&gt; OTOH, somehow California ended up with the fastest growing economy in the country.<p>Huh?  California is decidedly middle-of-the-pack:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;List_of_U.S._states_by_economic_growth_rate" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;List_of_U.S._states_by_economi...</a>