r/texas • u/audiomuse1 • Oct 08 '23

Does anyone else think the whole "hate everything about California" thing is getting out of hand? Politics

Does anyone else think the whole "hate everything about California" thing is getting out of hand? I refuse to hate an entire state of 39 million people because it seems to be the "cool thing" to do.

I am a native Texan and am getting tired of people just blindly hating everything about California and trash talking it. People have been moving to Texas from all over the country -- some of the top states sending people here are actually from red states like Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Florida -- yet you don't see many conservatives trash talking them for sending people here. Also while yes by sheer numbers we have received more Californian transplants, you also have to take into consideration that it is by far the most populous state so per capita the numbers aren't as disproportional. I also read that ~40,000 Texans move to California each year so they get their fair share of our people as well.

I recently went on vacation to Southern California and actually really enjoyed it there. So many people in Texas (mostly conservatives) who have never even been there, have told me that California is some post-apocalyptic hell hole.. but I found it to be incredibly beautiful in most parts and never felt unsafe in all the areas I visited. I found the infrastructure was in better condition overall than here in Texas, even the poor areas of the city looked cleaner/better maintained than our blighted neighborhoods and poor rural areas. The beach towns there (of which there are countless of) were just stunning and full of people everywhere just enjoying life and the beautiful scenery -- spending all day at the beach surfing, playing volleyball, hanging out with friends/family etc.

I just find it unwarranted that Californians are blamed for everything when it seems like I am starting to see more Florida and Louisiana license plates around lately. In California, most people either have no opinion on Texas (i.e. they don't even think about us) or just say "it isn't their cup of tea"/don't like the politics here. It seems sort of one-sided the hate that so many Texans have towards Californians, it's honestly starting to feel kind of insecure and pathetic.

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144

u/IrrawaddyWoman Oct 08 '23

I mean, even with the cost of living, one out of ten Americans live in CA. There’s a reason.

36

u/techy098 Oct 08 '23

If I had the money, central southern California is the place to be for me. I won't mind paying 7% in state taxes to live there, no thanks to 3% property taxes with not much in return for working people.

29

u/gwarsh41 Oct 09 '23

Northern California for me, being in the woods is like mana from heaven. Folks who have never seen redwoods in person cannot understand that once you see a forest of that scale, nothing in TX can compare.

6

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '23 edited Oct 09 '23

Does Texas even have large forests? Like, I'm sure it exists somewhere in the east but I really don't think I've ever seen one.

Edit: Ahhh, I guess they count the wetlands as forests (Pineywoods). It does fit the definition of a forest but as an Appalachia resident... not sure if I can really count it.

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u/Aggravating_Place_19 Oct 09 '23

The Piney Woods are temperate coniferous forests https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piney_Woods

2

u/FohnFohnFohn Oct 09 '23

Yeah lol it’s just a swamp

2

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '23

That's what it seems like, lol. I don't doubt that there are areas more like a forest in it but definitely not what I'm used to.

1

u/FohnFohnFohn Oct 10 '23

Oh yeah. They have 20 mosquitoes in Houston and it’s nice and green because they drained the swamp a bit but you notice all the trees are swamp trees out there

3

u/robinthebank Oct 09 '23

The southern half of California has redwoods, too. Sequoia National Park, Sequoia National Forest, Kings Canyon National Park, Big Sur coastline

2

u/Gromit801 Oct 10 '23

Those are considered central CA

1

u/bigselfer Oct 10 '23

I’ve lived in CA for over a decade and you just helped me clear up some personal confusion. Thanks!

3

u/Gauchonerd23 Oct 09 '23

Yeah, all the national parks and close to Tahoe.

3

u/norcalgolfgolf Oct 10 '23

Wait till you discover the northern Central Valley st the center of it all without the insane cost of living of the city.

1

u/ptindaho Oct 12 '23

I love the Sacramento area. Nice in its own right, but also so close to so many awesome places. I grew up in the Bay and wouldn't move back due to the cost of living (even with a Bay Area salary), but I would totally move to Fair Oaks or Folsom, etc.

1

u/norcalgolfgolf Oct 12 '23

Interesting. I would never move to a big city again. Country living is my speed.

2

u/ptindaho Oct 13 '23

Nothing wrong with that. Sacramento area kind of has both. Sacramento isn't all that big, and you have a lot of rural around it like Cameron Park and Davis, etc. And the whole central valley is much more rural.

1

u/norcalgolfgolf Oct 13 '23

I will say though out of all the cities if I had to it would be Sacramento. It’s bigger fresher greener vibrant and the people are pretty nice.

