Can you blame them for leaving. The whole state is going to He11. Not a religious statement.

Maybe it's because the producers in California are finally getting fed up with supporting the moochers. Wild guess here.

Common Libs.... show us how to run a state... show us that your social policies are so much better than the right... after all those Republican governors don't know what they are doing.

269,772 have moved to the state from other countries, according to the Census Bureau.

The agriculture industry, one of the state’s largest, has been particularly affected by fewer undocumented immigrants crossing the border, deterred from coming to the U.S. because of high unemployment and a developing middle class in Mexico.

California unemployment rate falls to 10.2% in September

The unemployment rate drop, from 10.6% in August, was one of the biggest of any state for the month. But only 8,500 net new California payroll jobs were created.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/20/business/la-fi-california-jobs-20121020

Yep... show us how it's done

The agriculture industry, one of the state’s largest, has been particularly affected by fewer undocumented immigrants crossing the border, deterred from coming to the U.S. because of high unemployment and a developing middle class in Mexico.

What is the impact on production and prices?

I agree, Mary Jones. The state has been headed downward for a very long time. There are just too many superficial, greedy wannabes and stoned goofballs. California's rat race culture makes New York look kind in comparison.

Too bad. It's a beautiful place, or was until all those crazy people ruined it.

A shift of 100,000 compared to CA's population of roughly 38 million is hardly newsworthy, it's a whopping 0.26%...

This will have a negligible affect on any tax rates and unless these 100 k all moved out of the same area will not be noticed in any other markets either.

"Common Libs.... show us how to run a state.."

This is NOT a liberal vs conservative issue. Neither Democrats or Republicans can run this state. California is totally ungovernable because of the ease of ballot measures passed by the voters. Many of them contradict each other. California is the perfect example showing why a pure democracy doesn't work.

Come on rightwing nutjob, sign that petition to secede.

Show us how it's done.

I am from CA and moved away. Not over political issues - it came down to rent and gas. My rent in CA (for a measly 2 bedroom apartment) is the same as my mortgage on a 4 bedroom 2 bath house. Gas is about 2 dollars cheaper too. I don't know where that fits in your political agendas, but there you have it.

Florida had the same problem, more people moving out than in, for a few years. It was caused by the cost of living, when the crash hit us and housing went down with taxes and other things we are back on a growth pattern. The people are moving back.

The state began to be run into the ground through the misguided prop 13, Howard Jarvis' revenge of the wealthy on the state. Made it so commercial property is only taxed at its value of decades ago rather than what it's worth today, depriving the state of billions of real estate tax dollars. Then add that ALL the other states have created film commissions since the 70s, taking trillions in business away from the industry in CA, along with Canada's film industry growth also depriving CA of billions. Then there is the insatiable prison guard lobby which succeeded in convincing Repubs in the statehouse to keep giving them hundreds in millions in raises when no one was paying for them. Then again, CA has the 8th or 9th largest economy in the world, so it'll do just fine in the long run, despite all you people saying whatever with no knowledge of the state whatsoever.

mjs-2426124

If the 0.26% is mainly comprised of the 1% expected to pay all the taxes I would say this is a big problem!

@Don Giacomo - I hope you are being sarcastic, because other than a brief stint with Schwarzenegger (who was really a RINO) as governor, this state has been in the grips of the democrats since Reagan left office. Of course one thing that people who do not live hear do not understand is that the state is not all liberal. In fact the southern part of the state, Orange and San Diego counties, plus most of the interior counties that are away from the coast are fairly conservative. As for people leaving, I think this is a good thing. It is way too crowded out here and we certainly will not miss a hundred thousand people when compared to the total population of the state. I moved out here from the east coast the first time in the late 90s. I have gone back and forth a few times do to work but have finally settled in out here for the long haul. You can not beat the climate of the southern CA coast. You do not have to deal with extreme cold or heat any time of year. If you want a taste of the winter weather for skiing an the like it is only a few hours drive away in the mountains. The only negative is that it is expensive to live out here, but salaries tend to reflect that fact so overall it balances out.

Stew123

Let the liberal vs. conservative comments begin.

If I migrate from a liberal state where employment and taxes are high to a conservative state where employment and taxes are low, am I liberal, conservative, or just smart?

Don (#1.4),

"The Republican governors have been running that state for decades and have run it into the ground."

You're absolutely wrong! The state has been & continues to be run by liberal democraps for many years. In fact the nutjobs here voted in even more this year, giving the democraps a super-majority in the state senate. We had Arnie for a while & he proved to be a Rino, which is as close to having a republican conservative running the state as I recall us ever having.

Don,

The legislature is where the real authority is. Governors are pretty much like Presidents. They can request spending propose policies, but the legislature must pass those things to be law. The legislature has been a democrat majority for decades.

@ Dick 1.10

The reason people are moving to Florida is because they are leaving high tax states like New York and California. Florida has no state income tax and NY along with CA have the highest. This isnt really rocket science.

Jf in sd

You don't really live in San Diego, do you. The cool thing about modern technology, is it is easy to find the truth when someone posts anything. "In the grips of the Democrats", well, maybe the legislature, but there has been 3 republican governors of Cali since 1980. Totalling 24 years. Out of 32 years. I'm sure you must be referring to some other branch.

Right??

I left CA 16 years ago when the state decided it would take property taxes and redistribute them back to the schools based on the number of students. The year that happened, all sports and music (band, orchestra and chorus) were eliminated from school systems and put into the hands of private groups.

California is a tough place to raise kids, not the kind of values taught in school that I wanted my children to learn. Every day I visit my children's school in the midwest, I am thankful for the decision my wife and I made.

TeachingYoufor25Years

My comment was about why we had a negative growth rate recently and then it reversed itself and people came back. Our taxing methods didn't changed over that period. If you really thing people are moving here for low taxes then you are missing most of the other reasons. If you want to move toward low taxes then Tennessee is the place for you. I think it is the cheapest in the US.

We have much more to offer than lower taxes and with our recent application for secession we will no longer be able to claim the Fed caused all of our problems. We can take all the credit for ourselves. Our biggest issue is voting, the term of the elected official may actually expire before there is a decision on who it is.

Some people think the secession request is caused by infiltrators and agitators from the previously seceded nation "The Conch Republic" much like they blame Cuba for their spies coming here. But I think we just want to govern our own laid back state to our own liking.

P.S. As a negotiating factor we will leave the Pan Handle with the US.

Gee, who didn't see this coming?! Liberalism works until you run out of other people's money.

Stew123

Let the liberal vs. conservative comments begin.

Seems you started them...

But anyways, Texas is slowly but surely turning liberal. Simply go look at Austin, San Antonio, Houston, etc. Take a close look at how much of Texas DID vote for Obama this time around. Look at the county breakdown and you might be surprised how much less blue there is these days. So if you think those who are moving to Texas are doing so for political reasons, they're going to be sorely disappointed.

Next, wouldn't a gameplan for rightwingers be to encourage people to move to California to swing the majority and it's huge number of electoral votes?

I can also assured you I can find more rightwing governed states where population is moving out at a faster pace than the pathetically small 100,000 number from CA. Heck they've been leaving my state in droves. Maybe that's because of Booby Jindal's decimation of education and healthcare.

People don't leave for political reasons, they leave for economic reasons: jobs and cost of living. Texas has no state income tax, relatively cheap housing and oodles of jobs these days in a variety of industries.

Ramilo,

100,000 us a net loss as 500,000 moved in, but 600,000 left.

Looking forward to California completely falling into the Ocean, SOON!

