None of that, I just think about all the California haters out there.
Kinda wish that I lived there these days
The reports of California's death have apparently been greatly exaggerated.
Makes me laugh to know how many I fly with criticize and criticize California when California is so damn profitable- and so important to southwest.
Not that they're above criticism by any stretch- I don't run my business there- I've just never been on that particular negative bandwagon
California is "so damn profitable" (and important to SW) for some of the same reasons that people criticize the state: its overall expensiveness. Everything costs more and as a result, employers are forced to pay workers more money for the same job. That, in turn, drives costs up. Or vice versa. Whichever drives whichever; however you want to look at it. At any rate, the sheer number of people moving in and out, and around California require air transportation, and since they have more money than a lot of other Americans, Southwest does very well there. Orange County is a great example--there's never a fare sale there. Those people pay full price every time without blinking, and Southwest (and every other airline) does extremely well there.
I don't think your coworkers want Southwest to stop flying to and from California; I suspect that they criticize it for their personal opinions of its governance. Personally, I LOVE the money that the company makes there; there's just no way I would want to live there. Notwithstanding the huge income tax hit I'd take to move there,
every single thing one needs or wants costs more, and is taxed more. Property values are inflated and property taxes are out of sight. Food and clothing are more expensive. Energy is more expensive (Southwest tankers an unbelievable amount of cheaper gas into California for this reason). Taxes and surcharges on utilities, phone service, etc. are higher than elsewhere. California's unique overriding state regulations add a extra layer of bureaucracy and expense to anything that's built, bought, driven, or operated in the state. Since Southwest pays the same no matter where you live, your money goes considerably further in most other places.
Then, of course, you have the "nanny-state" laws that a lot of people object to. Can't do this; must do that--and who's going to pay for it all? Don't even get me started on the confusing, prohibitive, and often contradictory laws on firearms in that state, for those of us who like to shoot. (There's only a few places in the US where it's worse, like Chicago and NYC, where I think it's actually illegal to even
think about guns.
)
On the other hand, they have some absolutely beautiful places, and great weather there. And clearly, there's lots of exciting things to do. Many folks love it for those reasons. I'm glad you like it, Wave, and perhaps you should consider moving back since you miss it. Seriously, that's one of the perks of this job--you can live wherever you want. In your mind, the good points outweigh the bad points.
However, in a lot of other people's minds (including me), the bad points far outweigh the good. Obviously, different things are important to different people, including those pilots that you "laugh at" for criticizing California. But that doesn't make their opinion any less valid than yours. You know?
Bubba
PS Sorry-- didn't mean to get on a "bash California" tangent. Back to the Delta taking over California thread!
uke:
