California's economy is now the 5th-biggest in the world, and has overtaken the United Kingdom

Cotton

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Well, I guess I meant big-city lifestyle in that you don’t need a car to get around and can rely on public transportation. Could you enjoy city living in Texas without a car? Can’t even do that in San Diego, San Jose or Los Angeles.

You, Mr. Bike Boy, should know what I’m talking about. :lol

The author’s last two residences are Manhattan and SF city. Furthermore, her commute to work is an hour outside of SF city, so it’s peculiar why she chooses to live in the City when she seemingly hates it vehemently...and she has a car, which makes it even tougher to live in the City (finding parking, avoiding tickets, etc)
SF does have a very good TDM presence. It's not on the level of say a Portland, but way better than Houston.
 

L.T. Fan

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Please elaborate on the magnitude of the problem of non-citizens in California. If they magically disappeared and never came back, are we talking about this eliminating, say, 80-90%, 50% or 20% of fiscal problems? How much lower could the excessive taxation be reduced, as well as how many (b)millions would be saved from federal funds?

Also, is the presence of non-citizens primarily a fiscal concern, or would their elimination also resolve some/most/all concerns of overcrowded/underfunded classrooms, hospital beds, high housing costs and crimes and prisons/police force?

I guess, in a nutshell, if you magically snap your fingers and change one thing to fix the biggest problem of California, would it be the disappearance of non-citizens, changing liberal leadership (and taxation) but non-citizens still in CA, or something else entirely different?
California has so many excessive programs you really cannot just extract one thing and solve the problems. The state retirement programs are extremely excessive and are probably will have to be refined or go into bankruptcy. The costs of illegal citizens is tremendous.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/map-illegal-immigration-costs-california-most-23b-all-states-89b.

The “Train” has been costing billioms and not one inch of track has been built.. On and on. The programs of the cost and abuse of Medicare and welfare is out of control because people have chosen to be supported in this manner rather than work at menial jobs.

The entire budget needs a hard review by conservative types to cut the fat away. There is just too many ways to circumvent the funding.
 

Cotton

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Why you think Portland’s better? You referring to just within downtown, or region-wide?

Portland’s size of big-city lifestyle is tiny compared to SF. I wanna say downtown Portland is maybe 10x10 blocks (I could be wrong but if felt that way when I was there) and seemed like there was much less downtown housing as well (compared to SF).
Portland's bike system in particular is one of the best in the world, but they many other TDM programs as well. It might be smaller than SF but it has done well in its TDM efforts. And, yes, I have been to both.
 

Angrymesscan

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Please elaborate on the magnitude of the problem of non-citizens in California. If they magically disappeared and never came back, are we talking about this eliminating, say, 80-90%, 50% or 20% of fiscal problems? How much lower could the excessive taxation be reduced, as well as how many (b)millions would be saved from federal funds?

Also, is the presence of non-citizens primarily a fiscal concern, or would their elimination also resolve some/most/all concerns of overcrowded/underfunded classrooms, hospital beds, high housing costs and crimes and prisons/police force?

I guess, in a nutshell, if you magically snap your fingers and change one thing to fix the biggest problem of California, would it be the disappearance of non-citizens, changing liberal leadership (and taxation) but non-citizens still in CA, or something else entirely different?
Wouldn't that also eliminate a high % of the workforce?
 

Cotton

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Considering housing density, mixed-use developments and public transportation, put together your perfect super-region. I'm interested to understand what you like when it comes to high vs ultra-high density, percentage of high vs low density, urban/suburban/exurban.
Well, personally, I obviously prefer low density. I'm not a fan of living in a high density area hence why I live out in the country. Or, are you asking me what I believe to be a high density area that has handled the density well?
 

Cowboysrock55

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California has the highest poverty rate in the United States when you figure in cost of living. Not really sure they should be the shinning star for Liberals to hold up. Just saying.
 

L.T. Fan

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Anyway the questions arose as a result of BiPo’s post about how California had such a large economy and I challanged whether they have an economy or a bloated case of bankruptsy in the works and call it an economy.
 

Sheik

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When did San Francisco turn into such a huge shithole?
 

Sheik

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When did anybody care?
I had to travel there recently, it’s like a 3rd world country. Couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there.

Its always been a crummy city for my taste, but it must have turned to absolute shit in the last 8-10 years.
 

L.T. Fan

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Probably could say the same thing about the United States when comparing ourselves to other first world nations, no?

~queue Jeff Daniels The Newsroom speech~
Difference being that the US can create as much money as needed to meet the needs. A State is limited to what they can collect. The US is to much in debt and that is a given but it can continue to run on deficits. States can only go so far before they ultimately fail and the debtors are wiped out in bankruptcy.
 

Cotton

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i know you live low density, but you probably agree that you can’t have a multi-million population region consisting of only low density.