California's crushing debt and ever-increasing pressures to raise taxes to fund massive entitlements for ILLEGAL FOREIGN NATIONALS will continue to devastate this state. In LA County, 22% of CalWorks recipients are ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS! COMPLETELY UNSUSTAINABLE!

@ BigJeff, Well said, I'm with you.

If the population has leveled out, I'll take it, more breathing room for those of us that do love CA and will never leave.

@ armurray, The school system my kids went to here in No. Ca. offered a lot more than the school I went to where I was raised in the midwest.

Don't know where this reporter has been but back in the 90's took a vacation to Colorado and all I heard from the locals was how Californians were invading the state and taking over the schools and government. They were not happy with the aliens.

Republicons have repeatedly screwed up California. In the 1960s we had a working Green Card program where field workers would come in and harvest the crops, and then go back home. There was a smaller work force that stayed year round for the regular work.

Reagan ended that by allowing undfocumented aliens in and not allowing them to be rounded up and sent home. This was the start of our illegal aliens problem. He also trashed the economy.

It took Governor Jerry Brown years to get our economy going again.

Then came republicon Pete Wilson and his round the clock infighting when nothing got done. Yippee. Oh yeah, Prop 13 came along. Do you know you can inherit prop 13 tax rates?

Then came Democrat and Veteran Gray Davis. Also there came an energy deregulation bill written by Pete Wilson and Phil Gramm. I was happy with Davis. Things were turning around and looking up until the poison pill in that energy bill kicked in. We were $11 Billion in the hole in a matter of months! Then came the recall that gave us the governator and $46 Billion deficits. Whoopee!!

Now we have good ol' Governor Moonbeam back and we are heading in the right direction again. They are even talking about a budget surplus by 2014!

Our history proves that Democrats are indeed better at handling an economy than republicons are.

California Budget Deficit Shrinks; May See Surplus By 2014 « CBS San Francisco

Taxes, Spending, Democrats better

Dick-2100935... Tennessee? former father-in-law moved there on the coaxing of his 27 yr younger new wife. lol He got half of his Great northern furniture stolen, his dairy cows had their udders cut off by meth heads and the local law enforcement told him 'what do you expect, this is the south, yankee'. He tried to sell his 100 acres but no buyers so far so he can't move. Poetic justice. Looking for a state with no taxes and hating living there. lmfao

Everyone say THANK YOU NANCY PELOSI!! Thought she was gonna bail your asses out with all the upcoming defaults didn't ya!? Just like Detroit thinks they're going to get bailed out because they voted for Obama!

Damn I love how Obama gets re-elected and the Democratic states start crumbling. Red states are doing just fine though!

You mean, high taxation and excessive regulation don't work?!!

Oh NO!!

Who's gonna tell Obama!??

The Republican governors have been running that state for decades and have run it into the ground.

That is because the Democrats that have been in charge of them for 180 years and ran them in to the ground was changed out and they are in a up hill battle to change it. Lets face it Gray Davis did nothing for California. Glad I moved out and so are my parents they love the state but taxes drove them out. Here is an example we inherited a 6 year old truck gmc 1500 we paid 600 to register it 500 for weight and another 600 for out of state regeneration a month after that my did paid the registration on his 4 year old GEO metro and paid 450 on it. Gray Davis then tried to triple that tax.

I understand wanting to leave CA, but I wish they would keep their butts out of TX. We don't need them messing up the gene pool here.

Go ahead and bash California. Leave as soon as possible and don't let the door hit you on your way out. California is one of the most diverse and beautiful places in the US. I lived here in the late 60's, left, then came back and stayed. California pays more in Federal taxes than it gets back in return, it produces more food than any other state. We know you are all jealous that you have to live in armpit states.

Tax and spend, tax and spend, tax and spend. This is the mind set of the California legislature. Now with a supermajority in both houses, they can tax at will, and can (and will) veto bills the governor objects to. Easy for me to say this, we live here... watching businesses hit the road is almost a hobby for some.

@ Miss Copper's -

We know you are all jealous that you have to live in armpit states.

Only reason you can validly say that is because most other states have a working class and sweat. At least our states don't have multiple counties claiming bankruptcy. Maybe they need to re-evaluate their tax scheme hmm?

California pays more in Federal taxes than it gets back in return,

That is only because they have more millionaires than almost any other state When households with an income of 0-40K pay an average of 0% income taxes and households with an income of 40-50K pay an average of 3.2% and households with an income of 50-75K pay an average of 5.7% (we paid 4% on 72 K)and households with an income of 75-100K pay an average of 7.2%(last year we paid 6.13% on 91K). is it any wonder that is true for California??

As a Californian, I say good riddance to them. They can go live in the teabag states. Probably raise our education scores.

They can go live in the teabag states. Probably raise our education scores.

Yes I could see that California schools are that bad.

I was born in Los Angeles County and have lived here my entire life. I used to think about leaving, but the older I get, the more I realize that I couldn't possibly live anywhere else. I live about 20 minutes from the beach and 30 minutes from the mountains, where I go all the time to hike. I am 20 minutes away from Disneyland, where we have annual passes. On Thanksgiving, we had our family over and relaxed in our back yard, with no need for a heater. We don't ever have to worry about driving in the snow, unless we specifically go to a mountain area for recreation. Yes, our taxes and the cost of living are high. We are a middle class family and we have to watch our spending. We could probably buy a bigger house and pay less living in another state, but we wouldn't be nearly as happy. We watch our money and bargin shop so we can live the CA lifestyle that works for us. I don't mind hearing of people leaving - I can tell you by the amount of cars on the freeway that it hasn't made a dent in the local population. I can also tell you that during the height of the recession, I knew many people who were out of work. Everyone one of those people who were looking for jobs, has since found one and none are working for minimum wage, as they would be if they moved to TX.

DB Akron 1.27

Excellent point. I'd also bet that most of the 600k that left were taxpayers and most of the 500k that moved in went directly to the welfare office.

You learn this on the second day of ANY college economics class in the country. There are opportunity costs and people will relocate if necessary to reduce their opportunity costs.

Or, in other words, it is simple: If you live in one city and a neighboring city is cheaper to live in and has a better infrastructure you move. People do this every day. Who benefits? Not the city. You have those more ABLE to move (middle to upper class) leaving those with no ability to move due to limited income and skills. So your qualified work force leaves and all you have left is mostly unqualified who need government assistance (aka Detroit, Chicago, etc.).

But what if a neighboring STATE is cheaper to live in and has a better infrastructure? You move. Who benefits? Not the state. You have those more ABLE to move (middle to upper class) leaving those with no ability to move due to limited income and skills. So your qualified work force leaves and all you have left is mostly unqualified who need government assistance (aka California).

THAT is what we are seeing in California and also saw in cities like Detroit, Chicago, etc. But what if a neighboring COUNTRY is cheaper to live in and has a better infrastructure? You move. Who benefits? Not the country. You have those more ABLE to move (middle to upper class) leaving those with no ability to move due to limited income and skills. So your qualified work force leaves and all you have left is mostly unqualified who need government assistance (aka France). THAT is currently happening in France and when the costs of ObamaCare kick in AND taxes on the "rich" get increased you will see some of the wealthy and entrepreneurs leaving and relocating to another country.

Amazing how we have many historical examples of how big government has hindered economic growth and examples of cities and states collapsing before our very eyes due to "big government" but the Obama is doing the same thing on a national level? And for some weird reason he seems to be hoping for a different outcome than history confirms will ACTUALLY be the case?

You mean, high taxation and excessive regulation don't work?!!

