South Dakota vs. California: Who won?
This “mailbag” column offers some insight into comments I get from my readers — good, bad and in-between — and my thoughts about the feedback.
My recent column suggesting South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem work on her state rather than criticize California in a churlish Facebook post heated up my inbox. Opinions varied wildly from “bull” or “blather” to “brilliant” or “insightful.” Here’s a sampling.
READER >> “I am sick and tired of non-California or previousCalifornia folks bashing our state.”
ME >> Agreed. Though one must listen. The state-by-state differences are what our nation’s founders envisioned, a collection of places offering different lifestyles.
READER >> “I love this state but it is not the state I grew up in. I am relocating for all the reasons you point out and fail to point out.”
ME >> Another reader wrote, “As an independent voter who understands our state could do much better, I have also lived beyond our borders and can confidently say I would live nowhere else but California.”
READER >> “My second home is in Idaho and that is really America. I would move to South Dakota. I believe it, too, is the real America.”
ME >> Are you talking about the United States of America? I hope part of this sentiment is not because 82% of Idaho’s population is non-Hispanic White, and South Dakota is 81% White. Meanwhile, in California? We’re just 37% White!
READER >> “Many people live here because they are stuck here.”
ME >> Often, when I reply to such comments, the response I get suggests California’s “stickiness” can be tied to a job or family nearby, which are not horrible reasons to stay somewhere.
READER >> “We have a governor (Gavin Newsom) who is facing a recall while Noem is very popular in South Dakota.”
ME >> I’ll quote a reader, “She is a South Dakota joke! I am from South Dakota.”
READER >> “If the wealthiest Americans should be allowed to keep more of their money, I think it’s only fair that the wealthiest states be allowed to keep more of their money.”
Yes. Many low-tax states get more from Uncle Sam than citizens pay in federal taxes. Citizens of wealthy states like California pay more to the IRS than their states get back — funds that keep the flow of federal cash to allegedly “small government” states.
READER >> “Maybe it is time for Californians to avoid travel and spending money in Trump areas.”
ME >> The freedom to spend is a powerful tool. Economic “boycotts” are fine by me. But, remember, it flows both ways. So our state’s tourism community might not want to hear such talk!
READER >> “Why do you perpetuate the myth that California has a budget surplus when California is deeply indebted” to its pension plans?
ME >> Fitch Ratings called the state’s long-term liabilities, including pension debts, “a moderate burden.” California pensions are 72% underfunded, a midrange No. 25 among all of the states, says Truth in Accounting. Congratulations to South Dakota, with pension plans that are 99% funded — highest rate in the U.S.
READER >> “California doesn’t even rate as a bucket list item, although the homeless seem to enjoy it.”
ME >> We have a hard-to-fix homelessness problem because the typical Californian’s NIMBY solutions involve placing whatever might be done on the other side of town.
READERS >> One writes “the size of California and its economy vs. South Dakota’s is a pointless and petty argument” as another says of population exits, “I would take (South Dakota’s) loss of 29,000 per year compared to (California’s) 630,000.”
ME >> Which California numbers are pointless? Only good trends with big numbers? That’s why ratios work. Noem’s criticism highlighted California departures, but a South Dakotan is twice as likely to leave for another state as is a Golden State resident.
READER >> “Lies, damn lies, and statistics.”
ME >> Ah, the phrase popularized (though not originated) by Mark Twain. I’ll let another reader answer: “I appreciated your data-based approach. Facts are in little supply in our divided world where opinion masquerades as universal truth.”
READER >> “Excellent takedown on South Dakota!! Can you please continue these
for each Republican-controlled state?”
ME >> Hmmnnnnnn …
READER >> “We have a state that has so much to be proud of — a diverse population, to mention one. A lot of us have a more liberal viewpoint that welcomes others no matter their sexual orientation, color or ethnic background — which I think is a contrast to some states. And we might even welcome someone from South Dakota (LOL)!”
Amen.