California’s exodus of major corporations continues, with Chevron being the latest to announce its departure from the state. While it’s tempting to blame the state’s anti-fossil fuel policies, the reality is that energy companies are just one of many industries fleeing California.
In recent years, a slew of prominent companies, including SpaceX, Charles Schwab, and Oracle, have made the move to Texas. This trend is not limited to big business, as California has consistently led the nation in out-of-state migration, with many residents following their employers to more business-friendly states.
California’s energy policies have been particularly hostile to companies like Chevron, with cap-and-trade taxes, environmental mandates, and an “excessive profits” tax all contributing to a toxic business environment. According to Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, these policies have “raised costs, hurt consumers, and discouraged investment,” ultimately making it clear that California is no longer a viable place to do business.
However, California’s problems extend far beyond the energy sector. The state’s strict environmental laws have driven up the cost of building housing, factories, and infrastructure, resulting in the nation’s highest gas prices, energy costs, and unaffordable housing. Despite these challenges, the state’s Democratic leadership has failed to deliver on basic public services, with a staggering $46.8 billion debt, a homeless population that’s the highest in the nation, and some of the worst schools and roads in the country.
The state’s high-speed rail project, which has already cost over $10 billion and still requires an additional $100 billion to complete, is a prime example of the Democratic Party’s misplaced priorities. Meanwhile, California’s unemployment rate remains the highest in the nation.
The silver lining is that middle-class families still have the freedom to escape California’s Democratic Party tyranny and relocate to more business-friendly states like Utah, Texas, and Florida. However, the prospect of Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential candidacy is a concerning one, as she seeks to impose California’s failed policies on the rest of the nation.
Harris’s far-left agenda, which includes decriminalizing illegal border crossings, providing free healthcare to undocumented immigrants, and eliminating cash bail, would likely have disastrous consequences for the country. If she were to win, it’s unclear where the rest of the nation would turn to escape the economic and social devastation that has become synonymous with California.
