California Democrats have proposed significant tax hikes affecting various sectors, including private health insurance, software purchases, wealth, and income. This has led Steve Moore to highlight the exodus of nearly two million residents from California over the last decade. These individuals are electing to leave to escape such policies.
Residents ‘vote with their feet’ to avoid high taxes.
British actress Lesley-Anne Down recently made headlines when she, too, left California for Georgia, citing persistent wildfires and liberal politics as key reasons for her departure. Having built her life in Malibu after moving from England to pursue acting, Down eventually grew disillusioned with both the environment and political climate.
Now in Georgia, Down, well-known for her roles in films like ‘The Pink Panther Strikes Again’ and ‘The Great Train Robbery,’ enjoys a tranquil life in the countryside near Atlanta.
Reflecting on her years in California, Down fondly remembers the beauty of Malibu’s Point Dume and Trancas areas where she and her husband, Don E. FauntLeRoy, spent considerable time in the 1980s. However, wildfires became frequent, including the devastating Woolsey fire in 2018, prompting them to reconsider their residency. Despite their desire to leave, finding a new home took time.
Political and environmental changes were not the only factors driving Down’s departure. She expressed unease with California’s increasingly liberal policies and described the political climate as frightening. The shift toward more liberal politics troubled her deeply.
Down also pointed out parallels between the U.S. and her native Britain, indicating America tends to follow England’s political trends. Her endorsement of Steve Hilton, a fellow Brit running for California governor, underscores her concern for the state’s future political direction.
Hilton, backed by Trump, aims to challenge California’s current political direction in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Down also mentioned her unlikely role as Margaret Thatcher in the 2024 biopic ‘Reagan,’ describing it as fortunate during the COVID-19 pandemic. This marked her transition to life in Atlanta, where her son George can pursue his own career in the industry.
Despite not intending to stay in acting, Down found herself immersed in Hollywood. She felt at odds with the new trends and longed for the ‘old school’ professionalism she experienced while filming ‘Reagan.’
The movie will be re-released widely in theaters, allowing audiences to revisit Down’s portrayal of Thatcher.
Living outside Atlanta, Down now cherishes her peaceful surroundings and the wildlife she encounters daily. She interacts with deer, reflecting a stark contrast to her California lifestyle.
Her upbringing taught resilience and the value of self-sufficiency, contrasting sharply with the Californian mindset she critiques. She criticizes political labels and the polarization in political discourse, expressing her discomfort with the inability to openly discuss differing views.