11/05/2025
California is the greatest state in the Union, and it isn't even close. California is a central hub for higher education with the UC school system often regarded as the best public university system in the US. Then of course there's Stanford and the overlooked San Joaquin Delta College (ranked the #4 Community College in the country in 2019.)
California is a global epicenter for technology and innovation with a seemingly countless amount of tech startups, and roughly half of the US venture capital investments occurring in California.
California literally enriches the United States. If California were its own country, it would be the #4 economy in the entire world by itself. California provides much more in federal tax revenue than it receives back in federal funding, effectively subsidizing many smaller states that would struggle without the economic support of California. In fact, in 2024 California paid $276 Billion more in federal taxes than it received back in federal funding (according to the IRS and USAspending.gov).
California is, by many metrics, the most culturally diverse state in the Union (which I am very proud of.) This fact helps demonstrate and prove, it does not matter where someone or their parents were born. It does not matter what region of the world their genome originated from. It does not matter what someone looks like, what languages they speak or listen to in music, what diety they worship, what they wear, or who they marry. What does matter of course is the content of their character, choosing to act in collaboration, cooperation, and compassion in an effort to make this world a little better for everyone, everyday as we move forward.
California does have its issues and while significant, are greatly outshined by the overwhelming positives found in California, and people. Any country in the world would be thrilled to claim California as a part of it, and would welcome us with open arms. If we were able to work together even more in the spirit of collaboration, cooperation, and compassion than we already are, rather than dividing through greed, fear, and demonizing, surely we will make headway on California's issues.