Its a big state. It is too big. It is a case story for what is wrong with democracy. Lived here most of my life. Born and raised. SoCal and the Bay Area pretty much rule the state but there are many wonderful communities throughout the state that are more like the rest of the country than those two regions. Politically it has been a lost cause since the 90s.

The state had a chance to fix many issues by splitting it up a few years ago. Most republicans mocked the idea. I swear, there is nothing more pointless than a republican politician in California. Of course the California clown court removed the proposition starting the process of breaking up the state from the ballot. Its one of the most under-reported events in the state's history if you ask me. It was a serious shut up slave moment.

Had that process began I think people living in the less extremely progressive areas of the state could have had a stronger voice in the direction of gov polices. The programming is strong. Even when it is in the best interest of conservatives they seem to just shoot themselves in the foot.

Since Covid a massive number of the productive class and more conservative folks have flocked to other states. I have lived in a few states and frequently visit other states. California isn't as different from other states as you hear in the media. Many states are maybe 5 years behind California. I rarely see anyone acknowledge this. I think of California as a state with a government more aligned with a European country with a large welfare system. Its not China. Its for sure not North Korea.

City vs. Rural is really the story and it is a nation-wide difference. Most of the more free states tend to have fewer and smaller cities. Fewer and smaller government unions. People love to have something that they can compare themselves to that covers up their own problems. California is screwed up. What is more of a story is how many states are following the lead of California instead of learning lessons. There are a few that seem to be taking a different path like Tennessee, Florida, Idaho, and Texas. California is the canary in the coal mine if you will.