Yes, California is neoliberal hell. Yes, California is part of the United States and the US is evil, so by extension so is California. The state was built on stolen land and genocide, just like the other 49.
But I've been in the weird position of defending California on this site not because it's "good", but just because I think for those of us who have no choice but to live in the US, it's the least bad option.
I think the issues around homelessness are a good microcosm to look at. Yeah, CA is really shitty towards our homeless population, no doubt. But at the same time there are quite a few people here who actually want solutions that help homeless people and there are programs at the state and local level - feeble as they may be - that try to do this. Meanwhile, since I'm a transplant I can compare CA to my native Midwestern state. Back there, they are only a couple steps below "just fucking shoot homeless people we don't care". Literally every person I know back home sees homelessness as a "problem" that just needs to go away. If I was homeless I would never even consider going back to where I grew up, I'd stay here.
So yeah, I would sorta defend CA here. And now I feel like over the last year you've seen how absolutely christofascist the red states are going w/r/t abortion, trans issues, even gay marriage, you all are starting to see just how awful most of the US can be for anyone who isn't a well-off cishet white guy.
Fun CA fact: if you can land a job in CA state or local govt (including in the massive UC system), your health insurance is required by law to cover all gender affirming care, including expensive surgeries.
LA, SF, and San Diego are certainly not "every city". Check rent in Bakersfield/Redding/Fresno. Probably higher than average but probably also less than half of the average rent of the name-brand CA cities
would anyone in their right mind want to live in those places? I mean, I don't want to live where I am but i'm trapped or whatever.
if it means gender affirming healthcare guaranteed, it beats the hell out of Houston/Orlando/Cincinnati
Hey, like, you can live in Eugene or Arcata if you want a small cheap town with a liberal government and unionized gov't/university/hospital jobs that'll have trans healthcare. You don't have to subject yourself to 100+ degree summers, driving anytime you leave the house and weird glares from rednecks.
I would so much rather live in a micro-studio or shared housing in the East Bay than live in a nice ass 3 bedroom in Redding. There's a reason the rent's low in Redding and it's because it's a deeply unpleasant place to exist.
No culture, no diversity, hillbillies everywhere, no kindness to homeless, the Waffle House is their idea of a great meal.