California’s got the beaches… but that’s about it. The days of ‘California Girls’ by the Beach Boys is long gone. Want attractive women? Go to Texas instead. Unless you have a thing for blue hair, I guess. Let’s take a walk through the modern day reality of The California Socialist Republic and discover 50 reasons why California sucks!
If it isn’t enough to be surrounded by hostile politicians and communists, you also have the luxury of dealing with all of these issues discussed below.
(*Side-note: I originally got the idea for this article from an TheEconomicCollapse article by Michael Snyder. That article was written in 2012, and many of the facts are no longer accurate [such as some unemployment metrics] – so I felt such a legendary article deserved an update. This is the modernized version for 2017-18. I am also going to continually update this throughout 2018, and maybe longer if it stays popular!)
50 Reasons Why California Sucks
1. California ranked dead last in Chief Executive magazine’s annual Best and Worst States for Business survey in 2016. Oh, and it also was ranked dead last for every other year that the survey has been conducted.
2. In 2015, the state of California ranked 50th out of all 50 states in new business creation.
3. According to a recent study, California is the worst-governed state in the entire country for two years in a row!
4. Even after Proposition 30, California still boasts the highest state income tax rate in the nation.
5. Even though California continually (Prop 55) raises taxes dramatically on the wealthy, state revenues are falling like a rock and debt is still adding up.
6. California has the highest sales tax rate in the United States.
7. California has the 9th highest corporate income tax rate in the country.
8. California has the highest “minimum corporate tax” in the country. It is the only state where a corporation must pay money to the state even if a corporation does not make a single dollar of profit.
9. California has the 5th highest gas tax in the country. And don’t worry – if you drive an electric car they’ll still charge you a $100 annual fee for “offsetting your gas taxes”.
10. California is the only state in America that taxes carbon emissions.
11. The state of California issues some of the most expensive traffic tickets in the nation. It is actually the highest when you count in the insurance premium hit.
12. California has historically had the third highest unemployment rate of any state, and has the highest under-employment rate.
13. California scored 45th on “The Nation’s Report Card” for public school test scores, indicating significantly sub-par scores on Math and Reading and generally poorly educated students.
14. The state of California requires licenses for 198 different occupations (the most in the nation). The national average is only 96.
15. California teachers are the 5th highest paid in the nation, but California students rank 46th in math and 49th in reading.
16. California accounts for 12.15% percent of the U.S. population, but a whopping 30% percent of Americans that receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and MOE live there. This amounts to almost 7 billion dollars per year.
17. California now has the lowest credit/bond rating in the entire country (Yes, it even surpassed Illinois).
18. Including unfunded pension liabilities, the state of California has more than twice as much debt as any other state does. Their total state debt (w/o unfunded pension liabilities) is second only to New York.
19. Average pay for California state workers has risen by 100 percent from 2005 to 2012, and 120 percent from 2012-2015. That is awesome news for those state employees, but it is terrible news for the taxpayers that have to pay their salaries and their pensions (Which we already have mentioned are currently unfunded).
20. California has the worst healthcare system in the country. This occurred because of illegals using the healthcare and not paying for insurance or services, hospitals closing down, and increased costs on providers.
21. Since 2007, the number of children living in poverty in the state of California has been steadily increasing.
22. Sadly, an astounding 58.6 percent of all students attending California public schools now qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches. To qualify, the family income must fall below 185% of the poverty line.
23. The American Tort Reform Association has ranked the state of California as the second worst “judicial hellhole” in America, and the worst state-wide “judicial hellhole”.
24. Absurd regulations in California have been increasing in number and scope, while also becoming significantly more problematic for operating businesses within CA.
25. According to the Milken Institute, operating costs for California businesses are 23 percent higher than the national average.
26. The state of California had the worst “small business failure rate” in America in 2010. It was 69 percent higher than the national average. They also have 4 out of the 5 cities in the category of “Top 5 Worst Places For Small Businesses“.
27. California has the third highest homelessness rate (Number of people homeless: 367 per 100,000).
28. Residential customers in California pay about 50 percent more for electricity than the national average.
29. The State of California has the lowest number of emergency departments per capita of any state (6.7 per 1 million people). They scored an F on the “Access to Emergency Care” Report Card.
