Actually, when theyre citizens flee on mass to other states and begin voting in the same laws that bankrupted your state, yeah it matters. Cause thats happening in my home state as we speak.
As I said, I lived in Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California. Loved the weather, hated the prices, hated the political climate, and hated most of the people I met in L.A. (with the exception of you Tu_, your my current favorite Californian, you actually seem reasonable most of the time)

As of other people that havent lived their, I couldnt say why, unless it has something to do with other states wanting to copy their political philosophy cause its "progressive" and "good for people". Lol.
But seriously, I think people hate on it because it has become a symbol for Liberal ideals and those ideals have destroyed the economy there - and other liberal leaning states look to California for guidance for some fucked up reason I cant fathom.