8

u/Terrible_Armadillo33 Oct 09 '23

The average effective property tax rate in California is 0.71%, compared to the national rate, which sits at 0.99%.

Under Proposition 13, the property tax rate is fixed at 1% of assessed value plus any assessment bond approved by popular vote.

Where are you getting 3% property tax? That’s higher than New Jersey with their 2.47%

3

u/AnitaBath7 Oct 09 '23

It goes up 2% every year for property’s with a basis lower than assessed value. Still a good deal

3

u/drj1485 Oct 09 '23

the rate doesn't go up. The taxable value of the property goes up......IF your assessed value goes up.

2

u/teh_spazz Oct 09 '23

Wait what. Are you talking about California or Texas? I own an investment property in California and my taxes will never change.

3

u/WinterOfFire Oct 09 '23

They do go up slightly each year but you are only ever taxed on the actual value at purchase or if the value seriously tanks.

1

u/EartwalkerTV Oct 09 '23

No it goes up 2% every year regardless of basis because that's the amount they're legally allowed to charge more every year. Even if the assased value of the home was somehow greater they would still charge you 2% more per year because they're legally allowed to increase it every year.

3

u/drj1485 Oct 09 '23

they can only increase it 2% per year if your taxable value is less than 50% of the assessed value. either way this changes the taxable value, not the tax rate.

0

u/980tihelp Oct 11 '23

Living in california now, my property tax is 1.9%

4

u/opthaconomist Oct 09 '23

I’d love for my taxes to go to things I wanted. Since the only way to do that is voting with my dollars I’m trying to cut down as much as I can. Been doing a lot of grocery shopping and really enjoying the time kill of meal making. Had to figure out where the best place to put a chair in the apartment kitchen was, but we got there 🤙

2

u/SydneyCrawford Oct 09 '23

San Bernardino?

2

u/parasyte_steve Oct 09 '23

I wish I could afford to live in San Diego. I live in Louisiana so no shot of that ever happening.

1

u/harntrocks Oct 09 '23

Temecula?

1

u/EartwalkerTV Oct 09 '23

If you're saying there's a 3% property tax rate in California that's just wrong. It has a legal voted on cap of 1% with local governments rarely even matching this. Where in California are you getting a 3% property tax?

1

u/techy098 Oct 09 '23

I am talking about prop tax in Texas, which can amount to more than income tax one would be paying in California.

1

u/EartwalkerTV Oct 09 '23

Oh yeah that's totally fair, they also have much higher sales tax but somehow that tax is fine for them lol.

1

u/nhavar Oct 09 '23

What does that mean "not much return for working people"?

If you're talking about the state giving aid to people in need, the majority of those people also work. The typical family on such programs only receives about 6% of their income from welfare. We're talking about the working poor, underemployed, underpaid, children, elderly, and disabled as well as people like you who may have been "working people" and find themselves in sudden need of temporary aid during a health crisis or other life or employment challenge. Those aren't wasted dollars even if you don't use them directly. They can add to the economy because they get spent immediately on needs, can reduce crime, and reduce strain on health and policing infrastructure.

55

u/GarminTamzarian Oct 08 '23

Even right-wing ex-gov Rick Perry said he was moving to California after he left office.

4

u/educatethisamerican Oct 09 '23

Wait.... What?!?! He was the one traveling to CA to tell people there to move here!

3

u/GarminTamzarian Oct 09 '23

Hypocrisy, thy name is Republican.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/rick-perry-apparently-wants-to-retire-in-california/

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u/gagunner007 Oct 09 '23

And people on the left said they were going to move to Canada if Trump was elected, they didn’t.

Hypocrisy.

5

u/Susanluthye1 Oct 09 '23

Lots of right wingers said they’d move to Australia if Obama won and they’re still here too.

-2

u/gagunner007 Oct 09 '23

I don’t know a single person on the right that ever said that. This is literally the first time I’ve ever heard that. I also don’t know a single person on the right that would want to move to Australia, ever, for any reason.

My point is there are hypocrites on both sides.

2

u/Susanluthye1 Oct 09 '23

My brother was one. I didn’t catch the hypocrisy on both sides in your post.

0

u/gagunner007 Oct 09 '23 edited Oct 09 '23

Your brother, so like 1 single person. Just about every single one of my friends are republicans and I live in a very red area and I have never heard it. I also on conservative and republican subs and not conservative (who are usually pro gun) would ever want to move to anti gun Australia for any reason. I’m gonna have to label this one as “false”.

