Why is California more successful than New York and Florida?

[Anonymous]

What did California do right to become the most important state? Is this due to the California gold rush?

[HighValue]

I lived in CA for 37 years and left last year. What do you consider as "successful?" Having the most homeless, terrible amounts of crime, harming kids with the trans agenda being pushed, businesses leaving due to excessive crime/theft/robbery/vandalism that is often not prosecuted, or the huge debt?

https://www.usdebtclock.org/state-debt-clocks/state-of-california-debt-clock.html

CA is a terrible place to live.

[BCA6010]

I disagree with the premise, but California's historical success and importance comes from the Pacific shipping trade, which it singlehandedly controls the overwhelming majority of. Unlike most eastern states, California also has a massive amount of farmland (even if it is poorly managed).

By comparison, the east coast Atlantic trade is split up so much that most states on that side of the country only have one major port, and none of those ports are as large or busy as Los Angeles.

[jennifer_bloom]

I would not want to live in California cause they have wild fires. Florida is better cause they have beaches. New York seems to have a myriad of cultures and some of it might involve the street gang lifestyle. I've heard of people assaulting random people in New York for looking rich, so I think my city is safer. I've had at least 2 dozen people hate me for using big words. They thought I was a rich snob who never had to eat oatmeal a day in my life.

[NaultD]

Trade from the pacific is a big one. Hollywood entertainment, USA largest export. Silicone valley basically created the first footsteps of computers that would ultimately create the internet.

Why ultimately perfect weather year round even no mosquitoes. So rich people flocked and started all those things.

[jahaims]

California has 1.6 trillion in debt. If California were a country it would have the world's 5th largest economy. A state isn't successful when it goes into debt with such a large income.

[KrakenAttackin]

California was once a conservative, business friendly, sane, place to live. As it stands right now California is squeezing every bit it can out of its former glory.

[dustybiker2]

The weather.