I'm not defending California in any way, it is as screwed up as you are asserting. But.... Hughes Aircraft Company, Space and Communications is still there, its owned by Boeing Space Systems. Down the street, TRW, Space and Technology Group is still there, its owned by Northrop Gruman (NGS) Down in Seal Beach North American Rockwell Space is still there, its owned by Boeing Space Systems as well. Bernie Schwartz still has Loral Space Systems in Palo Alto. Lockheed is still in Sunnyvale and Palmdale. San Diego is loaded with aerospace companies. The big aerospace houses are still here. The heyday of commerical space vehicles is over but those places are still there and operating quietly.