30. Insane political correctness.
31. One California town is actually considering making it illegal to smoke in your own backyard.
32. The traffic around certain big cities in CA is ranked as the 1st and 3rd worst in the nation.
33. Los Angeles. (Do I really even need to explain?)
34. San Francisco.
35. Oakland.
36. Frivolous spending on unnecessary government services.
38. The rampant gang activity in the state gets even worse with each passing year. (Los Angeles is deemed “Gang Capital of America”).
39. California’s violent crime rate is the 13th highest in the nation.
40. Back in 2010, the city attorney of San Bernardino, California told citizens to “lock their doors and load their guns” because there is not enough money to pay for adequate police protection any longer.
41. California is incredibly lawsuit happy, coming in as one of the Top 5 “Lawsuit Climate” states.
42. They have three of the top 10 most violent cities in the US.
43. In Stockton, the police budget cuts got so bad that the police union put up a billboard at one point with the following message: “Welcome to the 2nd most dangerous city in California. Stop laying off cops.”
44. California doesn’t respect the rights of parents. (Sound like socialist utopia yet?).
45. The absolutely insane California state legislature. Oh, and Jerry Brown.
46. Wildfires, mudslides, and impending giant earthquake.
47. 1.5 out of 10 drivers in the state do not have car insurance. California also has one of the lowest minimum coverage rates. This led California to being ranked #1 in the “Top 5 Riskiest States For Drivers“.
48. In the past decade, over 5 million people left California with only 3.9 million moving in. This has created a loss of over 1 million people, and a budget reduction of 26 billion in annual income.
49. Illegals control the state. Double-digit billions of dollars go to illegal immigrant aid-related expenses (such as housing, K-12 schooling, English supplementation courses, free college for the “undocumented”, healthcare, etc). This is after accounting for tax revenue they contribute.
50. California has the highest school system revenue of any state, but one of the Top 10 Lowest Per Pupil Spending.
Bonus Reasons Why California Sucks:
(Got more? Leave them in the comments!)
51. Two fault lines in California have actually been discovered to be one mega fault line, that was labelled “locked, loaded, and ready to go“.
52. BIG UPDATE: California has surpassed Mississippi in the Poverty Capital of the United States in early 2018. California now has the highest poverty rate in the entire nation. Great job, guys!
53. Prop 47 has resulted in a virtual get out of jail free card. Police are forced to “catch and release” people that are caught with heroin, meth, crack, etc. This includes people with 13 + drug charges. This has dis-incentivized treatments, because it is a lot easier to just take a ticket than 18 months of rehab. Numerous drug treatment programs and courts have closed in high usage areas, and crimes have increased because criminals realize that they won’t actually face any punishment.
54. California’s Police Use of Force Policy does not allow officers to use deadly force when the offender’s only weapon is a vehicle. So if someone is mowing down innocent people or trying to run over police, LEO’s are not authorized to shoot them.
55. Even the criminals think the California laws are ridiculous. Because of (Again, Prop 47) California laws, any theft under $900 is also a required “catch and release”. There was a the known gang member near Palm Springs who had been caught with a stolen gun valued at $625 and then reacted incredulously when the arresting officer explained that he would not be taken to jail but instead written a citation. “But I had a gun. What is wrong with this country?” the offender said, according to the police report.
56. They were rated as one of the “Top 5 Worst States For Gun Owners” for being exhaustively restrictive on 2nd amendment rights. (Yet still has the 13th highest gun murder rate per capita and the 9th lowest gun ownership as % of population).
57. You have to pay to not license your vehicle. (Courtesy of Guest Comment).
58. All dog bite cases are to be reported by the hospital to Animal Control. And if your own dog bites you, you will be fined. (Courtesy of Guest Comment).
59. California has gone so overboard on global warming/climate change that they have regulated cow farts. No, seriously.
60. California reduced KNOWINGLY transmitting HIV/AIDS to another person to just a “misdemeanor”. So be careful sleeping with anyone in Cali, they could give you AIDS and just get a slap on the wrist.
