I have a pretty unpopular trake on this state among MLs anyways lol. I think it's really important with California to remember that most of the problems in CA are pretty much problems in all of the US. Horrific anti homeless policies, selling out to business and developers, racist cops, unaffordable housing, are problems in most of the US.
Also note I live in a lower middle income neighbourhood of proletarian people of colour, mostly Hispanic and Black factory workers, landscapers, and construction workers. I don't live in the rich bay area.
At the same time there are material benefits to living here and a lot of the conservative out of state talking points are to obscure that.
- Is demographics. I can't stand too many white people concentrated together. I can't eat at Applebee's every day.
- Is working conditions. Most the US doesn't have overtime after 8 hrs, lunches, or anti discrimination laws. Wages are way higher.
- The state medical insurance is actually really good it's just means tested really low, so it's unavailable to most people.
- Quality of life, public spaces, things like hiking and stuff are accessible.
That all makes it like materially better than a lot of the US, tho with the problems it has, it still ISN'T GOOD, and it's not likely to get better either. That being said I've lived in a lot of states and have friends all over the US and I do think it's important to remember you'll have all the same problems in Texas with none of the good things, and I do value my community with eloteros and fruit carts more than like, racist pickup truck neighbours.