other states…
And who’s to blame? Take a wild guess…
California’s interlocking directorate of government employee unions, issue activists, careerists and campaign contributors has become increasingly aggressive and adept at using rhetoric extolling public benefits for all to deliver targeted advantages to itself.
What a great argument.
Blame the unions and the activists (just the left-leaning ones).
I assume that by “activists” he is excluding the right-wing groups like the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association that have done so much to destroy the ability of California to govern its economic house.
As a former Texan who moved to California in 1989, I can attest that the choice between Texas and California is clear.
If you want lower taxes, less services and general conservatism (plus humidity, latent racism and concealed weapons), then by all means move to Texas. In fact, PLEASE move to Texas.
I’ll be staying in California though. For all its faults (and they are numerous), California is still about the future, about starting anew and about living in one of the most beautiful places on Earth where people are generally a little looser, laid-back and liberal than elsewhere in the United States.
For me, California is still worth fighting for.
For a full read of this obnoxious column: The Golden State Isn’t Worth It .
