Because the state is so enormous and occupies some much of the attractive real estate on the West Coast, people have often been reluctant to leave even when its policies are badly flawed. Over the last decade, things got so bad that California finally did start losing large numbers of migrants to other states. But not before the state’s government dug a much deeper hole for itself than would have been likely had California been three or four smaller states, each forced to compete for migrants with the others.
That is the dilemma. It’s geographically such a desirable location that people are willing to put up with awful government.
In his morning newsletter, Jim Geraghty is speculating that he might step down in the next year or two, possibly even before the election. If so, if things continue on the current course, it’s possible that his replacement may be the next president. It depends on how much the Republicans decide to push “repeal and replace Democrats in charge of the White House” in the campaign.
If this happens, I’d move there in a heartbeat. I’ve always thought that northern California one of the nicest geographical locations to live on the planet, at least within the US.