Sunset?

Go East, young man? Californians look for the exit

The number of people leaving California for another state outstripped the number moving in from another state during the year ending on July 1, 2008. California lost a net total of 144,000 people during that period — more than any other state, according to census estimates. That is about equal to the population of Syracuse, N.Y.

California's loss is extremely small in a state of 38 million. And, in fact, the state's population continues to increase overall because of births and immigration, legal and illegal. But it is the fourth consecutive year that more residents decamped from California for other states than arrived here from within the U.S.

The folks leaving are not the ones that immigrated, "...legally or illegally..." a few short years ago. It is the working members of society. The business owners and professionals who have had enough. While the loss may be viewed as "...extremely small...", the group is the backbone of the economy that is leaving.

Why??

Among other things: California's unemployment rate hit 8.4 percent in November, the third-highest in the nation, and it is expected to get worse. A record 236,000 foreclosures are projected for 2008, more than the prior nine years combined, according to research firm MDA DataQuick. Personal income was about flat last year.

With state government facing a $41.6 billion budget hole over 18 months, residents are bracing for higher taxes, cuts in education and postponed tax rebates. A multibillion-dollar plan to remake downtown Los Angeles has stalled, and office vacancy rates there and in San Diego and San Jose surpass the 10.2 percent national average.

Median housing prices have nose-dived one-third from a 2006 peak, but many homes are still out of reach for middle-class families. Some small towns are on the brink of bankruptcy. Normally recession-proof Hollywood has been hit by layoffs.

Some large towns are on the brink too. San Diego, for one. The solution from Sacramento? Raise taxes. We are already pay some of the highest taxes in the nation. Corporate taxes are in the top five. (8.4%) [Hint: Nevada has ZERO, Colorado has 4.6% corporate tax] Yet our Republican Governor has caved in to the liberals that run the state and is orchestrating an illegal scheme to raise taxes without a two-thirds vote. How? They are calling it a "Fee Increase". How witty of them. Websites, here, here, here and here, have commented on and have been set up for those saying "adios" to share information.

The signs back in the early 1900's said "California or Bust"...

....now they are heading the other way saying ....

"California, Busted!"