Oh NO!!

Who's gonna tell Obama!??

Except for the fact that CA is a "contributor" state (it pays more into the fed than it gets back). Maybe what they need to do is stop subsidizing all the red states.

I've been to LA a couple of times. People rude,annoying and a few choice words I won't say. When My wife and I got married in Vegas . and otw back from the Grand Canyon, I drove her to the California state line took a pic and told her "This is a closest u r going to get to California." And, made sure I was standing in Nevada when we took the pic.

NO wonder people r leaving... I would get out to because...

CALIFORNIA SUX!

Except for the fact that CA is a "contributor" state (it pays more into the fed than it gets back). Maybe what they need to do is stop subsidizing all the red states.

Or stop claiming that it is the largest contributor state when it simply has the majority of the rich who are taxed excessively due to their income. Per example: Hollywood. This argument is really two-fold. Only support that is being given are by the working class and CA has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, along with a downsizing in business outside of anything involving arts and creativity. Taxing the few working and running up regulations and applying those costs to what working class you have is going to drive them away, it's no wonder they chose to relocate to Texas or other red states. They have a similar mentality to earn what you work for.

You may want to take a look at NBC's chart on which states receive the most Welfare though - CA is #1. Interesting huh?

About 15 years ago I was hired by a retailer whose name you would recognize to help with their expansion into multiple states. They had already committed and signed a 9-year lease to a place in California. Now my job came into play. Trend analysis. Proforma income statements. Assist in projections.

As I started doing my job and researching labor and benefit costs and the INCREDIBLE amount of laws for overtime, health benefits, high minimum wages, state income taxes, etc. I informed the executive committee that it was unlikely we could make a profit. Their initial analysis greatly underestimated their potential expenses.

9-years later they closed the store and left the state. Stores in 8 other states they CAN make a profit but can't make a profit in California. Costs are just to high to recoup.

Liberalism unfortunately doesn't equal reality. You can WANT these things all you want to but businesses and investors have the last word. And their last word from this article is that they have had enough.

“We expect over the next couple of years that we will add jobs,” said Robert Kleinhenz, chief economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.

Sounds just like an Obama campaign promise.

James, your first mistake was stepping foot in LA. Why would you? Its the population of the entire state of Mississippi in one freakin county. Traffic, rude folks (but I think NYC-ers are worse!), and superficial a-holes. Why didn't you go to SF or SD? SD is more pleasant, less crowded, not as extreme in weather, and overall friendlier people.

That being said, CA, with its crazy hippie weirdos, is diverse and progressive (sometimes even TOO progressive). I like it here, though wouldn't mind traveling to different states to get a feel of the "state culture". Been to AZ and TX, and quite honestly, they are cheaper, less progressive, just as diverse versions of CA. Nuthin new there. People who moved to places like AZ, TX, and NV love CA culture, but just can't afford to live there.

Article on front of MSNBC about the Chinese buying an electric car battery Co. in Michegan. Stoners in Colo on radio giggling like Frank Burns in a MASH episode cause they get to grow and smoke. California losing people looking for opportunity elsewhere. Here in Florida the brainiacs think more casinos is how you build an economy. Just talked to a Grad student getting his Masters in Political Science at next week's ceremony. NO job lined up. Not sure where he'll be soon or doing what. SO gambling, getting stoned, and buying your household crap from China. Good job America ! Keep it up ! Your plan seems to be working very well.

A couple of thoughts from this Californian.

First, the state's natural beauty and climate mean it will always be a desireable place, no matter what the unemployment rate. Yesterday I walked my dogs beside the sparkling reservoir under bright blue skies. I could not stand living in a place where skies are gray for days at a time.

Second, we got at least one new unemployed resident recently - Mitt Romney. He may talk a redstate story, but when he chooses to live, he picks the prettiest, best state in the union.

Third, we didn't use to be a Democratic state. Our governors, going back to Reagan, were overwhelmingly Republican (Reagan (R) 8 yrs, followed by Brown (D) 8 years, then Duekmaejien (R) 8 years, Wilson (R) 8 years, Gray Davis, but he was recalled after just a few years because of the energy crisis, and Schwartzenegger (R) 8 years). We got turned into a Democratic state by two factors - one is that the Republicans did a bad job, the other is that the conservative entertainment industry decided that California was a convient target to whip up their audiences' hatred. Even this last RNC we had Chris Christie saying how stupid Californians were to have not elected Meg Whitman (hey Christie - checked out HP stock lately?). And this thread delighting in California's hard times is another example. In case you guys on the right are not aware, California's got the most electoral votes, and your anger and attacks assure that they will go blue for some time to come.

Fourth, we are among the highest paid states for equivalent jobs. Yes, jobs are disappearing, but they are largely minimum wage jobs (one reason that our average salary has been shooting up). We are headed towards a first state - third world state relationship with our poor cousins. We'll build the factories where labor is cheap, and hold the board meetings here with ocean vistas out the windows.

Fifth, I am so proud of our state, which selflessly voted to raise taxes to end the deficit crisis here once and for all. Conservatives can predict failure from that, but I predict success. We'll see over the next few years who is right.

We live in Washington State and visit my family in the central valley area regularly. I love them dearly, but they are flaming conservatives. My dad often attends Tea Party meetings. I had no idea there was an area so thick with conspiracy theories, but it is a bit isolated there. (see yellow-billed magpies) There are radical giant billboard signs that say things like: "look out for the socialists", and "stop government take over", "don't let them take away our guns!" (no one is taking away your guns, by the way. Giant billboards there! Anyway, I could see if the other half of my conservative family didn't like CA and didn't have good jobs there that they might think something crazy and move to Texas, or Oklahoma. (my dad is from there).

I had no idea there was this large area of extreme right wingers there.

Another year, another net loss of population. This trend goes back to 2000 but until recently many Californians were in a state of denial about it and from the comments here, many still are in denial. The reason is jobs. People follow their jobs to places where they can live better. I recall when the company I once worked for, open a campus in Idaho. We had many engineers eager to go there because they could finally afford a house, save money to send their kids to college, not fight hours of stop and go traffic to go to work, etc. It is no coincident that Texas is the preferred state as it is a state with high job growth whereas California stop growing jobs here decades ago especially the blue collar jobs. Two factories closed this year in the central valley. California has a poverty rate above the national average while having 3 of the richest counties in the nation. The state is turning into a 3rd world state with a few rich people, a lot of poor people and not much inbetween.

"The state is turning into a 3rd world state with a few rich people, a lot of poor people and not much inbetween."

I'd say that the USA is turning into that third world condition, but the wealthy (heck, even Romney and the Koch brothers) are living in California and the poor are going to Texas (#1 in minimum wage jobs, Yee-haw!).

We occasionally get people visiting from red states. They gawk at our supermarkets, and say to each other, "I never knew such wealth existed!"

It's so nice to read the opinions of my fellow Americans. You step foot in one city and you know all about the entire state? You have some idea of what it's like here or what we are like based on politics, hollywood or general gossip? If you visited and were treated rudely, consider it was probably someone that moved here from another state.

I was born here in San Diego, I have travelled around the country and other countries and I still live here because it's nice. And because, being from California, I'm treated with disdain from my countrymen. Mind you, I am a kind person and never rude and don't look down on anyone.

It's interesting to note that when there is a natural disaster in another part of my country, I for one am concerned and hope for the best and certainly don't wish for harm to come to anyone. But we have a firestorm or an earthquake and you ALL hope we fall into the ocean? You HOPE we come to harm.

