California’s quality of life is the worst in the country: Says who?

San Jose Merc Noose ^ | February 28, 2018 | Karen D'Souza

[Wpin]

Been there done that, you’re just a arrogant bag of gas.

Love how you call Sacramento, the “dregs”, lol...see, that is what normal people think of all of California. Believe me, they also have seafood (saltwater kind) in Iowa. You may be too ignorant to understand the per capita good restaurants are probably just as common as in the Bay area...which is multiple times larger in population. But, Des Moines doesn’t have the selfishness and arrogance common to Californians, especially along the coast.

You also do not seem to understand comparative cost of living....but, that’s your problem. California is such a great state it is losing its productive class residents to states like Iowa. That’s one of the reasons they have tougher time filling jobs...who the he’ll wants to live in that cesspool? Btw, in December California’s unemployment rate was a healthy 4.3%...Iowa’s was 2.8.

There are some positives about California...the land and coast are beautiful, the weather for most of the state is mild...but, then you got the people and the government and it just destroys the good things.

Perhaps reality hurts my friend, but you cannot change truth. Glad you live where you like...so do Iowans...and as that report says, Iowa really is a much better place to live than California. You just have to deal with that.

[Bookshelf]

Having lived for many years abroad, and visiting nations on all continents, the finest meal I ever had was at a family restaurant in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. It outdid the second best meal, at Madrid, by a long way. It lives in my memory as though it were yesterday.

[EQAndyBuzz]

California is a first world country with a third world government.

[laplata]

Well put.

[roadcat]

So now you're down to throwing name-calling insults, a mark of arrogance just like the anti-fa idiots. You said you "had a multi million dollar apartment complex on a private lake in the pocket area of Sacramento". Really? Or were you merely a renter? Because that is not the norm for Sacramento, a poorer region than San Francisco. My sister owned land for decades in Sacramento, sold it off because it didn't appreciate in value. She lives in Sonoma in a multi-million dollar home, where land is expensive. I stand by what I said, Sacramento is not all that great compared to coastal areas. Poor people move there because they can't afford homes in the Bay Area, and the crime rates reflect that.

As for comparative cost of living, I do understand it very well. Good paying jobs are plentiful here in the SF Bay Area. Not so in Iowa. My daughter had no problems obtaining and keeping six-figure salary jobs here. When she went to Iowa, she landed jobs making half as much. Which was okay, as costs are lesser there. The jobs there are not as lucrative as in California. I have not disparaged Iowa as you think I have. I wouldn't mind living there myself, but would have to give up all the great things that are abundant here. Things that suck are the liberals, and the crowded conditions.

[Wpin]

I wonder just how educated you really are friend. You have no understanding of real estate evidently either. Frankly, I invested a million and a half cash to make eight million profit in five years in Sacramento. It would have been very difficult, nearly impossible to have done that at the same time period in the Bay area...that’s why I bought in Sacramento. Your negative opinion about Sacramento humors me...but, you still just don’t get...most people feel that way about your California. It was just rated last...behind Mississppi, Illinois, etc. as the lowest quality of life in the country!

Iowa was rated very highly, deal with it with some class. But, making ridiculous claims like no seafood, little good restaurants, etc. Not to mention...”lucrative jobs are plentiful in California but not Iowa” When clearly Iowa has a healthier employment environment than California as evidenced by its much lower unemployment rate.

Btw, Sacramento is the state capital, it is the political power base of California. There are plenty of wealthy people who move there and live there...you really should refrain from commenting on things you really do not know about...

But,on the bright side you obviously love where you live...that’s a good thing. Just promise you won’t move to Iowa...they don’t need to be Californicated...

[roadcat]

There are plenty of wealthy people who move there and live there...you really should refrain from commenting on things you really do not know about...

Look who's talking, wise guy. Check out home prices in San Francisco versus Sacramento. Median home value in Sacramento is a third (or less) than San Francisco. Median home value in SF is $1.3 million. I sold a home in San Francisco a few months back, at $1.45 million, for $300,000 over asking, within 6 days. You don't see that happening in Sacramento. And I know home prices in Des Moines, having made offers in the $200,000 range, they're about a fifth the price of SF homes. Good for you that you're making money on real estate, very smart of you. I made mine in IT. So yes, you have experience In real estate but don't exaggerate the differences in location, putting Sacramento on an equal footing with San Francisco because it isn't so.

