Why do people say California is so bad ? (Los Angeles, Sacramento: apartment, rent)

[EdJS]

When we moved from Montreal to Los Angeles in1977, there were only two things my dad was definitely expecting:

1. No more snow.
2. No more Quebec separatists.

Since he was completely satisfied in both respects immediately, he has always been happy in California.

[Mike930]

I was born and raised in California. I'll be the first to admit that I whine and complain about the state too much. There are some really good things here. The weather is great. There is good food if you know where to find it and, depending where you are, there actually is some culture here.

However, the state politicians here are complete clueless morons. I'm sure every state can make that claim. We have a governor that shows flashes of brilliance and then fights to build a train to nowhere. They don't have any idea how to handle money and we recently had three senators indicted for various charges. My personal favorite is Leland Yee who pushed gun control bills indicted for arms trafficking.

Now, they want to spend $3 million for legal aid to the illegal alien children.

California Democrats plan to spend $3 million to offer legal aid for Central American minors | Star Tribune

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Mike930

I was born and raised in California. I'll be the first to admit that I whine and complain about the state too much. There are some really good things here. The weather is great. There is good food if you know where to find it and, depending where you are, there actually is some culture here.

However, the state politicians here are complete clueless morons. I'm sure every state can make that claim. We have a governor that shows flashes of brilliance and then fights to build a train to nowhere. They don't have any idea how to handle money and we recently had three senators indicted for various charges. My personal favorite is Leland Yee who pushed gun control bills indicted for arms trafficking.

Now, they want to spend $3 million for legal aid to the illegal alien children.

California Democrats plan to spend $3 million to offer legal aid for Central American minors | Star Tribune

My wife and I both retired from the state and nine moths later moved to the Ozarks because it was where we really wanted to live. Besides the usual complaints of over-crowding, sprawl, traffic, etc. our primary issue was its governance. Sad to say, we see no signs of improvement. However, all too many have no interest in how they're being governed so they're perfectly content. More power to them.

[Mach50]

California has a lifestyle that many people cannot relate to. It's a different culture entirely from the other states. Small yards, car loving, surfing, skateboarding, punks, nerds, hipsters, ultra-rich, ultra-poor, crime, beauty, mexican and asian centric food, dry, sunny, lawyers with tattoos... we have everything in California.

I have lived in many places around the country and world, California is #1. But it will cost a fortune.

[Adrini]

Since everyone is so mad about housing and high prices in L.A., I really don't understand why you're complaining. I live in Rome and the average salary here is 36,000 USD compared to 62,000 USD and here is a full comparison:
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
So basically L.A. is cheaper than Rome in almost every aspect, and people from Los Angeles make about TWICE as much money as people from Rome. Keep complaining, sure.

[Mike930]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

My wife and I both retired from the state and nine moths later moved to the Ozarks because it was where we really wanted to live. Besides the usual complaints of over-crowding, sprawl, traffic, etc. our primary issue was its governance. Sad to say, we see no signs of improvement. However, all too many have no interest in how they're being governed so they're perfectly content. More power to them.

Yes, you make a good point. The enlightened voters continue to elect the same idiots.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by Adrini

Since everyone is so mad about housing and high prices in L.A., I really don't understand why you're complaining. I live in Rome and the average salary here is 36,000 USD compared to 62,000 USD and here is a full comparison:
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
So basically L.A. is cheaper than Rome in almost every aspect, and people from Los Angeles make about TWICE as much money as people from Rome. Keep complaining, sure.

Yeah but in all fairness don't you get Universal healthcare and other public benefits in Italy that we don't in the US?

I'm not trying to derail the thread, but let's compare apples to apples here.

[Adrini]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Yeah but in all fairness don't you get Universal healthcare and other public benefits in Italy that we don't in the US?

I'm not trying to derail the thread, but let's compare apples to apples here.

Absolutely not. I had to go to a dermatologist because I had some zits on my back that I wanted to get checked: 90 euros plus waiting like 2 hours (because this was in a public hospital, in a private clinic it would be around 200 euros). My friend got a gynecomastia surgery: 2,500 euros. The only thing that comes into my mind that is actually cheaper here is University , but other than that, I guess nothing else.. I mean, living by your standards it means that someone will announce "Hey italians, you will pay less taxes and make twice as much money per year". You would never hear anyone complaining here lol.

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Yeah but in all fairness don't you get Universal healthcare and other public benefits in Italy that we don't in the US?

I'm not trying to derail the thread, but let's compare apples to apples here.

So it costs a couple in their 50s $12,000-$15,000 a year for good health insurance. The other public benefits are usually refered to (in the US) as Welfare, Social Security. Medicaid or Medicare. Do the math.

[No_Recess]

My new home in California: No tv, no car, small studio apt, no eating out, no paying for entertainment, not saving as much money as I used to be able to save.

Back in native Ohio: Dish tv, car, spacious 1 br, eat out 3 times a week, all entertainment paid for, could save more money...by a decent margin.

Now the visuals:

My new home...



http://homesbyrosalie.com/images/Ventura_Beach.png

VS.

My old home...



http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles26890.jpg

ANY QUESTIONS?