61. Hollywood sexual victimization.
62. The drug problem is so bad that state officials say things like this: “Many of the city’s intravenous drug users inject openly in public places such as parks and public transit stations, leaving dirty needles strewn about.” So what is their solution? To create “Safe Injection Sites” where drug users can go to shoot up, hang out, then leave. Maybe the drug problem wouldn’t be so bad without point #53, but Californian legislature is too stupid to figure that out.
63. When looking at Americans burdened by housing costs – California has 7 of the top 20 ‘Cost Burdened %‘ metropolitan areas for renters, including #2 on the list – LA. It also has 9 out of 20 of the worst metro locations when looking at owners of houses.
64. California was ranked dead last (#50 out of 50 states) in “Quality of Life” by a U.S. News Study published this year.
65. The state has handed out over a million drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. (Which is all you need to vote).
66. Cali’s gun laws are constantly changing and are incredibly difficult to follow. And if you try in good faith to follow them, you may get raided by SWAT and hit with 12 felonies.
67. Cali also has the 3rd lowest average IQ in the entire nation (ranked by McDaniel’s Estimated Average IQ Score on all 50 US states)
68. Santa Barbara, CA recently imposed fines for establishments that provide plastic straws. Yes, seriously. And not a small fine, either. Offenses range from $1,000 to 6 months jail time for EACH plastic straw provided. Councilman Jason Dominguez had this to say about it: “we can’t always count on common sense,” and therefore, “we have to regulate every aspect of people’s lives”. The definition of totalitarianism: “Totalitarianism is a political concept where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to control every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible“. Dude literally just said the definition of totalitarianism is their policy.
69. Three parts to this one (source for all 3):
- California has 8 out of 10 of the most polluted cities by Ozone (even despite their insane regulations)
- It also has 7 out of 10 of the most polluted cities by ‘Year Round Particle Pollution’
- And it has 7 out of 10 of the most polluted cities by ‘By Short-Term Particle Pollution’
70. California also holds the record for most wildfires by state since 2002 at a whooping 87,742, over 20,000 more than the next state in the list. This placed them at the top of the 2017 list for most wildfire prone states and ‘households at high or extreme risk of wildfire‘ (by households).
71. Cali is ranked 48th in “Overall Freedom” by Cato in FI5 (2018) which analyzes states by the policies that shape personal and economic freedom. The Golden State received the lovely title of “most cronyist state in the union”
72. This lovely state is the first in trying to normalize pedophilia by encouraging child sex play and telling parents to let their kids watch porn.
73. The State of California has now spent over $5 billion on its long-delayed high-speed rail project — roughly the same amount of money that Democrats are refusing to provide President Donald Trump for his border wall proposal. They killed 73% of the bullet train, but are keeping 100% of the taxes. Expense for this ‘train to nowhere’ has increased from $33 billion to $98.1 billion. Remember: this is for a train. That’s $189 MILLION per mile.
74. Cali decided that it is offensive to have American flags on police cars. Yeah, they actually had complaints to the police department just because the cops wanted to put the flag of their country on the police cars.
51. It’s full of liberals
Pretty accurate. ThoughtCo listed them as #1 for “Worst Places For Conservatives” https://www.thoughtco.com/the-most-liberal-states-the-worst-places-for-conservatives-3303457
I’m a hardworking contractor and 3rd generation Santa Barbaran. I now hate this state. YUK! Deep corruption in every city. Illegal beaners with attitude and just downright weird and rude people everywhere.
John Frank, bye felicia
What a childish response from someone with a clearly low IQ
Responding to a clearly racist and prejudice filled response, and he chose to approach it wit humor. Harmless humor. And you resort to calling him stupid, so I’m led to believe that you’re a hick who went to got lucky to go to high school and luckily has access to a computer. Am I right in saying it? No! Jesus christ everyone here acts like California is uniform. Everyone is liberal, everyone is pc, everything is illegal, it’s like you guys don’t understand the concept of variability. I’m not gonna sit here and try to convince you that it’s perfect, but in the same way that you’re glad that you don’t live here for things like liberals, taxes, and political correctness. I’ve heard citizens here being glad for not living in the “Hick town mid west” or in the “stupid south”. But of course, wherever you are, you can attest to the fact that most generalizations are not even close to representing where you’re from.. Most here seem to lack any sense of perspective and critical thinking, but you, you take the cake. “A clearly low IQ” reeks of an inflated ego, and your name is Doug. It’s an ugly name.