9-years later they closed the store and left the state. Stores in 8 other states they CAN make a profit but can't make a profit in California. Costs are just to high to recoup.

I wonder how many of those employees in the 8 other states are supplementing their income with food stamps?

Pedestrian: Make your snide remarks all you want to but reality is something that becomes clear to everybody. In California it is difficult to make a profit. I don't pretend to know who is or is not on food stamps in the "other 8 states" but what I CAN tell you is in the other 8 states they have JOBS!! Something that is not available by THAT employer in California.

Amazing how somehow liberals will even state that NOT having a job in California is BETTER than having a job in another state? No wonder California is bankrupt!!

Just what the nation needs, Californians breaking out of quarantine and spreading their cancerous liberal tax and spend politics with them, leaving a string of bankrupt states behind them.

Hey Californians, if you're just going to "f" up our state, then stay home.

What's funny here is watching people tout the "brilliance" of California and insulting the the states Californians are escaping to. Hey Californians, your "brilliant" plans and policies have both people and industries fleeing your state in droves. You are "brilliant" like Greece is "brilliant"...not very.

I left CA for ID 7 years ago. The main reason being the school systems. In the area we could afford to live at the time, our daughter would have had to go to a school with around 90% ESL students. Nothing against them, but how can teachers teach effectively in that environment?

I still have family in HB, and I love to go visit them. Nothing against CA, but quality of life is more than just having nice beaches.

So, we are moving in (?) right direction.

Yet another day comes and goes when NBCNews.com writers are incapable of publishing even one news story that does not contain errors in grammar, punctuation and/or spelling. Are you trying to create a new kind of shorthand by eliminating an article before "right" or is this more evidence of lack of proofreading, editing and training on the part of the news staff at NBCNews.com?

Calif (especially LA and SF) have been the butt of jokes for decades. I've lived overseas, and in other states here, and I'll take CA anytime (except I'd go back to Ireland or England in a heartbeat). I don't worry about a politician trying to limit women's rights, which is a big plus. Keep leaving, people, and don't let the door hit you where the Lord split you.

I have family in Texas...and most hate the chest thumping bigger is better, low wages, bad schools, dumb bible thump's, class less Texans. It sure will be a shock to many clear thinking common sense Californians.

But I'm optimistic that maybe the young Texans can learn something new. Texas is in for a rude awakening. I just feel sorry for the people who have to move there for Low wage dirty jobs. But it could be worse it could be Alabama.

We(CA) could secede from the union and turn all the rest of y'all into a third world nation overnight. :) have a nice day and if you don't like it then hasta la vista!

I have family in Texas...and most hate the chest thumping bigger is better, low wages, bad schools, dumb bible thump's, class less Texans.

Then why do they stay? Even if all they are qualified to do are the:

"low wage dirty jobs"

Honestly, It would be interesting to see where you get your information....I mean in Texas the minimum wage is $7.25 but if you factor in no State income Tax and a reasonable cost of living it seems that even a low wage job in Texas beats the 2%-4% for an $8.00 an hour job in Cali. Then there is the cost of living. Perhaps, there are quite a few people who speak without reasoning through the thought process.

http://www.minimum-wage.org/wage-by-state.asp

Texas is not the lowest in the Nation and Texas also does not ask for income tax. So if your family is not satisfied you might just suggest to them that if they are so unhappy they should just move on. Perhaps you could offer them a place to stay while they get setteled in your neck of the woods. After all isn't that what family does?

Love all the "I hate Texas/lower your IQ/chest thumping/blah blah blah" statements. Like rats on a sinking ship, the libs are leaving in droves to this horrible, HORRIBLE state where our gasoline is 3.09 a gallon and our unemployment is low and has been throughout this travesty of an administration.
It's all so interesting. Go ahead and go broke California.

Texas land of the free =D

JoMan, go to San Francisco for a taste of the other side, extreme left wingers. California is just crazy and I am proud to say I am a Californian, crazy or not.

• California is a perfect example of what the entire US has become --- everyone wants the best of the best of everything all the time but nobody wants to pay for it. Give me the best schools, the best universities, the best highways, the best hospitals, the best medical care, the best airports, the best parks, the best of the best of the best all the time but NEVER, EVER, under ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, expect ME to pay a SINGLE DIME MORE IN TAXES for ANYTHING.

Prays, Lib, Haggis, Jo... you are shining examples of what's wrong with society today. Right or left, conservative or liberal, republican or democrat... it doesn't matter. You're just plain NASTY people who have nothing but non-constructive, ugly, and inflammatory comments to make. I've not seen one thought provoking point from any of you with any factual information to back it up. Forums could use a lot less people like you spewing hateful things, but the truth is it's mostly nasty people that feel the need to post here. SAD.

AS a native California I can tell you one of the primary reasons people are packing up and moving out of California.It's called jobs and the cost of living for the twenty somethings and quality of retirement for the boomers.The illegals that remain do construction work,home improvements and food manufacturing jobs because they make more money than doing agricultural work.The politicians in this state have allowed us to become overbuilt,overpopulated and lastly the most generous state for welfare.I'm still not moving.Our weather for the most part is fabulous.

airlar73,

I'm sorry but I won't change my opinion of AZ and TX until you vote the morons out of office. Nothing worse than hateful, moronic politicians on a mission from god to support guns and rich people and discriminate against poor, education, and science.... 'nuff said!!

Well moon beam thinks he can tax his millionaires to prosperity? Maybe he can but it has never worked before.

Won't take long to find out. Millionaires are very mobile.

The only millionaire that is my personal friend has moved to Nicaragua.

Quite a few families from cali in my little one horse town. One of them will not get a job. He mostly stays out of jail.

All those liberals from a blue state transplanting themselves to red states, tsk, tsk tsk, what is the world coming to?

haggisbingo-2225582 You got your facts reversed. The morons from California, spent their state into a huge deficit.

Isn't California the place where small bedroom communities pay city employees hundreds of thou in salary when their own taxpayers avg $30k ? Is this the place that had rolling brownouts for 3 years complaining they couldn't build power plants because of environmental regulations and later we learned it was just Enron manipulating the market under the watchful eyes of both the Feds and the State? And after Enron was dealt with by non-Californians, still no new power plants but surprise, no more brown outs either ! IS this the place that has school systems going bankrupt and hospitals closing because floods of immigrants use the facilites without paying and if someone says control the border Californians argue that immigrants are responsible for making the economy a success and any one who doesn't agree is a racist ? IS this the California where they wiped out thier own fish stocks and destroyed their own fishing industry by failing top protect it while paying thousands of scientists and state employees to watch and study the industry? IS this the California we're talking about ? IF this is the California we're talking about all I can can say is : Oh My ! What a surprise !

First, the state's natural beauty and climate mean it will always be a desireable place, no matter what the unemployment rate. Yesterday I walked my dogs beside the sparkling reservoir under bright blue skies. I could not stand living in a place where skies are gray for days at a time.

You have to go to he mountains for that to get above the Haze of the smog even Northern California is that way. and by June every thing is brown that is when all the fires start I remember waking up one morning in Chico and 40 fires started that night. When I was in High school we always had some one become homeless due to fires. and our lake had ducks dieing from the polution that is suffered the water was known to be very unsafe and toxic.

Fourth, we are among the highest paid states for equivalent jobs.

Please provide proof of this. However you think the wage is good we are middle class and we made 91K last year in Savannah GA For most city's in California we would have to make 150K to have the same quality of living. that Means we would have to move from the top 18% of the country to the top 10% in wage. I could get a house their 2200 square foot house four bed room .75 acre lot for 250K built in 2009. In California in Marysville A house of 1100square foot three bed room house Built in 1947 goes for 300K Please tell me how does that equal out?

