The days when California politicians were motivated by the public interest are long past. For low-income households that aspire to upward mobility, and for middle-income households that want to maintain their financial independence and preserve their standard of living, California has nothing to offer. And for independent contractors trying to make a living, or small businesses trying to hang on to their employees and customers, the state is actively hostile.

It’s instructive to focus on California’s business climate. If businesses large and small can thrive, most everything else falls into place. To have successful businesses, a state needs reasonable regulations, law and order, and a well-educated workforce. When businesses can compete, the cost of living comes down. California has none of these things. And the more its state and local governments expand, the worse conditions get.