Ah, Hiltzik. Never finds an answer he didn't start with. >The most obvious answer is that the business-friendliness and competitiveness rankings are pretty mu

Ah, Hiltzik. Never finds an answer he didn't start with. >The most obvious answer is that the business-friendliness and competitiveness rankings are pretty much baloney. No, the most obvious answer is California's built-in advantages are enough to overcome idiotic government. Trade with Asia mostly comes through Los Angeles and Long Beach, it doesn't snow in populated areas, and California's #1 population size gives it political clout other states don't have.