Is California Climate Getting Too Chilly for Business?

Los Angeles Times ^

[John Jorsett]

Chuck Buck has used his company's knives to filet salmon, skin deer and dress a pronghorn antelope in the field. But after 58 years in San Diego County, Buck Knives Inc. can no longer cut it in California.

High electricity rates, soaring workers' compensation premiums and relentless foreign competition have gutted profits, according to the company's 66-year-old chairman. The state's Democratic-controlled Legislature and massive budget deficit have him worried about tax increases. So he's moving the privately held company to Idaho next year, taking 260 manufacturing jobs with him.

"We just came to the point where it seemed riskier to stay in California than to leave," said Buck, the grandson of the founder.

California's business climate, always a heated topic in business circles, has tempers boiling once again. Struggling with sluggish sales and wilting profits in a listless economy, companies are taking a hard look at their costs. Many don't like what they see.

[John Jorsett]

ping

[antaresequity]

Glad I liquidated my Cali Real Estate 1.5 years ago...moving next year...

42 year resident here....I can tell you we are headed into the crapper...I will be long gone...

Alaska Retirement for me...

[Mamzelle]

Bah. They want my social security number before they'll let me read the article. But the summary said it all, anyway.

[jejones]

Yup...and California is contemplating taxing internet access and downloading software.

[vikingcelt]

I am a native Californian born and raised. I lived there for 55 years. Moved away in October and I've never been so happy to get away from a place!!!

[DoughtyOne]

After Pravda on the Pacific pumped every liberal cause for thirty years, the light bulb has one flicker of brightness before going dark forever. The Los Angeles Times is as subversive an element any foreign power could have hoped for. Welcome to reality LA Times. You ushered it in.

[sheik yerbouty]

Gray Doofus wants a Soviet Union with sunshine.

[coloradan]

It's called the "identity theft number." And, isn't it 123-45-6789, anyway?

[concentric circles]

User I.D. - annoying

Password - annoying

Works at more sites than you would believe.

[Cicero]

Humm. It wouldn't let me in either. I pushed the "forgot password" button and we'll see what happens next. But they aren't getting my s.s. number, thank you.

[SpaceBar]

There's nothing wrong with California that a few dozen neutron bombs wouldn't cure.

[Jagdgewehr]

By golly, you're right!

[McGavin999]

They're just trying to find out who is stupid enough to give them their social security number. Those who do are easy targets :o)

[gortklattu]

I'm moving my business out of California this year.-
-
Having taxes on income and outcome along with some 120 other taxes has just gotten to be too much.-

[John Jorsett]

Moved away in October and I've never been so happy to get away from a place!!!

I thought Oregon was about as big an enclave of leftist loons as California.

[John Jorsett]

Gray Doofus wants a Soviet Union with sunshine.

No, I think Gray Davis' guiding principle is that he wants whatever is best for Gray Davis. If a majority of the voters suddenly decided that barbecuing babies was what they wanted in a leader, Davis would be right there with the lighter fluid and briquettes.

The real source of California's problems is the heavily-Democrat legislature. If they had their way, California would be Sweden in no time.

[John Jorsett]

It took this long to notice?

It took this long for the LA Times to notice, yes. ("Hey, Smitty, have you noticed our ad revenue is dropping precipitously? Half our advertisers' phones have been disconnected. What's going on?")