By Former CA on 02-24-09
I feel like I escaped CA, left approx 20 yrs ago. I had it with the crime, costs, traffic, noise and so much more. CA has so many illegal immigrants and they are being supported by the taxpayers. They have medical care for free while working folks rarely had health coverage available or it was so expensive they couldn’t afford it. Salaries are high in CA, so is the rent. I have alot of friends still there - they email me complaining of the way it is there. And I am so glad I am not there anymore.
By Happy Montanan on 02-24-09
I grew up in the heyday and in the midst of the California 60s and early 70s “Flower Power” and “Free Love” movements, while surfing the beaches. I had the most fun youth imaginable and remember CA fondly. But by the mid 70s all that was getting old for me though, and I wanted to “get away from it all”, live a more peaceful and healthier life. I found just what I was looking for here in the Flathead, where I have discovered the beauty and joy of nature, which I cherish every waking moment. I’m so glad I left CA more than 35 years ago.
Montana is the best, most beautiful home.
Even just breathing the Big Sky’s air
makes me happy.
By sick of California, too on 02-24-09
California could start by getting real as to what the problems are and then doing something about it. To just pack up and move to Montana is obviously best. For them. But what’s best for California? Why don’t they just start taking it back, it is America, after all, not North Mexico or East Vietnam. Who the hell is in charge there, anyway? Oh, yeah, an immigrant. When, oh when, is America gonna wake up?
By pablo on 02-24-09
California’s problems start and end with illegal immigrants and the politicians that cater to them. Illegal immigrants are the largest portion of school costs, prison costs, welfare, crime, health, overcrowded housing and roads. The selfish few, the Dems who want the votes and the Reps who want cheap labor will bring us all down to third world levels.
By quite likely true on 02-24-09
Thanks pablo for saying that. It’s just a shame that the government doesn’t agree and set out to stop this downward spiral. We have laws but no enforcement so we have no laws and everybody knows it. Just like a local racetrack I used to enjoy.
By dont matter on 02-24-09
These are some real bull opinions from people who don’t even live in the state they dare to criticize…and I’m not talking about the article.
By YUP on 02-24-09
and that’s what it’s all about, our opinions. Things aren’t that bad in Montana yet because not all of the Californians have moved here yet. Give it a few more years.
By Eaton on 02-25-09
YUP….people do not seem to mind when the Californians come here and spend money do they? They buy homes, spend money in hotels, ski resorts, over-priced dining and boutiques in Whitefish, Polson and downtown Kal.
By Former CA on 02-25-09
Bull Opinions? I was born in LA, raised in LA, tried to find some sanity by moving to No. CA in 1980, inland and then coastal (incredible Sonoma Valley). But just got fed up with it all. I came to MT on vacation to visit friends in 1985. And in the early 90’s made my move. Everyone said i was crazy. They are the crazy one’s for staying and dealing with the madness. Do they make 3 times my salary? Yes. But all I hear is constant complaining about illegals and craziness of it all. Between illegals, gang violence, and zealots of every nature, I just can’t even handle going near So CA anymore. All the bleeding hearts can stay there. Please don’t come to MT.
By Former CA on 02-25-09
Forgot to mention the freeway system, especially So CA, geez I got stuck in an area that had 13 lanes of traffic. Scary stuff there.
By Eaton on 02-25-09
Former CA…I dont disagree with you on how awful CA has become. I have alot of family there and in the places you mentioned as well. But, I don’t think people should bite the hands that feed them, that’s all. If people are coming too our beautiful State we should embrace them., especially if the are spending money.
By steve on 02-25-09
I grew up in San Diego and its one the the most beautiful spots in Mexico
By uh huh on 02-25-09
Beautiful opinions! I want all the Californians money and will work hard for it. I don’t want their whining about how backwards and uncivilized their new home state is once they’ve moved in. I get such a kick out of my friend who joined in on that bandwagon to make Montanans quit bulldozing roadways to allow owl murderers access to building material. Yeah the building material that went into his awesome trophy log home as close to the top of Big Mountain that the D9’s could get. Frickin hypocrite but he throws money at the race car so we love him. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in San Diego, too! Loved every minute of it and learned a lot. Got the ultimate haircut, all new clothing, vaccinations galore, was taught how to march and fight horrible fires and how to say “sir” twice in every sentence to an idiot who deserved no respect.
By JB on 02-25-09
It’s definetely a love-hate relationship with Cali, the dream turned nightmare, full of movie stars, gangs, immigrants, and people with more money than sense. Those who escaped it, count yourselves lucky. Every time I go there for business trips, I can’t wait to leave.
