I recently moved to California. Before i moved, people asked me "why are you moving there, its so bad?". Now that I'm here, i understand it less. The state is beautiful. There is so much to do.
I know the cost of living is high, and people think the gun control laws are ridiculous (I actually think they are reasonable, for the most part). There is a guy I work with here that says "the policies are dumb" but can't give me a solid answer on what is so bad about it.
So, what is it that California does (policy-wise) that people hate so much?
Californians are annoying and elitist: well, a disproportionate number of annoying and elitist rich people live here, but I think they give the rest of us an undeserved bad name. That is my personal opinion and not a definitive, objective statement of fact, but I feel like I have a decent read on it as a lifelong Californian.
Has big social problems in cities: name me one state that doesn't.