Your a moron illegal immigrants are not s race Dumbass. California sucks hope u all fall into the ocean and ur state disappears. Cali sucks
Illegals don’t belong here he has a right to complain idiot
At least ppl in middle America and the south are nice and normal and less pollution and regulations and less housing costs
Are you f.. kidding me? Cali sucks a lot because of the “variability” …… of illegal immigrants. This f.. state gives money to anybody for being illegal. I am paying taxes that go for support of illegal immigrants.
Exactly why me and my family left CA as soon as we humanely could
Smart choice Mat
All & Only White countries are bringing in millions of non-Whites.
All & Only White people are demanded to “mix” with them to prove they aren’t “naziswhowanttokill6millionjews.”
All & Only White children are expected to become minorities and eventually extinct EVERYWHERE.
So called “anti-racists” are the ones demanding these anti-White policies. It’s Genocide.
Anti-racist is a codeword for anti-White.
Sadly only a select few Millennials understand this like me. Most have been brainwashed by the liberal media to think that being white is somehow wrong. Ridiculous.
And some of the worst gun control laws in the nation
You forgot point 52. The fault line i gonna break any day now and send the whole state into the ocean… well I guess for the rest of us that’s a great thing in all honesty.
come on fault do your thing!!
The number one saddest reason why California sucks is that Native Californians think it’s normal to be this way because they have never felt the freedom of being on the outside. For that reason, it will never change.
It’s really disappointing, such a beautiful state! I just hope as more Californians move out to escape the terrible governmental structure they have setup, they don’t also bring the same problems with them (As we’ve seen in Oregon and now we’re seeing in places like Austin, Texas)
Not true, for me anyway. I am here because of my children, and I can hardly wait to get out of this hell-hole state when the time is right!
Denise,same here my wife wanted to move from the east coast.For the children who have nothing to do with me and use their mother as an unpaid baby sitter.I hate kalifornia and at my age will likely die in this crap hole,probably homeless and starving after these nuts vote in gruesome newsome.This state is hopeless even worse than NY a once great state run into the ground by that idiot cuomo
I hope you get the chance Denise.
Yes unfortunately. I want to go to Texas and okan on hitting the road Aug 2019. I just hope that CA folks that go there don’t bring their garbage with them….if they have garbage.
I left California in 2017, and moved to Texas. Trust me I didn’t bring any crazy liberal ideologies with me, because I’m not liberal. Everything is cheaper for me now, and my pension isn’t taxed to death. California is a beautiful state but, it has been corrupted, and destroyed since 2001.
Native Californians are nothing like what you people are talking about. They can’t stand the SoCal attitude, are pragmatic, and are completely unrecognizable to the transplants and tourists who come to California from points East after watching one season too many of Entourage and quite literally, BECOME the Californians the rest of the country equates with Native Californians. So when you want to talk about what you hate about Native Californians look in the mirror and realize the people you hate came from where you are and now they play Californians in the streets.
I doubt they came from Kansas, we think California is the home of the Craziest people ever. We also despise the East Coasters. As a flyover state, we pray that none of you ever stop or stay. Take your crazy to the coasts and leave us alone. We are all just farmer rubes, nothing to see here.
You have to pay to “not” license you vehicle.
The state requires a non operational fee on every vehicle that will not be driven on a street. Please help we are taxed to death here.
please send money we need it so our government can waste it.
California is proof of how liberal policies work. California truly sucks and only an idiot would argue with that. America needs to wake up.
California needs ro wake up and take their state back. who keeps voting these communists in? The militia should be taking over that state, and locking Brown in prison with all his thugs,
Yeah i got a new one to the list # 66 Most people from LA are self centered bunch of assholes that think there better than everybody else, when in reality there personality sucks !
California is the 6th largest economy in the world, GDP of 2.5 trillion, yet rape the middle class with any tax or fee you can imagine. Some, if you knew about, you would laugh and cry at your helplessness.
Largest economy does not mean “good” economy. An economy that is trillions of dollars in debt would still be considered a large economy.