As for Des Moines, I'm not knocking it. The reality is that it has a low population, lower than suburb towns near SF, and the job availability for high paid jobs is not good as compared to the Bay Area. That's one reason my son-in-law and his siblings migrated to California, for the jobs and they did well out here. His sister owns a multi-million dollar home on the beach with an awesome view. The wealth here is greater than that in Iowa, you shouldn't dispute that. Same goes for restaurants, San Francisco has three or four times as many within it's confines as compared to the Des Moines region, and many many more throughout the Bay Area, you can't dispute that. You should refrain from commenting on things you know nothing about.

[Wpin]

Ok, enough bantering about...time to dispel your myths about California...

According to US Census Bureau statistics:

Median Value owner-occupied housing units, 2012-2016 Cal. $409,000 Iowa $132,800

Median Gross rent, 2012-2016 Cal. $1,297 Iowa $715

Median household income (in 2016 dollars) 2012-2016 Cal. $63,783 Iowa $54,570

Persons in poverty Cal. 14.3% Iowa 11.8%

Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years
Cal. 8.3% Iowa 5%

If only making financial consideration...one is quite a bit better off living in Iowa than California. Culturally speaking for lifestyle and living environment Iowa wins hands down (US News & Reorts)

Was a fun discussion...thanks!

[Wpin]

Here’s url to get the data:

www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA,IA/

[MountainWalker]

I was in CA last fall. I’m 40 years old, and the first time I saw a dine and dash was in your state on this past trip, in Palm Springs no less - at a mom and pop Mexican restaurant.

It’s closing the gap with Somalia pretty quickly, though it’ll more resemble Venezuela first. Already well on its way - read VDH’s column on CA.

[roadcat]

You’re ignoring my data, real facts, and dancing around what was at issue.

[roadcat]

There are many thousands more restaurants in San Francisco compared to the Des Moines region (in and outside of the town). And they are quality restaurants in SF serving world-class fare. Only place I saw more was in NYC (and NYC has some great food). Des Moines simply does not have restaurant fare equivalent to SF. Then there is the seafood... Simple facts.

[roadcat]

As for lifestyle, my daughter and son-in-law lived in an apartment next to Golden Gate Park. He loved jogging a mile to the beach which stretches along the west shore of SF. And taking their kids to GG Park across the street with it’s amenities including museums, playgrounds, lakes and an antique merry-go-round. And to the dozens of restaurants within two blocks surrounding their apartment. And to the many sports bars up the street. All this within walking distance. A couple miles away is the Golden Gate bridge for trips to the redwoods or wine country. This is just a sampling. Jump in a car, and you can travel the seashore or take a trip to snow in the Sierras. Culturally speaking, there is much to offer that you won’t find in Des Moines. I’m not knocking Des Moines, it is nice, uncrowded, and friendly. But culturally speaking, there are limits there on lifestyle. This is not a myth.

[Wpin]

Different culture, not less, I think you’re just too arrogant to understand the world thinks California culture sucks...it’s nice you have a positive view of the place you live.

I’ve shown you the real facts but, as part of the California bubble, you’ll never understand it unless you get away from it for a while.

Anyway, this discussion has become boring. Thanks for the fun.

[roadcat]

Boring yes, but you are the arrogant one, with misconceptions and ignoring facts. Just because some think California culture sucks, it doesn't mean the majority think so. After all, why do so many seek to come to California in the first place? Got you there. Just as some think the U.S.A. sucks, why are so many trying to get into the U.S.A. in the first place (many illegally)?

I've been elsewhere, other countries are not to my liking, especially Mexico, hate it and wish the illegals would go home. But they flock to the U.S.A., and especially to California. There is a lot that is enjoyable about California. We just wish the invaders who are spoiling it would leave (including people from other parts of the U.S.A. who turned it Democrat like Nancy Pelosi and Willie Brown, to mention a couple). I've been to many other states, they're okay. Just too many good things here if one can ignore the invading liberals trying to ruin it all.