Texas and Arizona huh ... you better like guns

I have no problem with Guns it is the people with them that I have a problem with. That is why I don't trust any one in California having a gun. that is just plain dangerous for everyone. on par with handing a 3 year old a loaded hand gun.

The Latino and black gangs in California have more guns that were illegally obtained than the guns that were legally obtained by those in Texas and Arizona.

Have you checked on California gun ownership by the residents who live on the Mexican border lately?

in the middle-2260511 - "I understand wanting to leave CA, but I wish they would keep their butts out of TX. We don't need them messing up the gene pool here."

Ya'll don't have to worry none, the worst that might happen is the pool might deepen a bit.

HOTTICKET-2304234 "Maybe it's because the producers in California are finally getting fed up with supporting the moochers. Wild guess here."

Gee, you think?

With 12% of the U S population, they have about 35% of the welfare cases, and despite having the highest taxes in the Country, they just can't seem to control their Deficits.

Of course, it's the fault of the 'rich', so they tax them to death (actually, they tax them to move out of State). Jerry Brown just increased the top income tax rate by about 40%, so now the combined top income tax rate for State and Federal is about 50%. And Obama is proposing another 13% increase in the top tax rate on Federal income taxes.

miklkit "Republicons have repeatedly screwed up California."

Sorry to burst your 'bubble' head, but Democrats and public employee unions have been running California (into the ground) for the last few generations.

With only about 44% of voters registered as Democrats, they have gerrymandered the voting districts so they now have about 70% of the representatives in the California Senate and Legislature. They are now free to raise taxes at will - which they will.

They're about to test the 'Laffer Curve'.

Personally, my family is moving from California to Costa Rica next month.

I have to laugh when people disdain Texas and laud California because of the beaches in California.

If you did some checking, you would find that Texas has aver 350 miles of beaches - they border the Gulf of Mexico, and have some of the best beaches in the country.

And their education results put Texas far above California in education proficiency.

And the average after-tax income for Texas is about the same as in California, but the cost of living in Texas is significantly lower, and the unemployment rate is about 40% lower in Texas than in California.

While California does have a lot of natural resources and a diverse climate, they have done a miserable job of utilizing those resources, and the vast majority of people have very toxic air quality.

California is ranked at the very bottom of the list for States when it comes to economic opportunities.

@laughingcat, sorry but you have no clue in regards to prop 13, did you forget the retired living on fixed incomes being forced out of thier homes because they cant keep up the tax bills. prop 13 will never go away and it shouldnt

Politics, shmolitics. It's falling into the sea. It's flooding. Earthquakes daily. Overpopulation.

Everybody run. The place is falling apart. Get out while you can.

I'll follow right behind, I promise.

Go on, get out, keep moving, nothing to see here.

Lets see, a bunch of entitlement leeches, millions of illegals being a drain on the system, the rich being taxed at ridiculous rates, unions that have absolute control, and a government run by only spineless libs. Yeah, it doesnt take much to see why so many people are moving. And I live in California. The libs are making living her unbearable if your not in Hollywood, and illegal, a union member or a leech.

MR Burns. It appears that is not going on in California only. There two kinds of folks, those paying the bills and those receiving the benefits (the takers). The second bunch out number the first bunch. They have discovered they can vote more benefits for themselves and are using their new tool most effectively. The receivers do not believe they will kill the goose laying the golden eggs, but if they do they know when life gets rough it won't be any worse thtn what they would have experienced if they never got the goodies in the first place. So why work hard, go to school, play by the rules, be personally responsible? Where is the gain in that ? They already have the bill payers giving them stuff. The takers are poor folks all the way up to Romneyesque big shots. Anyone making it off what someone else built up and paid for. IT's bad in California, maybe they are showing us where the rest of us are going.

Roy and DB,

Excellent posts!! People have no clue to the real power base in California and that is in the public unions. For decades, California has been run by the Democratic legislature. California's problem is partly the cause of Prop. 13, but also during the tech boom of the early 2000's, California went on a spending spree and put nothing aside for a rainy day. When the economy crashed, guess what? Instead of cutting spending, they increased spending. Take for example, our high speed rail line. We were told back when the bonds were originally issued that this was an approximate $65-$85 billion dollar project (est. 2008). Now, the latest figures are over $100 billion, plus a decrease now in estimated travelers and an increase in estimated travel costs. When you consider that our "leaders" in this state have pledged that kind of money so irresponsibly, it's pretty clear why people are leaving this state in droves.

No don't leave California to move to Texas! It is hot and overcorwded here already. Go somewhere else.

I wouldn't leave he11 to live in Texas, don't know why any rational person would leave anywhere to move there.

Texas is overcrowded? You mean some cities are overcrowded. There aren't many places where you can own 50,000 acres.

Dick- Even at Texas low prices if you can afford 50,000 acres there you can buy some really nice property that is not in Texas.

Why would anyone want to own 50,000 acres of land in TX? There is only one place in TX worth living if you are educated and have your own teeth--Austin. The Park Cities in the Dallas area cold also work.

Just raise taxes on the people who stay so you don't have to worry about decreased revenues Cali....I think people have finally reached the point where they have had enough and know they can raise their standard of living greatly by going elsewhere. Happens all the time in liberally taxed areas...recession my a$$. You guys just steal alittle too much from your citizens and they don't like you anymore....lol.

Been to Texas. Have relatives there. 90 degree heat and 90% humidity. Then it snows in the winter. The place is flat as a pancake too. But they do have drive in likker stores! No reason to want to live there.

Here in California there is an ocean an hour away. Surf's up! Mild summers and winters too. If I want snow there are mountains to the East. Those people in San Francisco really know how to party too.

High cost of living? High wages too. I see no reason to leave now that we have Democrats running the place and are finally getting a balanced budget.

California Budget Deficit Shrinks; May See Surplus By 2014 « CBS San Francisco

apparently some on this thread have never been to Texas or outside of any metro slum. Texas has wide open areas with trees and land and green and animals and fresh air you can really breath. Texas has culture and art and technology. There is very little Texas does not have. And as for going independent Texas is the only state that is self sufficient.

You people know nothing of TX. We have mountains, plains, hills, swamps, forests, deserts, beaches, cities, suburbs, you name it. My only hope is that these CA transients focus on Austin. They can't make that place any more liberal.

And the state does not tax you to death but sadly the education system is the same quality.

Culture? What culture? William Travis, Sam Houston, Stephan Austin, stealing land from Mexico! Thieves! The Nueces river was the original border between Texas and Mexico, And then the above mentioned thieves went in and claimed it all the way to the Rio Grande. Only thing worse than a thief, is a druggie, and Texas has a lock on them. It's you Texans with the demand, and where there is demand, supply will follow! Will you have some crystal meth with that steak sir?

It's you Texans with the demand, and where there is demand, supply will follow! Will you have some crystal meth with that steak sir?

Yes and LA and San Fransisco has no drug problem

No, don't come to Texas.....we don't need anymore California liberals here.

Texas has oil money, which is lucky for them. Otherwise Texas would be as poor as Louisianna and Mississippi. As it is, Texas should be ashamed to lead the nation in minimum wage jobs. All that money, but they still treat their workers poorly.

noncoms, blame the GOP gov'ners!

Along with oil money we have, agriculture,defense, aeronautics, computer technology, not to mention our healthcare considering we have the largest medical center in the world. But you go ahead and keep right on thinking that all we have is oil.

