Last year, I made the decision to leave California for a full-time job in another state, thinking it would be a short-term move. But now, unless something drastic happens, I feel pretty certain I won’t be going back.
And I’m definitely not alone. Many young professionals are leaving California, searching for better job opportunities, affordable living situations, and improved family dynamics elsewhere.
Honestly, the thought of living in a cramped 500-square-foot studio, paying more than $2,000 a month, isn’t appealing to most people. In California, finding decent job prospects is increasingly challenging, even for college graduates. It currently holds the highest unemployment rate in the country, meaning more people are struggling to find work.
Having grown up in California, it’s these realities that pushed me to leave. Sure, I might have found a job in the state and made due with living space, but that’s a pretty grim outlook, right?
California’s stance on capitalism is undermining its own potential.
Besides the economy, what turned my “temporary” relocation into something permanent? Well, part of it is the state’s recent push to shape itself as a pedestrian haven under Governor Gavin Newsom, but it’s mostly about the troubling messages it sends to children.
I hope to start a family someday, but I can’t envision raising kids in California under Newsom’s policies.
When my daughter was five, she began receiving sex education from her public school. Middle schools must provide LGBTQ-inclusive sex education that touches on contraception, abortion, and gender identity, all without any religious context. One resource suggested to her was a book full of explicit content aimed at young adults.
And at just 11, she could undergo a “sex change” at school without my consent, all thanks to a law signed by Newsom. In high school, she’ll have to endure another sex education course, which might be run by Planned Parenthood.
Looking ahead, Newsom aims to advance his political ambitions, possibly targeting 2028.
While it might be possible to opt out or homeschool, states are making those options tougher each year. More troubling, the pervasive culture of death in the state feels unavoidable.
I hope to start a family someday, but I can’t envision raising kids in California under Newsom’s policies.
Newsom, building on the legacy of his predecessor Kamala Harris, seems poised to use California as a launchpad for a campaign focused on “reproductive rights.”
Data indicates significant outflow from California to more business-friendly states, suggesting a deliberate choice to decline.
Newsom has positioned himself as a proponent of family planning, aiming to make California a haven not only for undocumented immigrants but also for those who promote termination of life.
He recently advised a Louisiana official pursuing legal action against a California doctor accused of trafficking abortion drugs to turn himself in. Last fall, a $140 million emergency fund was rolled out for abortion clinics struggling after losing federal support.
Newsom acknowledges that certain issues are barriers for Democratic support.
In January, the state legislature proposed another $90 million grant to abortion providers.
Although California does not mandate reporting on abortions, it’s estimated that around 183,240 abortions could occur in 2024, amounting to about 31% of all pregnancies—far exceeding the national average of 17% to 25%.
Nearly one in three pregnancies in California end in abortion, indicating a concerning cultural attitude towards life.
At just 11, she could undergo a “sex change” at school without my consent, all thanks to a law signed by Newsom.
This disregard for life can also be seen in California’s assisted suicide program, which reported 1,281 prescriptions for assisted suicide in 2023, up from just 293 in its first year in 2016. Overall suicide rates are rising, a trend mirrored nationwide. Meanwhile, many embryos created through IVF are discarded, while the state opens its doors to those aiming to exploit reproductive technologies.
Although California’s progressive policies can be sidestepped to some extent, what remains unavoidable is the prevailing culture that treats life as a negotiable option. Honestly, that’s not an environment I want for raising children.
