Why do so many people hate California?

SFGate: Politics Blog ^ | 2/23/12 | Emily Wilkins, Hearst Washington Bureau

[SmithL]

Surf. Sun. Disneyland. What’s not to love about California?

Well, apparently, a lot of things. In a poll released Tuesday by the Public Policy Polling, California was the least popular state in the United States. Only 27 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of the Golden State compared to the 44 percent who view it unfavorably.

“There’s this arrogance about Californians,” said Patrick Dorinson, a radio host in California who refers to himself as the Cowboy Libertarian. “Californians still think it’s this great star. It’s a tarnished star at this point.”

The gap of 17 points puts California far behind Illinois (19 favorable, 29 not) and New Jersey (25 favorable, 32 not) as the least liked state in America.

“I’m actually quite surprised California fared so poorly,” said Albert M. Camarillo, a professor of history at Stanford University. “I think the national public knows of our difficult budget situation, our higher than average unemployment rate, the still very expensive housing market.”

The “Left Coast” is distinct in another way – more people have an opinion about California than any other state – only 28 percent of respondents couldn’t decide whether they liked the state or not.

[JSDude1]

Jealous of high deficits? I don’t think so.

[JSDude1]

Couldn’t happen to a nicer, more arrogant entity!

[Kevmo]

Not enough people hate this state. We had an earthquake when the 2 best baseball teams played eachother in San Francisco, but still millions of people pour into this state. So then the legislature spent their way into oblivion, and yet there are still millions moving into this state. Next up, 101% tax rate, $6/gallon gas, Big Brother Nanny Statism, Forced Child Indoctrination, Concentration Camps for Disagreeables, and Constitutional Dissolution; that won’t stop 1/2 a million people from moving here.

[Windflier]

I have a reason for disliking California: I spent 50 years there and despite everything I tried to do to prevent it, the place slipped slowly into total disarray and debasement.

Welcome, fellow member of the Half Century In California Club. I was born and raised there, and observed the very same dwindling spiral that you did. I moved my business and my family to Texas in 2005, and never looked back.

[lonestar]

What I hate MOST about CA is the “fruits and nuts (of the human variety)” they vote into office and send to D.C. to screw up the rest of the country!

[ansel12]

“It was a different world in the 1950s and ‘60s, when roughly half of Californians were drawn from other states by jobs and by visions of crystalline blue skies in January and beach parties in September. The state’s shining image was burnished by a public relations machine that pushed attractive suburban real estate and a wide-open field for business.

As domestic immigration slowed between 1970 and 2000, foreign immigration filled in the gap. But since 2000, even the state’s once-growing immigrant population has been frozen at 27% of total residents. Since at least 2005, more residents have left California than arrived here from other states.”
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/27/local/la-me-california-move-20111127

[SwampFoxOfVa]

I can’t see any obvious wrong doing, just a bunch of people having a good time. Please enlighten me.

SF

[Theodore R.]

California reminds me of a women who was stunning in her youth, surrounded by suitors, but has since glided through life on her reputation, plastic surgery, and pharmecuticals, all the while insisting in a slurred, raspy, drunken voice that she is still the most attractive girl at the party. A shame.

Very shrewd observation, redpoll

[Melas]

What kind of idiot Republican floods a pivotal state that has over a hundred electoral votes with Democrat voters for 8 years.

It must be one of the mythical 7 of the 57 states that you're talking about. California certainly doesn't have 100 electoral votes.