For a progressive state, CA is kind of behind on some things IMHO

[The Straight Story]

When I moved here from Ohio one of things I thought of about CA was that it was state of the art and ahead of many other states in just about everything.

Was I ever wrong.

Sure, on rights for gays, et al, it is leading the way - but you would think the heart of America's silicon valley would be a bit more advanced. Well, I am here to tell you - Ohio is kicking ass compared to CA and it makes me wonder why.

1. When I got a drivers' license in Ohio (or renewed mine) it was printed out and handed to me on the spot.

In CA, they have to mail it to you about 10 days later.

2. When I filed for unemployment in Ohio it was all online, I could file weekly claims online, and be paid via a debit card every Tuesday.

In CA I have to fill out the paperwork by hand, mail it in (requires a stamp) and wait for a paper check. When I asked the lady about it all she said that it would be another 4 years before they had it all online and automated.

3. My ticket - I have a traffic ticket and I just want to pay it. Got it 2-21. As of TODAY it is still not in the system and the lady I spoke with on the phone just now said it would maybe another 2 weeks before it is in the system and that I should not show up for court on Monday when the ticket says I should.

Jeebus people....

[flvegan]

1. But CA has some huge potential

to be WAY ahead in other things:

http://www.humanecalifornia.org/

[Ellen Forradalom]

2. Registering my car in this state was a yearlong odyssey

CA is famously Byzantine in its regulation.

[Beregond2]

3. CA

It has such a huge population for one state government to handle, it takes forever to change anything. Logically, it should be divided into two states, but it won't ever happen.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

7. Don't kid yourself

California has more regulations per square inch than any other state in the union. Most of them make no sense. Some of them were written to benifit single families, like the Gallo family. Very rarely, some good legislation originates here like outlawing pay toilets but for the most part, our politicians are just as corrupt, just as bought and paid for, just as rich and out of touch and just as entrenched as most other states. The fact that the populace appears to be more progressive is also smoke and mirrors. What you miss is that, while we may have very vocal bastions of progressive thought like Berkely, we also have bastions of right wing nut jobs like Fresno(home of rimjob) or Visalia (home of my fundy brother).

Yes, if you happen to locate in one of the more progressive, coastal areas, you will think you have arrived at sanity. Unfortunatly, all you have to do is drive a few miles to find redneck heaven, ignorance and Jeebus.

California dreamin is just that, a dream.

[XemaSab]

15. If we split the state

it would just add two more republicans to the Senate. For real.

[mulsh]

4. honestly, we want you to go back to Ohio.

Among lots of us natives there's a joke: "Welcome to California...now leave" Only it isn't really a joke.

Oh it would be a little different if you came from another country with a vibrant culture and better yet, delicious cuisine. but really, Ohio? so there you have it. Thanks um for helping to keep real estate prices at a premium, and we love the way you pay our exorbitant taxes, especially in the bay area. stick around for a while but don't forget to leave.

the above will give you some idea of why I'm no longer working for the state touristry board.

[depakid]

9. Psst...

Oregonians feel the same way about their erstwhile neighbors to the south.

[stevedeshazer]

18. Shhh!

Fer God's sake, you can't even pump your own gas, even if you can afford it!

Of 36 Oregon counties, only eight voted for John Kerry in 1994.

In Grant County alone, 78.9% voted for the Chimp!

It rains ALL THE TIME.

We've cut down ALL OUR TREES.

Yeah, I'm considering a move to a more progressive state, like Ohio or Florida. Or Texas.

Oregon would be just as big as Texas, if you stomped it out flat.

Don't even consider moving here. Even our basketball players assault people.

[EFerrari]

5. Bigger doesn't mean more efficient.

And, show up for court! Because they can punish you for not following the rules they are not following! :crazy:

[The Straight Story]

10. I told the lady on the phone I wanted to show up Monday

And she told me several times not to as my case was not in the system and they would not see me.

She said the date on the ticket was just one made up by the police that pulled me over and I should ignore that until I got an official notice in the mail.

Now I am confused :) A friend of ours followed this logic once and got a bench warrant issued for not showing up. So I have no idea what to do at this point...I don't want to miss a day of work at my new job, and I don't want to have an arrest warrant issued for me because I didn't show up.

[EFerrari]

11. There may be a number you can call to get that day's arriagnments.

I hate these mofos that put people through this for no good reason. :grr:

:hug:

[Codeine]

6. The unemployment thing may be a county or regional limitation.

My ex-GF just applied online for unemployment compensation on-line last week on my computer. 10 minutes and a few mouse clicks and she was done.

[depakid]

8. "In CA, they have to mail it to you about 10 days later."

That's not California- that's the so called "real ID" requirement from the Bush and the cowardly congress.

[AlCzervik]

12. thats what happens when you live in a state with 35 million people, it's unwieldy.

but it's the only place i want to live.

[slackmaster]

13. State government is a morass, San Diego County is run much better

My last several encounters with the Assessor, Recorder, and Tax Collector (all one office) have been surprisingly pleasant. Even recording a deed that I did myself took less than a minute.

The City of San Diego is another story.

[XemaSab]

14. California is straight BACKWARDS on a lot of things

It's a fact.

[bicentennial_baby]

16. Ahem, MA leads the way on gay rights....

We are the only ones with actual marriage equality, after all.

[bemildred]

17. California was until about 10 years ago a Republican state.

The conversion is not yet complete, witness our chameleon weasel governor. What you are witnessing is the result of that. If you were to remember how things were 40 years ago, under Pat Brown, as I do, you would know how that it could be different.

[Pastiche423]

19. Uh...

Bakersfield ain't exactly representative of California.

[Cleita]

20. I'm pretty much a native Californian. I have lived here mostly since I was two

years old and I can give you a better list than that on things we are behind in. Our state government has never been run efficiently and we seem to prosper in spite of it. Look at the asshole our stupid laws got us for governor. Need I say more.