I live in California. I have invested in this state by buying a home. We can't leave because of employment.

I am so bitter and angry at the Democrat powers-that-be in this state. What they've done is take a thriving state full of creative, innovative and driven people and stomped out every bit of energy and encouragement that made this state so successful. As we continue to fail, they continue to make moronic laws and regulations and instate higher fees and taxes with which to line their own pockets and those of their cronies.

I miss California. The Midwest is nice, the pace is slower, the seasons are prettier (well, when there's no drought). People here are much more polite. However, if California's government restored itself to sanity, my family would be back in a New York minute.

I'm not cheering for CA to fail, OP. However, I don't see the necessary mindset for it to turn itself around. That is why I'm among those who have fled. I agree that in no way should the rest of the country provide a bailout to cushion the hard landing required to change the mindset. The country as a whole has a flawed mindset and consequential hard landing of its own that must be dealt with.

Ironically, the solutions to CA's problems are fairly straightforward. Rein in the unions, shoot (politically) the environmentalists, put a lid on all those proposition bond issues, cut off welfare and "free" emergency room healthcare for illegals, and drill, baby, drill off the coast.

I've lived in CA most of my life and I've never seen it this bad or so hopeless. And it's about to get even worse. There are several initiatives on the November ballot that would increase our taxes even higher and place additional burdens on businesses.

But here's an insight that those of you in other parts of the country don't fully understand or appreciate. It's not just our homegrown liberals that are responsible for this insanity, the biggest problem now is that we have been totally overrun with illegal immigrants. Our borders are wide open and have a giant flashing light in effect saying "Come one, come all, free education, medical care, and other services!"

Our schools, our hospitals, our jails, and our courts are now mainly serving this invasion. And our taxes are skyrocketing with no end in sight.

Beware. When the the CA economy crashes, and it will, all those illegals are heading your way.

Why are people fleeing California? What a stupid question! It's the land of fruits and nuts. Most are trying to get the hell out as soon as they can.

Was going to list the restrictions on 'Pursuit of Happiness'.

Suffice it to say that California is becoming a society of Haves and Have-nots. Middle class is shrinking and lower class is growing. Social mobility is more down, than up.

Don't think it will get as bad as Greece or Argentina. Google 'Ferfal'. OR...http://duckduckgo.com/

Moved here from NY 12 years ago to be near family. Love San Diego, but the politics in this state are so unbelievable. Radical bills get passed and even get Republican votes It is actually hard to believe that the elected officials who vote actually live here and have to live by the consequences. I guess that it is all about getting the votes to stay in power, no matter what party.

There are many of us here who are active in politics and do our best, but it is overwhelming to say the least, to actually see the destructive policies being promoted. NY is not a whole lot better.

I'm one native born Californian that is tired of the California bashing. What ruined this state was the invading hordes from other states.

If I didn't have a good job I might leave my native state. But until such a day I will do all I can to reclaim it. Yet I don't feel any need to put up with disdain from others while doing so.

Schadenfreude is ugly.

The two pieces of legislation apparently approved in California in the past week or so indicate a serious lapse in logic in California politics that is enough to cause anyone to move elsewhere if he or she has the ability to move and has not moved already.

Provide legal identification to illegal immigrants?

Prohibit medical professionals from trying to persuade a child to remain heterosexual?

Crowded, overpriced, obnoxious, fascist, and monoclimatic...I don't miss California.

Democrats in control...case closed. A democrat can screw up a bowling ball, but leave them alone and they can turn a beautiful productive state into a socialist nightmare.

How many people are leaving California only to transplant their radical views and agendas elsewhere?

#12 How many of them came TO California with those attitudes from somewhere else?

OP you got that right. Me too. Let it go down in flames.

Brown and the rest of the Democrats feel California is too big to fail. Just like the banks they will blackmail the rest of the country just so they can keep their socialist programs. Well then break it up. You want our money, then lose your sovereignty.

The rest of the country will be hurt too, but that is the hard lesson we need to learn.

I owned a home in Glendora, CA for over twenty years. Though I seldom lived there, I loved it. It was in the nature of an investment rather than a domicile. I still have two grown children living in California. I sold out when I could see the gathering storm of liberal politics. Prop 13 was the last thing ever done for property owners there. Now, I visit the grandchildren there, enjoy it for a couple of weeks, then skedaddle back to Texas.

Illinois (the potus' state) is asking for a bailout for pensions. Giving money to them would open the floodgates for California and other states. The taxpayers cannot afford these bills, we are already bankrupt, thanks in large part to Demonrat Socialist policies.

I actually think a lot of the socialist are native to California. If that many had moved from somewhere else then there would not be any left anywhere else

The problem is actually that the people who lived there let the left bully them just one little bit at a time. They didn't want to appear to be rude or narrow minded. Then one day they woke up and found that the left owned them

I would advise any sane person there to leave. You will lose less money now than later. Get a job somewhere else and leave.

Wife and I were married in Calif, I graduated in Calif, bought our first home, started our kids in school-started my first business, then the wheels started to come off; Liberal think ruined our neighborhood with 235 housing, moved the ghetto to the burbs, schools then began preaching commie rat trap, we made a decision in one night over dinner- Move! We were ex Californians in two months! We left Calif and have never regretted it- Moved to a small southwestern town, great schools, inexpensive homes and living, low taxes,got good jobs, had to change careers, but, it all worked out. Kids grew up safe and well educated. We watched from our little haven as things in Calif got worse and worse and when we thought they could get no worse, they got worse- We were so happy we left when we did- 37 years ago! So, there it is.

People are fleeing California for the same reason that they flee Democrat controlled cities in particular and socialist enclaves generally around the world -- economic devastation.

If you gave Google Earth look up Camden, NJ. Go to "Street View" and see the future of most American cities if Obama and the Liberals stay in power. California is going down the same drain. Using backwards thinking we are told this is a recovery.

#15, small world. I'm a native Angelino, spent most of my childhood in Glendora. My sis still lives there, 4 blocks from where we grew up. Still a beautiful town, we go back 2-3 times a year. I remember when the "gumdrop" trees were tiny. Now they are huge.