Part 7/9:
California leadership often overlooks these issues, refusing to acknowledge that such policies have systemic consequences, pushing businesses to seek more business-friendly environments elsewhere.
The Staged Industry Shift and Its Consequences
Looking beyond food processing, the decline is evident across multiple sectors—automotive, aerospace, and energy. For example, fast-food chains automate or relocate due to rising labor costs, and major retail stores shutter because of high operating expenses.
This pattern isn’t confined to California. Still, the state’s particular combination of regulation, high taxes, and progressive energy policies accelerates the trend, making California less competitive and more dependent on neighboring states for industry and jobs.