California is blessed with 2 major ports, it can grow things in desert because of irrigation, and it gets a lot of tourism because of its geography.

That is ALL California has going for it.

It taxes EVERYTHING that comes into those ports...stuff going to Kansas. Half the products coming in from the Pacific goes through CA and CA takes a piece of that action. CA also has millions of acres of desert turned into agriculture. A desert is a beautiful place to grow many crops...plenty of sunshine and NO diseases or pests. CA also receives a lot of tourism because of its size, ample coast line, the mountains to the east, etc.

There is nothing really "great" other than that. No major industry...the tech industry could be anywhere...it's just coincidence it's in the Bay area.

CA is also a minority majority and it has the problems that come with that. CA is a sh!tty place to live...unless you love the Hispanic culture. Because CA is like Mexico now. You hear Spanish spoken more than English.