[dragonwriter]

> The high cost of living in California has almost nothing to do with liberal politics or whatever you’re trying to insinuate.

It has a lot to do with economic success and the wealth produced thereby. The extent that has to do with the distinctive local politics of the state is another argument.

[mehrzad]

Yes, that's a much better way to put it. It just seems ironic to me that after decades of policies leading to a wealthy California the same detractors are claiming that the liberalism was the problem. My most charitable interpretation they think recently the policies have gotten too progressive and that's causing the exodus, as opposed to the wealth causing the high COL.

[cscurmudgeon]

A lot of places are more wealthy or as wealthy as California. Why don't they have the same cost of living or higher?

[mehrzad]

Can you name such places? Someone mentioned Houston, but I honestly don’t know if their zoning laws are more liberal than ours (LA).