Agreed. I lived in both LA and Eureka - which is way north but still as expensive as LA. It must be nice being a landlord in California. And Eureka is just like SF - no wal-marts, pay through the nose for dear ol mom and pop.

Sure, put in a walmart and save money at the register...but pay more money funding the medicaid and food stamps for their workers.

rcwa - youre then assuming that everyone who works at walmart would need food stamps. i'm sure they probably make more money than those who stock shelves at the local grocery stores. at least walmart would open up the possibility of thousands of jobs.

youre then assuming that everyone who works at walmart would need food stamps.

No, not everyone, but a lot do. And no, they don't make more money than those who stock shelves at the local grocery stores.

In Ohio, the state Department of Job and Family Services report found Wal-Mart to be the state's top employer for workers and family members who receive Medicaid (16,098), food stamps (14,799) and cash assistance (803), according to January 2012 numbers. A state spokesman cautioned the report does not tell the difference between full- and part-time employees, or employees who do not yet qualify for benefits, or why employees sought Medicaid.

In Maine, Wal-Mart topped employers with the largest number of workers on MaineCare, food stamps and temporary cash assistance, according to a 2005 Lewiston Sun Journal report, but it did not break down how many employees receive each subsidy. The company was fourth in the percentage of employees on public assistance.

In Florida, 1.9 million households receive food stamps, and nearly 500,000 have earned income as of October 2012. Of those with earned income, 9,095 households get paychecks from Wal-Mart, according to a report prepared for PolitiFact by the state Department of Children and Families.

The Florida taxpayer tab for their food stamps: $2.6 million.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/dec/06/alan-grayson/alan-grayson-says-more-walmart-employees-medicaid-/

I do not shop at Walmart. Walmart put one of our local cities into bankruptcy. Costco pays their workers a living wage and doesn't play dominance games with local governments.

what a scandal 4/10 of 1% of those getting food stamps in Florida work for Walmart- liberals are idiots- especially Alan Grayson

It's really simple: you get what you pay for. Believe me, I've lived a few of the states that are attracting Californians--Texas, Arizona, Colorado--and was never happier to get back to the Golden State. I'll gladly pay more to live in a diverse, tolerant, culturally-rich, climatically-pleasing, intellectually-challenging, forward-thinking, land of innovation like California. People who complain that it's just too expensive probably don't have what it takes--beyond money, I mean--to live and thrive here. To them, I say, don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

Apparently Costco is the place to work! Heard a guy worked as a cashier for 30 years and is making $25/hr. More than I make with a bachelor's....

As for rockmebritney, now, why would you be sooooo cheap as the support a conglomerate than support local businesses that ultimately keep money flowing in your area???? are you stupid???? its like shipping jobs to China. Now there are no jobs here. Pat yourself on the back for contributing to our unemployment rate and support a company that promotes giving workers as little hours and pay as they can, and providing ZERO benefits! Good for SF to outlaw SUPER WALMART

The people collecting food stamps and welfare may work at Walmart, but in reality, most working poor shop in thrift stores to make ends meet. A lot of people collecting benefits are double dipping, selling on ebay or doing other things that pay under the table, and they shop at high end-stores. I observe people paying with EBT debits cards in my state purchasing things that I cannot afford. The government agencies that claim that combating fraud is too expensive are part of the problem. Tie benefits to Social Security numbers and let the W-4s roll in, and let the IRS find out who is double dipping and collecting benefits from multiple states and then bring in special prosecutors to charge fraudsters with crime. Due diligence is required to identify the fathers of children and make them pay support and identify those who actually live with the welfare mothers. The list of reforms could go on and on.

Orthehighway, are you from WA state? I believe it was last year they fired someone in charge of the EBT program for stating that they did ZERO monitoring of fraud. He claimed it was too expensive and they had no plans on implimenting anything. That kind of thinking leaves me speechless. Also, how does he know how much fraud is currently occuring if no monitoring takes place?

At least he got fired.

rockmebritney.We have Walmarts in central and southern California which have driven good businesses out of town.Walmart employees do get food stamps and housing assistance aid as Walmart doesn't pay much and it's part time.their employees cannot afford the medical insurance that is offered them.If you are a fan of Walmart move to Bentonville Arkansas and slave away for one of the richest families in the U.S.By the by,you need to make more than $25.00 an hour to live in the city San Francisco.The outlying areas are more affordble and the bart is cheaper than owning and maintaining a car to do long commutes in.

It has been happening since Gray Davis.

Your reasoning is pretty flawed. No surprise though.

"California, over the years has instituted many of the liberal ideas coming out of the current administration."

Another ditto-head who doesn't know what he's talking about. Neither Republicans nor Democrats can run California. Single issue voters, both liberal and conservatives, have passed too many insane, frequently contradictory ballot issues making the state ungovernable.

But we are heading for a balanced budget by 2014 and gerrymandering has been fixed.

California Budget Deficit Shrinks; May See Surplus By 2014 « CBS San Francisco

California Elections Influenced By Redistricting, SuperPacs

The only reason CA survives this is because of Geography. It is a beautiful and wonderful place and many people will pay a premium for that. CA will be fine.

@LG dont really think its the liberals that are the ones leaving. Its the native californians ( mostly conservative). The liberals will bug out once the free ride is over and probably take their insane ideas with them and ruin someones else's home state

Don't worry, weary, they won't be moving to East Bumfuk to trade cow patty recipes with you.

@ -god "The Truth Hurts Doesnt It".......:-) Bad part is we have no surfing in Phoenix :-(

Must be good if they move to Texas and get these nuts in Power shaken. Not to forget Texas schools are not the brightest and if you have a problem, you are really on your own!

Fewer illegal's? That should free up some low wage jobs that American's have been wanting for so long. You DID want them, right? OK, go get 'em. They're yours now.

@weary... what truth? Why do you losers always say that? Is it an automatic reflex when you can't think of anything appropriate to say?

@-god and why do liberals like yourself always resort to name calling ? Is it because you have nothing supporting your viewpoint ?

LG..I know several Californians who have moved to our area south of Houston. Most of the families here have at least one income from the medical industry or in tech related jobs. Cost of living is lower and the move made it possible for many of these families to own as opposed to rent. They also came to this area for the school system which is rather good with many of our schools rated in the top tier nationally. These families actually meld nicely within the community. Politics are usually not discussed and lifestyle is a great fit. They love their kids, we love our kids. They promote a healthy active lifestyle, we promote healthy lifestyles. They want their kids to go to good schools and we wish for our kids to go to good schools. They wish to have good jobs, we wish to have good jobs.They wish to get away from crime, we work to keep crime out of our community.

. Not to forget Texas schools are not the brightest and if you have a problem, you are really on your own!

California schools are the same. I graduated High school with a third grade reading and spelling level with a GPA of 3.5. I have had to teach myself how to read. My wife had me get donate my library to a public library I will miss the 700 books but she has given me a kindle and that is a space saver. All I have to do is work on spelling and that is far more difficult. It is no wonder how the English language is the only one rated a level 5 difficulty. My teachers in school told my parents I would just have to live with it.

Auto,

I congratulate you on your achievements. I must wonder, though, who "rated a level 5 difficulty" only for English. They obviously have not taken into account all aspects of many languages. Inflection, mood, agglutination, syntax, and many other parts of language learning would at least even the playing field if not drop English below other languages with obvious challenges. Learn Japanese? "Male" or "female" Japanese? Superior or inferior status? Try Hungarian, Finnish, Turkish, and a few others. In general, there is no "more difficult" nor "less difficult language, especially if you want to be both fluent and literate. Since you already spoke English, becoming literate involves memorizing the spelling of many words that are not entirely phonetic. Now look at those Chinese ideograms and tell me how to pronounce them. If English is the only 5, then Chinese must be an 8 or 9, correct?