California has so many regulations, they can’t police them all so it advertises for people to tell on their neighbor and Californians are happy to do so. ie: during the drought, ads that said if you see your neighbor washing their car call this #, or if you suspect your neighbor is repairing their house, call the planning department to make sure they have permit. And so on…… Remember Hitler encouraging citizens to tell on Jews?
*compares Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party to drought management* we have a winner boys.
Because thats how the holocaust started and telling on your neighbor got even worse in East Berlin after WW2. Thats why studing history is so important. I am seeing whats going on now mimicking not only pre-ww2 but especially the social issues Vietnam had when the Japenese left. If you encourage entitlements the people are easier to control. And the # 1 reason POLITICIANS WANT IMMAGRANTS IS BECAUSE THEY GET MORE FUNDING IN THEIR CITY. DO YOU REALLY THINK THEY CARE?? No its all about getting the money for funding. They skim the top and take so much of it.
Wow, people like you are not just stupid but dangerous as well.
Oh lest we forget 3 more reasons Cali really sucks… Pelosi… Waters… Schaffer… Y’all can have em!
I lived there in 2016 and it is one of the worst places I’ve ever been to. The people are awful traffic is awful. Things are overpriced. San Francisco is full of bums who harass you. The bart is scary and the employees (government workers) let the thugs run wild on the trains.
I can’t afford college in CA due to being middle class and not being given financial aid.
I have lived in california for most my life. I did get out about 3 years ago and took my whole family with me. Life for us now has completely changed for the good. In California I was renting a one bedroom apartment for 1000 dollars a month and now that same apartment is renting for thirteen hundred dollars in just 3 years. Now my sister called me up the other day (crying) because she can’t make it in California any more. I told my sister to pack your things and bring your kids to my house. We live in a 5 bedroom house outside of California ( it only took my wife and i three years to buy a house in oregon.) The good news is we got this beautiful house on the river for less payments than the one bedroom apartment in California. I just can’t understand why ‘anybody would raise a family in this corrupted state. My wife and all our friends agree that the Democrats have run that state right into the ground. and i got news for you ( It’s only going to get worse, .
Here’s another one to add to this list: We live in the liberal /illegal infested cesspool Contra Costa County. My neighbor was bitten by her toy poodle causing a small puncure wound. She when to the local hospital to get checked out. All dog bites cases are to be reported by the hospital to Animal Control per the nanny state government. The worse part of this: Animal Control was waiting at her door when she got home, and fined her $150.00 for her dog biting her.
Sadly, I wasn’t surprised reading that considering what state we’re talking about. Complete insanity.
Oh how can I stop…Hollywood liberals… Perhaps the epitome of the word hypocrites…
The Hollywood liberals should take in 1 immigrant family per month, feed them, give them healthcare. Not one of them would do it. They get on the social humanitarian bandwagon as a means of reconciling their guilt over their depraved lives.
I’ve personally lived in California going on for 2 years. This is one of the worst states I’ve lived in, the pollution is so bad that my sinuses are messed up, and giving me bad Acme. Traffic is horrible, takes almost a hour just going 3 miles down the road, 90% of restaurants are Asian based, cost of living is insane, not to mention the homeless problem, everyone is so close to one another, you can hear your neighbor fart, gotta pay taxs on everything, your word means nothing out here, try to be friendly you’ll get stabbed, or even looked at like a extraterrestrial. Only good thing is here, are the beaches, even that gets old seeing, I highly recommend to avoid this hole at all cost.
One thing that should be added to this which agrees with the one posters comment about people sucking. is the pervasive self-entitlement attitude. People won’t even make eye contact with another person or give a simple smile like it will cost them something. And so many of them think nothing of parking in a handicap space because it;’s empty and their deadbeat ass is too lazy to walk an extra 10 steps. It wouldn’t be that way if more people were decent but it shows how much people’s respect and consideration for others has declined. It’s systemic.
Have had quite a few comments about the “attitude” in Cali. Would love to incorporate it into the list, but trying to keep it source-stocked. If I happen to find some facts to back it up I’ll definitely be tossing it in. The culture that ends up spreading in geo-areas is definitely systemic, it’s a shame. Definitely agree that in the 60s and 70s Cali seemed like such an amazing place compared to now.