By mtdon on 02-25-09
i thought that the republican govenator was going to bring some fiscal discipline to the state? Wow that worked out well! When are we going to realize that republicans just destroy governments. YOUR hero that bad actor reagan once famously said the scariest words in the english language was “i’m from the gov and i’m here to help”
That was a self fullfilling prophecy. It is obvious that government can’t work correctly when the conservatives run it.
By James on 02-27-09
The people of this valley make me sick! The so called Montanan’s of today have sold their souls to the big money and flashy ways of the Californian lifestyle. It use to be a person driving through this valley with California plates drew sneers and call for them to “get the hell out of the valley before we throw you out”. Now all you hear from these same people is “change is inevitable, might as well make a little profit from it”. They flock to these out of town idiots like flies to crap with desperate calls buy houses, land or “the Montanan Lifestyle”, all for a couple of bucks. My God people have some dignity and quit selling off your heritage to a bunch of out of town losers.
By Nancy on 02-27-09
So this is “The Last Best Place”. Yeah right. All of you are hypocrites. Not everyone from here was born here, not everyone from California was born there. This is a transient world we now live in, get over it people. Very few people live where they were born. How can you possibly say that CA people are any worse than any other state. People come here for various reasons and I for one welcome new people, because the MT people sure arent’ friendly and I’m from here.
By not quite like that on 02-27-09
I find that Montanans are extremely friendly. But not immediately. We need a moment to size a person up, determine what kind of a person we are dealing with. We are wary of the ######## that invaded our territory. And appreciative of the nice people that moved here to be our friend. People who moved here do not tend to make good employees, this I know as a fact from trying to employ them. I’ve said before, the word California on your resume raises huge red flags, not to pick on you, Hawaiians have been worse but the topic here is California.
If you look down your nose at a hard working Montanan when you want something from him, get ready for a less than warm business relationship. Sure we’ll take your money but you might not get the breaks and fantastic service that an outwardly nice person will. In my business I deal with dirt poor folk and the filthy rich, I won’t drop any names but you’d LOVE to get checks from the latter! You would learn to HATE dealing with them (or their personal assistant) in many cases.
Total snobs, arrogant beyond belief and want special treatment for that. Well, they get it. Not at a discount, trust me. If they worry they are being overcharged they are right.
Folks, remember, set the tone for how you want to be treated. Try it. It works here. The sooner everybody figures this out the better. Especially on the streets and highways. Peace.
By X CA on 02-27-09
What I find rather amusing, is the people that moved here from out of state (any state) and now consider themselves “Montanans” and talk trash about other out of staters. It’s become almost like a game to trash those from CA. Passed down from generation to generation. I don’t care where you are “from” - I care about what you do now - in the present. You can’t help where you are born - your mother decides that. But you can decide the type of person you want to be.
By YES on 02-27-09
Thanks X CA for your comment and tone. That helps. I want Nancy’s comment to be the end of that kind of attitude and see it shift to that suggested by “not quite”. It will make a difference and folks, we need a change in a lot more things than politics. It has to start somewhere, how about get involved by just being nice, polite, caring, and honest. Thanks.
By Tom on 02-27-09
I really do have to laugh at some of these conversations going on here. How can anyone say anything about anyone from any state? Has anyone read the news lately other than the Beacon. Listened to world news or local news about the hate crimes in this state? Born and raised here, served my country, been all over the world and I do not find CA people any different than anyone else. BTW…the people here are pretty darn lazy if you ask me.
By Jeff on 02-27-09
As a dual resident of MT. & CA., I love entering a MT. bar and seeing nothing but white people, jump off a plane and breathe fresh air, climb a peak in Glacier and see elk, sheep, goat, bear ever becoming enamored with living as did Ted Kaczynski. In LA, oftentimes, I’m the only German for miles, the city reeks, and one has to drive 250 miles to reach the Sierra’s, although, I have encountered sheep and bear even in Angeles Crest Forest. (more often, a group of 50 + gang members 1 click from the trailhead drinking beers, smoking herb, always with many a pitbulls, smile) The poor/rich divide has expanded greatly in my lifetime in both states. We are definitely becoming a third world country destroyed by design. visit whatreallyhappened dot com to catch news rarely presented on the networks.
By James on 02-27-09
Yes, Judging by your comments you must be one of those on the BLP task force or one of these other groups of pseudo realtors who have something to sell to the out of towners. How can you deny the negative influence that has been brought to this valley by Californians and their way of life? Everything from the current terrible drug problem we have in this valley (bad enough to make and HBO special about it), to the over development and now implosion of the local housing market, all can be directly linked to Californian influence.