California's incoming/outgoing migrations have nothing to do with politics; those on the right who proselytize with so much rigor here simply refuse to recognize and accept the market force of 'supply & demand'--something they're otherwise preaching when it suits!

We live in California; we've lived in the same home, blocks from the beach, for 23 years. Our lives have been stable and rewarding. Our children are fine; one is finishing her A.A.T. for transfer to a 4-year school with a full ride in basketball, and the other is finishing as a double major/pre-med in a private college back east. Our schools are first-rate, but we do live in an expensive area.

California is expensive because it's highly desirable, with beaches and mountains--in fact, five different climates within an hour's reach--from L.A. There are only four places in the world with the climate we live in--the French Riviera is one, and it, too is a very expensive place to live.

Highly educated, high tech, skilled people find work easily; unskilled, uneducated labor has few opportunities except in service industries. Many here cannot withstand economic pressures, and for that reason they leave. California is about new technologies and green tech growth; these careers cannot be outsourced.

On the other hand, the entire nation is devolving into a monied upper class restricted to a very few, with a large majority barely surviving; this is not a problem solely restricted to California, by any measure.

Today Michigan became the 24th 'right to work' state, which is a package of dung strung up with the bow of a pretty name. That IS politics, shoved down Michiganders' throats by a Republican governor who ran against 'right to work' to gain office.

The fact is, those moving into the state are highly skilled and well-trained to satisfy many needed positions, while those who leave do so because, for whatever reasons, they are unable to compete sufficiently for the available high-value lifestyle .

I must wonder, though, who "rated a level 5 difficulty" only for English.

NATO did.

English is the only 5, then Chinese must be an 8 or 9, correct?

No it is a level 4 difficulty Russian is a level 3 Spanish is one of the lowest at 2. Chinese has set rules that are almost never violated. you have to have two caricatures for any thing to make since.

Now look at those Chinese ideograms and tell me how to pronounce them.

My wife is working on teaching me were also working on teaching our girls Chinese and Spanish.

to Weary..... Liberals try to force their bizarre, sick, perverted lifetsyle on the rest of the country and want it to be considered "normal". They also have an insatiable need to raise taxes. They call these things "good for society".

Secession is the ONLY way out of this mess !! We need two different countries now.

We can stop Medicaid and Welfare and let all the moochers flee to the Liberal country where they can be welcomed with open arms.

"This goes back to the transplants from the east coast that started in the early 80's and totally changed my home state for the worse."

• The early 80s?? Try the 30s.

I grew up in Sacramento sixty years ago, and I got tired of getting my ass kicked by Hispanic gangs monthly. I got shot once. I haven't been shot or beaten in the last fifty years, since I left. Guess I made a good move.

Yeah...cause gangs of Hispanics are just roaming the streets of Sacramento shooting people. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Good Ol' Dog: Blue California pays to support the red states who take the most from the fed in entitlements. Your statement is therefore completely untenable.

In our past, this nation banded together whenever we went to war; people were expected to make sacrifices. Maybe next time some 'Ol' Dog' president wants to take us into another endless war, you can remember to just say no?

We pay lower taxes than any other 1st world nation. Those who refuse to support the nation during the longest war in history should secede--we'll have them give up federal citizenship as well. Your position is cowardly, greedy, and 'dog eat dog.' You'd turn your back on America's hungry kids to pay for the private defense contractors leeching off the public teat.

Blue California pays to support the red states who take the most from the fed in entitlements. Your statement is therefore completely untenable.

Here is another incompetent person that has no clue about FEDERAL TAXES. it is not California it is the RICH that pays them Most people PAY VERY LITTLE FEDERAL INCOME TAXES. For example we made 91K and paid 6%. and it is the Federal Government that controls spending NOT the state. Provide a brake down of that spending. You will find you have no clue what your talking about.

Maybe next time some 'Ol' Dog' president wants to take us into another endless war, you can remember to just say no?

Well thanks to the Bush policy's were out of Iraq (that is about the only thing that was a success). The troop surge that Obama opposed Succeeded.

We pay lower taxes than any other 1st world nation.

That is why they need to raise taxes on the poor, middle class, and the rich. 80% of the country pays less that 15% income taxes.

Another dimension to consider. Labor productivity in Cali is already the highest in the nation - why? because we have the best, most tech-focused jobs - and it is still increasing quickly - at a higher rate than the country as a whole. This, unfortunately, means that, relatively speaking, the state will produce new "good" jobs but at a lower rate. In effect, new jobs are more productive than those created before it, and therefore the growth in the economic benefits of those new jobs outpace the rate at which they are created, leading to fewer new jobs but better jobs. Just check out the continued boom in Silicon Valley and biotech jobs if you don't believe me.

Meanwhile, we have been shedding bad, low-productivity jobs quickly.. sending them to places like Texas... in areas like agriculture, low-end defense manufacturing, etc., and we've been shedding them at a higher rate than we are gaining good jobs. As those companies move to Texas, the people who fill jobs at those companies, move to Texas. And we say, good riddance.

It's not all bad news.

Another dimension to consider. Labor productivity in Cali is already the highest in the nation - why? because we have the best, most tech-focused jobs - and it is still increasing quickly - at a higher rate than the country as a whole.

The people with the lowest common since.

Yeah, just ask the foolhardy secessionists!

Hope you are ready for all the onerous new taxes Texans will have to pay to keep your "proud" State of Texas afloat and "Rockin' after it stupidly cuts the exceptionally generous Federal financial feeding tube that it has been using to keep "Rockin Texas" alive all this time - especially with all the illegal aliens being welcomed by the State.

I hope Texas DOES manage to secede, it will be one less pain-in-the-ass state for the US to worry about in National elections and the rest of the country could use the money that's been wasted on an ungrateful Texas for the last 11 years.

Maybe we can get Arizona to follow suit and then both States can happily degenerate back into Mexican Territory, like they seemingly want to, as well!

I don't think that would work for you notrelated, you do realize Texas is one of those red states who pays out more then we take in right?

Texas has always managed to get by one way or another and that is WHY it has the proudest people of all states in the country. Remember the Alamo? YES, of course you do. We were told to Remember The Alamo and EVERYONE does. Get it yet? We also have the best and most recognizable flag of any state.

I believe ALL states have filed a petition to secede it is just that Texas has quite a few more signers than the others. You can bash Texas all you want it doesn't matter. We still have one of the lower unemployment rates and less taxes than many other states.

To help you better understand, don't be afraid to give it a listen.

check it out:

http://www.myspace.com/rustywiermusic/music/songs/texas-love-war-78474

PROUD to be and call myself a TEXAN!!!

So Texas, when your state burned last April where were all of your fire fighters?

You did not have any fire fighters! Burn baby burn.

But you do have lower taxes than the civilized states like California.

Ummmm. I think you are off by one year. The fires in west Texas around Palo Pinto County occurred in 2011. While there probably were fires in April 2012 they were not as big as the ones in spring of 2012. We also do have firefighters but as in ALL rural communities (which by the way ALL states have as well just Texas has more because it is BIGGER) they are volunteer fire departments. Also because of the larger size of Texas there is much more rural land to burn. You should also note that ANY state that has massive wild fires, Colorado, Montana, YES even California, OUTSIDE help is always needed and helpful. But hey, if you like California so much STAY there...lol....PLEASE!!!!

