Just because California has the 5th largest economy in the world doesn't mean it is doing well. As of the end of September the unemployment rate in CA was 7.5% ranking it a tie for 50th (out of 50 states for those of you who aren't sure how many states we have) place along with Nevada. BTW, Illinois was tied for 45th. The national unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Seems like I heard a report recently that Tesla is moving to Texas. The schools in LA, Oakland and other major cities in CA are a mess. Property taxes are sky high, just like New Jersey and Illinois.
Prices at the gas pump are the highest in the country with the possible exception of Hawaii. Last Wednesday the state average was up to $4.58 a gallon (per gas buddy, which is very accurate) which is .10 off the state's highest ever average. I say that record will be broken. You will also pay the highest taxes on gasoline in CA too. If you fill up there you'll pay $66.98 cents per gallon...per gallon in taxes alone. (data from the American Petroleum institute shows this) CA excise taxes are $51.10 cents per gallon, CA sales tax is 2.25%, Underground storage tank fees are 2 cents per gallon. Local sales tax are about 1% on average. And federal excise taxes on gas are 18.4 cents per gallon.
Yeah, things in California are just peachy. I have said for years that California is a beautiful state that is being run by idiots.