So my question is a little bit of a ‘high density area that handled density well’ as well as crafting your own ideal region.
SF is definitely one high density area that is handled well. Dallas is another in terms of mass transit. LA, Houston and San Diego not so much.
 

fortsbest

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In the grand scheme of things, as an American, what are you more concerned about - California and Californians itself (lifestyle of debauchery, gun control and liberal views) or more concerned how California drags down the United States (fiscally)?

Another way to put it, would you vote California out of the USA? And, if so, would you then essentially no longer be concerned about what California does when it comes to taxes, immigration stances, Medicare, trains, etc?
I would want the citizens of the state to start electing people that actually have the citizen's best interest in heart. To stop electing people that are more interested in supporting non citizens than themselves. To elect people that actually want the state to be part of this country and behave like it. That's a beautiful state in many areas that is being ruined by politicians that would rather support causes than be fiscally responsible to their citizens.
 

Smitty

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I'm fine with California leaving the Union. The Democrats will never win another national election and I'm sure we'll have good relationships with them so I can still visit.
 

BipolarFuk

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I would want the citizens of the state to start electing people that actually have the citizen's best interest in heart. To stop electing people that are more interested in supporting non citizens than themselves. To elect people that actually want the state to be part of this country and behave like it. That's a beautiful state in many areas that is being ruined by politicians that would rather support causes than be fiscally responsible to their citizens.
In other words, vote Republican.....the party that CARES ABOUT THE PEOPLE! :rofl.
 

Cowboysrock55

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In the grand scheme of things, as an American, what are you more concerned about - California and Californians itself (lifestyle of debauchery, gun control and liberal views) or more concerned how California drags down the United States (fiscally)?

Another way to put it, would you vote California out of the USA? And, if so, would you then essentially no longer be concerned about what California does when it comes to taxes, immigration stances, Medicare, trains, etc?
I'm cool with California being part of the United States. That's sort of the beauty of separate states. California is vastly different than Texas which is vastly different than Iowa. You can chose where you live to fit your lifestyle! It's why I'm so against an overwhelming Federal Government that tries to dictate everything. Different States should be different.
 

L.T. Fan

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The craft breweries in SD, Napa wine country and gray whale migration tours are maybe the only things worth making a trip out. Everything else is better on the East Coast. Even the porn industry.
I lived in Northern California during my teen years. My wife is from California and her family is there. I have relatives there as well. I have visited the state at a minimum of once a year and at times more.

I am somewhat familiar with things there but I also know that the state itself is divided over several issues and it is somewhat like the North and South civil war as far as the division goes. The ongoing contention is the water rights issue and the North feel they are getting screwed over because they have the water but the state governs it and gives the South total access for their needs and regulated the farm industry in the North.

The people of the North however still stay with the democratic party mind set and can’t understanding the South gets preferential treatment. The state has myriad problems economically and they are just about at the limit of citizen taxation to meet budget requirements. I doubt however that the citizens at large would ever entertain the idea of fixing the problems via a conservative governance structure.
 

Cotton

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Los Angeles smartly secured legal rights to water access in the North. What can the North do about it? Colorado River water is a different story and the rise of Phoenix and surrounding areas exacerbated the water supply issue.

Prop 13 combined with fractured city vs suburban governance to maintain infrastructure seems to be the main scapegoats for the genesis of budget problems. High cost of housing may be a good thing as residential taxes aren’t enough to sustain the needed services and infrastructure.

Oh well, with all the news of people fleeing California, it should be a ghost town around here shortly.

Why does your wife’s family stay in California? Seems like there aren’t any redeeming reasons to stay. No water, beaches are polluted, high living costs, human feces, excessive taxation, strict gun rules, gay marriage, illegals, the 49ers, social liberalism and too much ethnic influence (non-assimilation), no Whataburgers...and the gold is gone. You could ask if they’re miserable, masochists or both.

The human feces woman. So miserable, yet she stays...for a job that can only be in California? Get a different job then. It’s like those that stayed behind when Katrina evacuations were ordered and they died/suffered.

I blame the hippies.
Just curious, why do you stay there? Are you stuck in a job? Do you like it there? I'm not trying to be a dick and these are not meant to be leading questions. I'm genuinely asking.
 

Cotton

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You good. We all good. I know you’re not trying to be a dick. None of us are. It’s just funny how California has so many problems, yet there are still so many people coming here. I don’t know the stats, but I’m guessing the amount of white-collar, college-educated new residents (gross, not net) outnumbers the amount of new illegals coming into this state. I meet so many people that just moved here that are from the Midwest, heartland and New York City even. It’s baffling.

Im here cuz I like Korean BBQ.
:lol

You know you can get that shit in Texas, too, right?
 

skidadl

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I love to visit California. It is a beautiful state, the weather is amazing, the food is amazing, the people are nice to look at...

I would never live there though. Too many weirdos.
 
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