re: Why would anyone want to live in Shiteifornia after last night

I understand what you're saying and agree with much of it, but if you were trying to get by in Orange County on low 5 figures and eating from Del Tacos where they truly didn't speak English, then you weren't in an area of CA that people brag about. Sounds like Santa Ana, if I had to guess.
Having grown up in Pointe Coupee Parish, my biggest issue here is just too damned many people. I could never see California as "home", but if you can't find beauty in CA, you haven't looked very hard.