Thanks for the comment(s) Ronald!
I grew up in the PNW with freedom and wide open spaces. There weren’t many rules and people were genuine. Yes some were genuinely jerks, most were genuinely cool. but at least genuine. A few random states later and I have ended up in southern California for the past 7 years. 7 years and not a genuine friendship made. Shady, hollow, very superficial people with zero tact or manners live here. I have never felt so alone.
The taxes here are a joke. I have added up ALL the taxes paid in CA .and I could have bought a mansion and paid for it outright in so many other states. Gas, utilities, parking, events, medical bills, are all outrageously expensive in CA. Why is food so expensive when it comes from less the 20 miles away? So many corrupt police, seen first hand, numerous occasions, and then constantly getting sued and fired for misconduct. Difficult to get a job where you don’t speak Spanish. Really? Is this America or no?
Unfortunately I am surrounded by ding dong CA. lovers. Majority of my family lives all over this forsaken state and think it s Eutopia. Well I think it sucks! Spouse is all rattling on about moving to Palm Springs now. ….. I’m like WHAAAAT? Yeah I am over the California dream or rather the Mirage. Crowded, dumpy and covered in homeless people who attack and scream at me just about everywhere and I live in the fancy part!. I have only had 1 year out of 7 where I am not being asked to serve jury duty. The streets are sh***y for how much taxes are paid and the quality of the water is well, its embarrassing. I have never liked living so that I can hear every argument each neighbor has and I don’t like trying to get out in to nature only to be told I have to stay behind all the ropes. Im not one that does well with a million restrictions so SoCal to me has been claustrophobic.
In the Northwest hubby used to fix things around the house and cuddle up by warm fires with me. Not here, its all tank tops and trying not to melt our faces off. Fixing things? No , no, men go lazy in CA. and wimpy …and bitchy. Long gone are roasted marshmallows naked by the fire. Nope here its go stare at the girls in bikinis and live paycheck to paycheck. Why do people want to be poor for all this and why are the oblivious Californians so proud of having so little? There is a better way folks,,just GTF out! I hope to very soon.
After all my venting I just have to state the absolute joy I have when I hear a Californian complain about the rain. Oh- how I laugh. I respond, “well maybe it will wash away some of the stink?” Of course it never does …. and the braindead Californian gives me a blank stare.
Pretty much everything is illegal….fireworks, fires on the beach, walking a dog on or near a beach, parking too long, going for a hike without an “Adventure Pass” you seriously cannot make this stuff up….did I mention the cost of gas and vehicle fees? Ouch!!
even the criminal with the stolen gun thinks this is stupid
And let us not forget the wildfires, and increased air pollution from it. Double the air pollution for those wildfire days. I can’t wait to get out of here!
They say the air pollution travels all the way to New York City. Best of luck to your attempted escape!
Its such a shame but i have to agree, the golden era of California faded decades ago. For me its the people i didnt care for. Ive lived in San Diego, LA. And the bay area. It just sucks the positive life out of you. San Diego being my favorite of the 3. Its just so soulless, pretentious, and void of down to earth people. Especially the bay area.
Waaaay to many illegals and non-conformist foreigners. It has been destroyed, and any worthwhile people are and have left. I think silicon Valley is the worst place ive ever spent time. Social awkward indifference. The Tech industry has ruined palo alto all the way up to SF. No sense of real community, just drones going to work avoiding eye contact.
Just people not giving a shit about anyone outside anything they know. Its just depressing. Ive been out here a year and am so looking forward to getting out! I dont know how people do it. You have two choices here, Become phony and souless, or get the fuck out. I am choosing the latter.
Im very glad you mentioned the bay area/silicon valley. Im in SoCal and despise it. Family is urging me to go up the the bay area but I have been questioning it as I don’t like California in general (mostly the people. ) I needed to hear an opinion from someone other than my Ca worshipping family to tell me what its really like in the Bay area. I hope you are finding a better place to head towards.
So true, 3rd worlders have ruined this country. When you bring in 3rd worlders you turn into a 3rd world.
I am from South Africa and had a California dream but not anymore!!!
dude, South Africa’s is the worst place on the Earth next to Somalia
Darshan you speak like if Africa is better than California