NY/NJ/CT vs CA (state, largest, compare, population)

[BPerone201]

There's a NY Vs CA thread floating around that doesn't seem to make much sense to me.

CA is over 3 times the size of NY (in land mass, and has a population nearly double the size of NY. Also, NYC would be missing more than half of its MSA without CT/NJ, and the population of the two combine would come close to CA's (though, the overall land size is still a lot smaller)
Also, NY/NJ/CT would outrank Texas as far as GDP goes, and it would also be creeping up on CA (but CA still has the higher GDP)
Another reason for the comparison is because CA (LA/SF) is the premeir destination for the West Coast, and the NYC area is the premeir destination for the east coast- So it only makes sense to compare the two.

Other similarities. The two regions are the most heavily taxed, and the two regions are among the most diverse regions in the US.

Brief descriptions.

NY/NJ/CT
Population: 32,000,000 (+/-)
Biggest Cities: New York City, Newark, Buffalo, Jersey City, Rochester (The Philadelphia metro area creeps into the NJ region, so lets consider Philly a part of the discussion as well)
GDP: $1,805,391 (in millions)


By andrew mace— (http://www.flickr.com/photos/acmace/ - broken link)

By Tyler McCall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariaandtyler/ - broken link)

By alexanderschippers (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexander_schippers/ - broken link)

(My Pic)

By enfi (http://www.flickr.com/photos/efigueres/ - broken link)

California
Population: 37,000,000 (+/-)
Biggest Cities: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno
GDP: $1,891,363 (in Millions)


By secondcareer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeandvelda/ - broken link)


By Palojono (http://www.flickr.com/photos/palojono/ - broken link)

By PatrickSmithPhotography (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/ - broken link)

By RiekieKiekie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rika76/ - broken link)

By PatrickSmithPhotography (http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/ - broken link)
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Just some comparisons
NYC Vs LA
Beverly Hills Vs Greenwich
Santa Cruz Boardwalk Vs Wildwood boardwalk
The Golden Gate Bridge Vs George Washington Bridge
The Adirondacks Vs The Sierras
Bordering Mexico Vs Bordering Canada
Princeton Vs Stanford
Pacific Ocean vs Atlantic Ocean


Which do you prefer/rather live? Why/Where?

[kidphilly]

Tough call really two of my favorite areas actually, as an aside you could throw in PA (for that matter MD, DE and DC) and still be far smaller in land area and it exceed the Population and GDP and a few more notable cities but either way both are great areas. Personally I prefer the East coast but CA is pretty damn special too

[BPerone201]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

Tough call really two of my favorite areas actually, as an aside you could throw in PA and still be far smaller in land area and it exceed the Population and GDP but either way both are great areas. Personally I prefer the East coast but CA is pretty damn special too

I thought about throwing in PA in the mix- I guess that would of made sense due to the fact that a big part of the Philly metro area creeps into Jersey. Philly alone can definitely be a part of the discussion though. I just figured the NYC area is the focal point of NY, and you'd have to include NJ/CT (the anchor of the MSA) if you were to do a state by state comparison (with CA).

[BPerone201]

No votes for Cali yet?

[PITTSTON2SARASOTA]

I've got to go with the East coast amalgamation.....especially with both Philadelphia and New York City in the mix.

[emcee squared]

Wow... east coast shutout so far.

[DANNYY]

I'm really starting to develop an infatuation with New York City. You guys have a very impressive city, I really love it. A month ago, my vote would have been for California, but not so much anymore as I get older I realize that everyone has a bubble, I can visit San Francisco when I want, just have to get on a plane or drive there. People who advocate that "states give powerful packages" to me sound like desperate marketers trying to make a sale. For me, I'm mostly concerned with great cities first and foremost and they make the largest impacts in your personal life on a daily basis, yes political regulations from states do to a lesser extent than the city or area you live in. (In my opinion)

To me states are useless, they are below cities to me. I live in Texas most of the year, and am only concerned with my cities and the ones I like, I seriously don't care what the devil goes down in Amarillo hundreds of miles away. People who advocate that their state is the "perfect package" to me sound a bit desperate, but its their opinion. All you need is one phenomenal city with lots of great things to do and a comfortable lifestyle and all is well that ends well.

I could live in Los Angeles & San Diego and be content with life for sure. But I prefer Upstate New York above Southern California, and then of course there's also New York City, so it really is set up for me to make an easy decision here.

[nycricanpapi]

I voted for the Tristate The tristate offers more things than CA

[HONM]

San Francisco really needs to update its tired skyline.

[soug]

Originally Posted by DANNYY

To me states are useless, they are below cities to me.

I've been thinking about how the United States would work if states could delegate most or all power to "Metropolitan Authorities." This level of govt. would cross state lines without problem and be much more suited to governing the country today. Is this even constitutional? I know interstate compacts exist, obviously, but can they be molded to be what I am describing above?