What "freedom" am I missing living in California?

Dude. I am going to tell you this conversation I overheard between DH & a co-worker (he works from home and uses his laptop for all his calls). For reference, the guy he was speaking to lives in PA.

"I was in California a few years ago and, man, they have all these WARNINGS on things like the glass before you enter a restaurant or store. All these things about IT CAN CAUSE CANCER and other stuff, it's just crazy!"

I even asked DH to clarify after and he said "no, that was the entirety of his rant and when I don't respond to him, he either stops speaking or he'll move on."

We live in Kansas City and at the local farmer's market, the farmer will say something like "oh, this is local, we don't have any of that weird stuff like in California."

I was getting a tattoo on Saturday in Springfield, MO, and the artist's mom came in and sat for a while. She started going on about how "well, around here we don't let people shoplift, but you know... they ALLOW that type of stuff in places like California." After her Mom left, the artist was telling me her Mom has some weird ideas. I said "Yeah, that California thing was weird." She said "What's bad is that she's actually FROM California."

I really feel like people either have no idea or they're so brainwashed at this point by watching Faux News? It really boggles the mind because the times I've been to Cali, I thought it was beautiful.

Per another pea's post I guess it is freedom of ignorance? Lol (oh Ca has all those warnings. Yeah cuz our state government actually cares about our health)

I always wonder this as well. Born and raised in Southern California. I have never felt restricted. I’m not into guns but could buy one if I wanted to. They also claim they are moving to safer places but also say that they walked into a store and walked out with a gun within 15 minutes. If the area is so safe why do you feel you need a gun for protection?

I have been curious about this and it really makes little sense. I think there are waiting periods to purchase a gun but I think most people are for those.

We have had them going for weeks. They really went nuts last night into the wee hours so I really hope they are done. There have been reminders that they are illegal but not sure if anyone was actually written up because of them. .

Another California native. Yes, we have restrictions and taxes. Sometimes I get frustrated that I can't order certain plants for my garden, for example. Some people scream about taxes and strict building codes and environmental regulations. Of course our gun control laws make a lot of hunters very angry.

So essentially what I take from the freedom statements is that people want to go live where it is cheap (allegedly, everywhere has taxes!) where they can employ someone without giving them a lunch break to construct a home without paying for permits and then dump cheap gasoline down the storm drain.

In all seriousness, this state has some big issues. But I am always thankful for the legal protections I have as a worker and a woman and that I am surrounded by clean air and clean water.

I totally agree! I was born and raised in California and now live in Kansas. People are so threatened by California, it really is laughable. The only thing I will say when I hear these comments is that the only problem with California is the amount of people that live there. The traffic is miserable. And for that alone, living here has improved our quality of life. But to say that California allows shoplifting or doesn't allow residents to make their own food choices is so ridiculous. Those "may cause cancer" signs are meant to inform the consumer, something that every state should strive to do!

We don't allow shoplifting. You will be fired if you confront a shoplifter. Laws changed thanks to uneducated voters AND the way the proposition was written that it isn't a felony until you hit $1000 worth of goods.

They are trying to get a new prop on November's election to drop it and allow prosecution. I hope it passes.

Well in the dark ages I was a cashier in a supermarket. Like before 1960... We were told to never resist a robber. All our transactions were cash and some checks.. Just hand it over...

You couldn’t pay me to move out of California. I was born here (as were the three generations before me), I’ve lived here all my life, and I can’t think of a better place to live.

It’s not perfect, but it checks off all my boxes. I love the diversity and acceptance of all kinds of people. I don’t have to worry about our school libraries making stupid book banning choices (when a few weirdos try that crap here, they get their asses kicked at the ballot box). Everyone has access to health insurance, if not via their jobs, then either through Obamacare or provided by the state. I’m middle class and I’ve owned my own home since 1980. My middle class adult kids also both own homes. 

I’m delighted to see the haters move to Idaho, Texas, and Florida. I do feel bad for the ones who get there, discover they hate it, and can’t afford to move back. But they sure weren’t paying attention.

I honestly think it's a lovely place but the earth itself doesn't want you there. Wildfires, smoke, smog, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis, mudslides, avalanches, running out of ground water... Mountain lions running through the hood because they have no place to live anymore...What else can the earth do to let you know that part is full?

As for the comment about CA not thinking about the rest of us at all, well, that's pretty typical and part of what makes you annoying.
Then again, I admit to using that exact answer when a Scottish man told us every Canadian he ever met said they hate Americans, so he wanted to know if we felt the same. I said "We don't think about them at all." Which isn't true when I'm cursing their Arctic winds in January in Iowa.

🤣🤣

Just kidding, I was married in Lake Tahoe CA and my grandma's family was all from Canada. I'll see myself out. 😁

Tonight my 12 yo found out she can’t get her helix pierced until she’s 14. That’s a freedom she doesn’t have in CA. (Oh to be 12 and have that be my big issue). She’s looking at nearby states we can vacation to that will do it for her 😂

I have friends who moved to Wisconsin. They said that food tastes better (?) and everything is cheaper. They can have the “fun” fireworks and they apparently can get them all year.

My friends who moved to Idaho did it for purely political reasons- they are hard core Trump humpers.

A friend who moved to Pennsylvania did so because of how CA “handled Covid” apparently.

Gas vehicles?

And I agree, we simply do not have the proper infrastructure to go all EV yet. It’s just not there.