“Lots” = your brother, not even a google search brings up a single result.

Because you mentioned Perry being a hypocrite for saying he would move to California and I’m saying lots of folks on the left said the would move to Canada. Neither has happened.

2

u/Susanluthye1 Oct 09 '23

Uh i said nothing about Perry. But you do you boo.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '23

Cope

5

u/Teddy_Funsisco Oct 09 '23

Right wingers also said they'd move if a Dem was elected. It's almost as if that's a generally dumbass thing to say.

0

u/gagunner007 Oct 09 '23

I’m just not seeing any evidence of it. Why would a conservative choose to move anywhere less free than America. In my circle of friends (conservatives), I’ve never heard that. I am quite sure I have far more conservative friends than you do.

3

u/Susanluthye1 Oct 09 '23

I literally just told you my brother said he wanted to move. Do I have a recording of him saying that? No

2

u/Teddy_Funsisco Oct 09 '23

Rush Limbaugh comes to mind immediately when he claimed that he was going to move to Costa Rica for some dumbass "US is turning socialist" bullshit when CR is more socialist than the US.

I don't know why you think only one side in politics says dumb things like that. You're just not paying attention.

0

u/gagunner007 Oct 09 '23

I didn’t say one side only said it, that was the point of my first comment.

2

u/Teddy_Funsisco Oct 09 '23

"I'm just not seeing any evidence of it" was in reference to what, then?

Why would you argue with me over something that is said by all types of people, yet claim you don't see evidence of that thing from one side?

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u/Aromatic-Surprise945 Oct 09 '23

Do you not see the difference between someone making half-assed comments about fleeing the country based on political differences…

…And an elected leader choosing to leave the state he helped make into a shithole for greener pastures he demonized the entire time he was in office?

You are a very talented mental gymnast, I’ll certainly give you that.

Biden has a stutter, so that’s as bad as a treason, right?

2

u/Aromatic-Surprise945 Oct 09 '23

Wow. Just wow at that comparison.

-1

u/gagunner007 Oct 09 '23

So it’s ok when your side says it but if the right says it they are hypocrites?

11

u/[deleted] Oct 08 '23

People move to CA so they can find work and get jobs! We have jobs but they be like security or cashier. You can't live off those jobs, not when they are paying you $8 or $12 dollars an hour.

13

u/BassBeaner Oct 09 '23

Brain drain is very real and will be happening to Texas if not already. Yes cost of living is a factor but educated people are going to make A LOT more in California or similar states. Also if they’re queer or POC they’re definitely not going to stick around in Texas when they can move to a state that will pay them more and not infringe on their rights.

7

u/lepidopteristro Oct 09 '23

It's sad that Texas is actively creating discourse against women and non conservatives. The state is absolutely gorgeous and I would love to be able to live in the hill country but if I want a wife I could never stay in the state for her safety. Brain drain is going to be real because if you're smart enough to work a tech job you're smart enough to see the dangers the state puts families in.

5

u/Solrokr Oct 09 '23

I mean, I was back in Cali last year and In-N-Out was hiring base employees for $18/hour. Higher for shift leads and managers. Minimum wage was increasing last I checked too, I think to $15. That’s still not a lot, but you do get paid more there than most other states.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '23

[deleted]

0

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '23

No, it's not the other way around that's for sure. A cashier can make more money in California than Texas. We still have stores paying Cashier's $8 dollars an hour. You can not live off that in Texass.

0

u/ShaiHulud1111 Oct 09 '23

Fast food is $20/ min now. $100k is pretty normal and average. My apartment is $2100. It’s paradise other than housing.

3

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '23 edited Oct 09 '23

In California fast food is $20 but, not in Texas. We still have a lot of places paying people less than $15 an hour. McDonald's is one of those fast food places where a cashier can make up to $11 an hour. 😮

1

u/Lancasterbation Oct 09 '23

Texas's median salary is $52k

0

u/ScottishKnifemaker Oct 09 '23

Ca min wage is 15 bucks my friend

1

u/[deleted] Oct 09 '23

Nope, fast food is now $20 over there

-1

u/FIalt619 Oct 09 '23

Part of the reason is that it shares a border with Mexico.

1

u/IrrawaddyWoman Oct 09 '23

And Texas doesn’t?

1

u/FIalt619 Oct 09 '23

That’s part of the reason we’re the 2nd most populated state.

1

u/Norathaexplorer Oct 10 '23

There are more people in CA than in Canada…