
Go
to a
state
friendly
to economic prosperity
(i.e.
,
states
with no or
low
state
income
tax).
Trumping the Land Barons i171
WHERE
TO
BE
AND
NOT
TO
BE;
THAT
IS
THE
QUESTION
Environments worse for employees and employers are worse
for you.
The
California I was raised in was the Golden State, the
one that set the trends America followed.
No
more. It's losing
population while losing wealthy and high-income
citizens-but
taking in no-income deadbeats.
It
may be today's worst state to start
out
as a wannabe land baron.
It
suffers America's most complex and
often contradictory local regulations. Unlike decades ago, it now
has the worst labor laws and worst judicial system for employers
and
employees-that's
real, social-based, and won't go
away.
First they constrict construction.
Then-I
kid you
not-eity
commissioners write hypocritical, affronted letters to newspapers
deploring how land baron's expensive real estate prevents "mid-
dle class" families from living in their communities!
The
solution?
Raise income and sales taxes to get the money so they, the politi-
cians, can fix everything. Amazing!
Right now,supply is exceedinglylimited and demand unstoppable.
Demand will fade as the wealthy and high-income flee. My general
recommendation:
If
you're starting down this land baron road, don't
do it in places like California unless you have super political clout.
A
Pothole
in
the
Road
I'm
not
in a big hurry, but I'd like to sell my California commer-
cial real ...