Fleeing the PRK

[gcode]

That's okay, everyone is going to drive electric cars now.
I'm sure the grid has extra capacity to charge another 40 million cars a day. 

Maybe not

The automotive industry's big bet on a rapid adoption of electric vehicles—at least here in the United States—continues to unwind. Today, Stellantis, which owns brands like Jeep and Dodge, as well as Fiat, Peugeot, and others, announced that it has "reset" its business to adapt to reality, which comes with a rather painful $26.2 billion (22.2 billion euro) write-down.

[Brian]

I'm reminded of the Yogi Berra joke: "Nobody goes there anymore-it's too crowded." Pundits have been predicting the demise of CA for as long as I can remember (we've been here since '83), and yet, here we are....it's still too expensive, and there's still too much traffic at 5 o'clock.

Believe me-I wonder as much as the next guy when they're gonna kill the golden goose, but apparently it still "works" in some capacity for enough people/companies, or we wouldn't be having these discussions in the first place.

I suspect that what most here are *really* saying when they leave is that it no longer works for them. OK-fair enough but stop pretending that it's something greater than that (or conversely, that you've somehow failed by not hanging in CA).

I've been self-employed for going on 30 years here, and for the life of me can't recall a time when my problems in business had fuck all to do with the "Anti-Business economic policies" that @CNCAppsJames mentions. (I suspect that this might be different when you're an "organization" vs a small machine shop, but in my experience, you just get to do your thing. Don't dump your coolant down the toilet and you'll be just fine).

[jstell]

Maybe not

Same with Ford.  In any case, I was being sarcastic about the electric car for everybody.  Not about the grid though.  AI is stealing all the electricity that could be used for cars.  But at least we'll never have to go anywhere ever again, because AI will just take care of everything for us.  (Also sarcastic regarding the usefulness of AI)

[Newbeeee™]

Same with Ford.  In any case, I was being sarcastic about the electric car for everybody.  Not about the grid though.  AI is stealing all the electricity that could be used for cars.  But at least we'll never have to go anywhere ever again, because AI will just take care of everything for us.  (Also sarcastic regarding the usefulness of AI)

And water - trillions of gallons of it too.
(Although not sarcastic 'cus we need that.... to make beer....)

[gcode]

I've been self-employed for going on 30 years here, and for the life of me can't recall a time when my problems in business had fuck all to do with the "Anti-Business economic policies"

I've been here since '77.
I've always had a job and did contract work on the side.
I always got a 1099, declared my income and paid my taxes... until the PRK outlawed contract work with AB5.
Then they realized how bad they f'd up and unoutlawed it for the connected folks.
Of course CNC programmers are not connected.

[Bucky Cornstarch]

I've been here since '77.
I've always had a job and did contract work on the side.
I always got a 1099, declared my income and paid my taxes... until the PRK outlawed contract work with AB5.
Then they realized how bad they f'd up and unoutlawed it for the connected folks.
Of course CNC programmers are not connected.

I've been doing contract work in California for 20+ years, and certainly since 2019 when AB5 was signed into law, and I've never had an issue. Heck, I was even getting 1099'd from companies in Cali when I lived in Michigan, and my wife gets 1099s from many states, including California. Still no issues.

Hopefully you'll find a state where things are easier for you to figure out.

[CNCAppsJames]

...
I've been self-employed for going on 30 years here, and for the life of me can't recall a time when my problems in business had fuck all to do with the "Anti-Business economic policies" that @CNCAppsJames mentions. (I suspect that this might be different when you're an "organization" vs a small machine shop, but in my experience, you just get to do your thing. Don't dump your coolant down the toilet and you'll be just fine).

Get that (IIRC) 50th employee and I guarandamntee your tune will change. Or go into a hundred shops a year and hear what they have to deal with. One PRIME example; AB Tool. I'm sure some in here may have heard of them... they make carbide form tools. A new regulation to hit this year is they can no longer recycle carbide in an expeditious manner. They used to call up their recycling company to come pick it up, the recycled would then take it to someone else and then it would get to Kennametal, Sandvik, etc, where they would then process and create new carbide tooling. Well... he now has to provide "cradle to grave" certification on ALL recycled materials. And he can't dispose of it either because carbide dust isn't all that great for the environment. Just one small example of government doing what it does best; justifying it's miserable pitiful existence.  I could literally write a book on all the ways the government in The People's Republik of Kommieforniastan is continually making it harder for companies to thrive... and don't get me started on that beyond absurd minimized wage.

[CNCAppsJames]

Did some rough math.... Sam Darnold (winning Superbowl QB)... recieved an extra $180k-ish for the win. Awesome.  

#NotSoMuch

The People's Republik of Kommieforniastan has a so-called "Jock Tax". It's broken down into what is called "Duty Days". With the time spent in Kommieforniastan for all the pregame stuff... ~ 7 days.... he owes The People's Republik... ~$250k for the privilege of winning.  So he's in the hole ~$70k. You may not GAF about a pro athlete, but dude is an employee (technically a 1099 Contractor but we're splitting hairs here) with an incredibly short shelf life... they don't call it Not For Long for no reason. He literally lost all the money and then some for the privilege of winning. You or I may never see a pay day like that, but the point is they do it to pro-athletes and they do it to guys like G. 

 

[gcode]

I've been doing contract work in California for 20+ years, and certainly since 2019 when AB5 was signed into law, and I've never had an issue.

The companies issuing these 1099's are looking at $25K per instance fines should they get caught.
The companies I worked for flat refused to hire contractors after AB5 was passed.
I even went to the expense and hassle of forming a Cali LLC to do contract work and their lawyers made them stop
that as well.
You and your wife may be getting away with it but if it does blow up on you it is going to hurt.