By What? on 02-28-09
I don’t quite get your comment, James. I don’t know what BLP is and I’m not a realtor. I do have plenty to sell to the out of towners and the in-towners and the tourists and kids and old folks and well, ANYBODY can benefit from my service and product. I do not deny the negative influence etc. you describe. It happens and what are you gonna do about it? Get along the best you can, maybe be glad it helps you make a living, or move away? People’s drug problems are theirs, not mine. I don’t need drugs. Why someone wants that mess I haven’t a clue.
By James on 03-01-09
What?, I understand that many in this valley rely on tourism for their livelihood, but Californians more than any other group seem to want to stay here once they see how pretty it is, without any thought as to how difficult it is to live here. And that would be fine if they would resign to the fact that things are different here and assimilate to the Montana way of life. But instead they become unhappy that living here is not the Disney Land they thought it would be, so they complain of the poor wages, dusty roads, that we don’t like wolfs as much as they do, or that we don’t have an indoor shopping mall, with a smugness that is hard to bear. They eventually end up moving back to where they came from out of frustration that they can’t change the valley or it’s people to their liking but not before infecting the valley with their drugs, and get rich quick schemes. I know this seems mean spirited but I have seen it happen over and over again and I’m just tired of it.
By Samantha on 03-02-09
I was born, raised and still live in Los Angeles, I do have a love hate relationship with CA, but to blame people from CA for the changes in MT, seriously?! First, most people who live in CA were not born here, I find most people in CA have come here from other states (or countries), so when they move to MT they probably really weren’t CA natives to begin with. And secondly, the world changes, like it or not. Isn’t it possible that the changes in MT is just natural evolution? Our entire country has changed, the rich & greedy, drugs, you name it are everywhere. I just think when things go bad people like to point fingers and blame others for their problems. Here in CA we blame immigrants, you in MT blame CA, democrats blame republicans, etc. We our a land of victims with the attitude of divine discontent!
By JB on 03-02-09
Samantha, you’re absolutely right…like most people who live in MT now are not born here either, they were transplants from CA, NY, NJ…you name it. I think the changes that we are seeing in MT now is the same as everywhere else…Montanans just find it easier to point a finger at someone else for their woes. Growth is inevitable, and there is lots of blame to go around for the infrastructure stresses that all of us here are feeling now. I find that most locals dislike change, but then complain about not having jobs or something else that brings change and growth. Growth is a necessary evil; I think most people fail to understand that.
By James on 03-03-09
Sam and JB, I’m not sure where you get your facts but I can safely say that most of the people now living in Montana were born in Montana and most of the people now living in California were born in California. Living in this valley just makes it feel like everyone is from somewhere else. Now, developers on the other hand, who have over built and destroyed our real estate market, are almost all from out of town, mostly from California. I can’t say that all people who use drugs here are from California, but a good majority of those in our rehab centers are. JB, your wrong about growth being a necessary evil, it may be necessary but it’s only evil if we go about it the wrong way. I’m not saying we need to close our borders to outsiders or build a wall to keep the undesirables out ( unlike other states), I’m just saying we need to target our growth from states that have people of substance, like North Dakota, Alaska or Idaho… well maybe not Idaho, but you get my point. Californians had their chance with their own state, it was once beautiful, but they destroyed it with a combination of greed, ignorance and drugs. Now they want to continue their path of destruction to our state, I say NO!
By Eurekan on 04-15-09
I was born in Whitefish Montana, not a place i particularly like to ever visit. It has so many out of staters who live there, and trying to escape where the came from, just to change like how they see fit. How many Hummve’s & Escalades do you see around the rest of Montana? I grew up NW MT, there used to be 7 lumber mills with-in a 70 mile radius, now it is all becoming tourist attractions, golf courses. I think out of staters who own property in Montana who dont activly contribute to the state need to pay higher taxes, who needs a million dollar home? And you know what, this is not a free country, not for anyone, especially the people who put everything into the land and homes here in Montana just to have someone who makes 3 times as much in California or New Jersy build over sized houses and raise the property values so high that natives cannot live there. Gated communities and Escalades make me laugh, if we were only so lucky that they wouldnt come here.
By Eurekan on 04-15-09
Samantha and JB, you need to get your facts strait, you have no clue what your talking about. I have known the majority of the population in my home town and they were born here, as well as their family before them. I like most Native Montanas we are not trying to change our state like you people are. I can tell you that Montana would not change much if the out-of-staters did not come here, look at the population and the history of the population, what percentage of growth was there from the 60’s to the 80’? 90’s? Read some demographics and history before you start spewing unintelligible facts. As for myself and the majority of Montanans I know, we have contributed to OUR State.
The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.