Hoped you like the link and song I provided here is another you might enjoy as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Et67f7RUis

Ooops MY bad...should read "While there probably were fires in April 2012 they were not as big as the ones in spring of 2011" NOT spring of 2012. See, even a Texan can admit when they make a mistake...lol.

@takenaka Bingo! you just hit the nail on the head and thats the problem. Shows how far Cali has dropped off the cliff when someone can compare it with NY. We prided ourselves in NOT being like the liberal insanity that is the NE.........and now that Cali has changed for the worse most of us natives have left and the remaining few are packing the kids,pets and cars and looking to AZ.

Finally graduated from day care takenaka?

I agree. Texas is hit or miss. I've met some amazingly intelligent and interesting people that were born there...(but they traveled a lot). The born, raised, and never left locals that I've met I found to be an interesting breed of stubbornly ignorant with a questionable sense of justice.

Both my two brothers and I were born and raised in California. After my older brother went in to the ARMY right out of high school, my folks packed it in and moved my little brother and I to Arizona (1981), for economic reasons. They never looked back. I went back in the mid-eighties and had my son there...and it was with a certain pride that he too was born in California. But, when he was two-years-old, we returned to Arizona as well. It has been home since. I miss California and how it was when I was growing up from the early 60's to the early eighties... it was safe to walk to school (LA County school district)...safe to play outside, orange groves and fields of strawberries (yes, I grew up in Anaheim; so close to Disneyland that we were allowed to walk there once in a while with a 'book' of tickets, if we had been good all week, to enjoy the day). Most importantly...the air was clean, and the water fluoridated.

Now, when I return to visit family (Glendora and San Diego), I always end up with a headache...it's from the smog. The freeways are parking lots most of the time, and it seems as if no one cares about anyone but themselves. The mountains I rode horseback in as a teenager (the San Gabriel's) are sliced and diced up with cookie-cutter homes. The warmth of the populace when I was growing up is gone, replaced by money-driven entities that have little love for the state and its heritage. All three Air Force bases where my brother's and I were born have either been closed, or are slated to be closed in the near future.

Yup, it's hot in Arizona (Phoenix), and we don't have the ocean...but we still have space, beautiful sunsets, active agriculture within thirty minutes of downtown, and a fairly good educational system. I am proud to call myself a native Californian and a long-time 'Zonie... and I would go back to CA...but it no longer feels like home.

Yeah we have handguns here too takenaka, you should probably stay FAR away from Texas.

takenaka, first you'll have to escape from the padded room you're permanently strapped down in.

Exactly! I was born there but simply couldn't stand it anymore. My friends who stayed - all they care about it how they look. Ugh! I live in the midwest now and laugh whenever I get on the highway, just because there's no traffic. People are nice here too. They look at you and smile, some even say hi. Not ever going back!!

Yes, nobody goes there, it's too crowded.

Yes Will, that is exactly what is going to happen. The USA is going to fall apart. Yes, the sky is falling chicken little. Numbnuts.

Still crying?

It is interesting that you think that everybody who does not support a selfish political philosophy is lazy. What a convenient excuse. It totally gets you off the hook.

Mike you are so right. I moved back to Colo after leaving here 30 yrs ago and was I ever surprised. I spent 21 yrs living in southern CA and was so glad to leave. Then spent 10 yrs in PA and hated to leave. The difference in cost of living between the 3 states was unbelievable. CO is now very much like CA which is a shame. Cost of everything from housing, elect, water and food is nearly the same. A lot of CA people have moved here with cash in hand from the equity in their homes and have driven up the costs here and yes, then they vote blue. In just a few years CO will be just like CA.

Mike I was fixin to say the same thing.

There goes the neighborhood. From the time I was nine years old I knew I wanted to live in Texas (I was raised in Northern Cali) I've been here 13 years now. It took me a while to get here but it was worth the struggle.

I want to be hospitable and say welcome to all the Californian's, but please leave the California mentality in California, I worked too long and too hard for it to be ruined.

"I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could."

Dari43,

I moved to CO from CA and the costs are nowhere near the same. You're lying. CO is so much cheaper in terms of cost of living as compared to CA. What I was paying in rent for a bedroom in Santa Barbara, A BEDROOM, gets me a 3 bedroom rental here in CO. And I don't have to share it! So, don't try and feed people this crap about CO costing the same as CA. It's not even close.

Somalia has cheap rent too.

Dari,

I lived in Colorado in the early 70s, a transplant from Chicago via California. I remember once going to "downtown" Denver for a performance of i Musici, a fantastic chamber music group. To my astonishment, only about 35 people were in the front two rows of the auditorium, the rest of the massive venue left empty. If Californians are moving there now, I hope they bring you some cultural appreciation so that the Stock Show is not the lone high society event of the season.

Somalia has cheap rent too.

California is not that cheap. It is too bad that is is such a horrible place to live that you would compaire Califonia to Somalia.

Can you name 1 thing that is good about Texas? I have visited there and I didn't notice anything. Why, for example, is Texas better than Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, or New Mexico? I was just wondering what you are so concerned about protecting.

Please repeat that for the slow readers.

Ironically, you didn't bother to read the article yourself, making yourself one of those slow readers. California is suffering from fewer undocumented workers. It's been hurting the state economy. Which makes your snarky comment both wrong and incredibly humiliating for you.

The agriculture industry, one of the state's largest, has been particularly affected by fewer undocumented immigrants crossing the border, deterred from coming to the U.S. because of high unemployment and a developing middle class in Mexico.

Hey Moakler, Clotho is right. Your reading comprehension skills are lacking. Dittohead.

I would rather live in one of the nine layers of hell than live in Arizona...oh, wait, it's the same thing. Born and raised in Cali and, yes we have problems, but it beats the s---t out of any place else.

I would rather live in one of the nine layers of hell than live in Arizona...oh, wait, it's the same thing. Born and raised in Cali and, yes we have problems, but it beats the s---t out of any place else.

I would rather be a demon of hells love slave than live in California.

Indigo,

Sorry to pick on you, since I see this so often, but I think you mean "sneaking across your borders." At least I hope you do. If you try sneaking across a boarder, someone might actually object and stop you!

Yeah Phil, but the illegals are moving in as the upstanding citizens move out. They are leaving Georga and Arizona because of the crackdowns. Are you ready for that?

Moakler, read the article. Illegals are not moving in. Just the opposite. Quit spewing your drivel.

I live in Cali and I blame the liberal Democrats, they have turned this once great state into a welfare state that favors unions over companies. It's no wonder that most of the manufacturing jobs have left the state.

You are right Shawn!!

The Big Fat Liberal Democraps have ran California into the ground.............When I was kid there it was truly the "Golden State" and luscious and gorgeous everywhere you went.

Now parts of East LA look like a barrio from Mexico City where English "is" the 2nd or 3rd language. Parts of San Diego are so high priced you have to make two million dollars per year to afford an 800 sq foot condo with a view of the parking garage.

Even the Hollywood stars are complaining about the high cost of living here...........

California has (like American women): "priced themselves out of the marketplace......" It is now the land of "snobs and slobs" and the vast middle class along with the company base is high-tailing it out of there...........!

Then there is SANFRANTHISSCO and it costs money to breathe up there since it's a little smug. But I do like it overall............the golden gate bridge is beautiful with the fog.........but the high cost of living will eat your lunch!

My best advice: if you are a millionaire, stay in California. If you want to get a real job, move to Texas - I hear the economy is booming there............I have been to Texas many times, it is really a very nice state and very affordable!!