During the latter half of the 90′s, San Jose, California was the hub of the high tech industry. San Jose is still colloquially referred to as “Silicon Valley,” a reference to the silicon chips used in computers. Many computer companies are still based in the San Jose area, including Apple (in Cupertino), Google (in Mountain View), and Facebook (in Menlo Park) (a notable exception would be Microsoft, which was founded in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1975 and moved to the Seattle area in 1979). Since then, the computer industry has been increasingly spreading to other areas.
However, another industry, which Bill Whittle calls “one of this century’s key technologies,” has emerged in California, that being the “sub-orbital space travel industry.” The small town of Mojave, California (located ironically in the Mojave Desert (note: I use the term “ironically” ironically)) is home to one of the few spaceports in the world, and it is home to one of the private companies that will hopefully take NASA’s place as the primary vehicle of space travel in the United States.
If you aren’t very familiar with Bill Whittle, he is quite passionate about space exploration. And it is very interesting the way that is currently transitioning from something over which the government had a monopoly, to a private industry (and I’m not saying the government monopoly was necessarily bad in this case). Watching his videos, in addition to giving me access to his brilliant insight, has also educated me about the emerging new era in space exploration. Now, I can’t say how big of an industry this is going to turn out to be, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the technology produced or the knowledge gained in the course of engineering space-bound vehicles is used for other, perhaps revolutionary, uses.
The point is, one of the spaceflight companies in Mojave is moving its operations to Midland, Texas (which will soon be home to one of the other few spaceports in the world). The city of Midland, a city of about 110,000 in Western Texas, offered a small incentive to the company to move there, and they did.
But this post really isn’t about spaceflight, it is about why this company, and many others, are moving from California to Texas. The simple answer is that California is run by people that were probably pot-smoking hippies in the 1960′s (and are probably still pot-smoking hippies). Now watch this video:
It is no secret that California is the Greece of the United States. However, California’s idiocy offers other places an opportunity for learning, as does Texas’ wisdom. Texas, for example, should take precautions so it doesn’t end up like California. And Californians, and residents of everywhere else, would be wise to elect politicians who will emulate Texas.
Thanks for the video; very interesting!
Such a shame that incompetent politicians have to scare away such important businesses as those involved with space travel.
I do a lot of business in California and every Californian will tell you how much they LOVE California, but to NEVER move there. It is tough to do business there, the taxes are high, and rent is expansiveness.
I live in Atlanta and we are getting a lot of the movie business Hollywood used to get for the same reasons you mentioned in this post. Georgia offered a small incentive and film crews jumped on the opportunity.
Also, it is interesting to me that Austin, TX is being called “little silicon valley.”
Another nickname Austin has is “Silicon Hills.” Apparently, the hippies and the “Keep Austin Weird” people aren’t too happy about Austin growing so much.
I’m sure California is very beautiful. I’ve never been there; I would like to go to Los Angeles but I have no intention of ever going to San Francisco. I would also like to go the Northern Coast though (to see the redwoods). And I would also like to go to Yosemite National Park and to the gold country. Anyway, it is a shame that all of California has to suffer from the state government’s progressive governance, considering much of California is quite conservative.
I knew Atlanta is home to the headquarters of CNN, but I didn’t know about the movie thing. There is also large movie businesses in Toronto and Vancouver, which both also offered incentives. Vancouver sometimes calls itself “Hollywood North.”
Also, I knew Atlanta has been booming recently, and I thought it had to do with the financial industry. Is that correct, at least partially? I know Charlotte has a large financial sector, but I’m not sure about Atlanta. If not, do you know what is causing Atlanta’s growth? I’m thinking maybe, due to Georgia’s lower taxes and the fact it is a right to work state, there has been growth across many different sectors. I know the South has seen a lot of new manufacturing recently.
Atlanta’s job growth is due to (my best guess):
1. The cost of living is lower
2. Government Incentives
3. We have the biggest airport in the US (Delta HQ)
4. Due to jobs and cost of living we are seeing a lot of people from other states from the west and north move to GA. That means more talent.
5. It is the Hub of the South. Due to location, transportation, and the above factors – when a big business moves in they usually consider Atlanta first.
That’s my best guess.