Welcome to the United States
I was late this month in submitting my article for the SCV Business Journal. This was due to the fact that I was on vacation in Wyoming seeking a few days of uninterrupted relaxation. I have four young children so anyone knows uninterrupted relaxation is an oxymoron when it comes to vacation.
When trying to think of what to write about this month, I found my answer at the Jackson Hole Rodeo. Yes; we were attending the rodeo and my family was chosen to win a free Teton Steakhouse gift certificate. In exchange, we needed to introduce ourselves and tell the entire stadium where we live. After we went through introductions my daughter said, “We live in California.”
Without missing a beat, the stadium announcer said, “Well, thanks for being here and welcome to the United States.” I initially laughed — along with a few hundred other attendees — and then I shook my head in disbelief of how other states view California.
Why is this belief so prevalent? When my family travels, we are always interested in hearing about the schools and life in other states. On this Wyoming trip, we learned Pinedale, Wyoming — a town of no more than 2,000 people with a graduating class of 60 — has a $20 million aquatic center, a brand new high school, middle and elementary school, and pays nothing for extracurricular school activities.
Remember: this is Wyoming — a place most Californians snicker and laugh at.
Before the rodeo began, the announcer asked everyone to take off their head cover and bow their heads in prayer. My wife and I were amazed at this outpouring of corporate prayer.
I relay these stories to you not to say Wyoming is better than California. I relay these stories to ask the question, “When did it all begin to change?”
At one time, the California dream of better schools, better lifestyle and progressive — yet sensible — ideas were the norm and not the exception. But something changed; and it continues to change today.
It’s evident how the current California budget assumes ridiculous income projections that are already proving to miss the mark. How far do we need to fall before we recognize we aren’t the envy of every other state? California’s economic development policy can’t continue to be “we have great weather, no bugs and no humidity, so come and invest here.” Economic investment drives all other parts of our lives in California. If companies invest here, they hire employees, which in turn can buy homes and pay taxes (lots of them) to support our schools and other infrastructure. Without investment this entire house of cards will eventually come crashing down.
However, California did take a step in the right direction this past month. Part of Governor Brown’s original budget proposal was to eliminate the state’s Enterprise Zone program — this proposal would have had a dramatic and negative impact on Santa Clarita Valley businesses. Through the efforts of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, the city of Santa Clarita, the Economic Development Corporation, Princess Cruises, ADI Inc., Stay Green and others, the city was able to advocate to elected officials the importance of keeping this program. This combined legislative effort is a testament to what the SCV business community can do together.
Wyoming isn’t better than California, but we can learn from this state and many others who have made the commitment to business and understand the need to have highly efficient, limited government (Wyoming legislature is part-time).
For those history buffs out there, Wyoming was the first state in the nation to grant women the right to vote. This comes from a state where cowboys, prayer and rodeos are often laughed at by California.
The way I see it, California should do a lot less laughing and a lot more learning from the success of other states.
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