Since the 1960s California became the world's fifth largest economy, and a global epicenter for R & D and technological innovation because it invested heavily in infrastructure and higher education.
Infrastructure, innovation, and education are pillars of economic growth. That is Economics 101.
If California were a sovereign nation, it would have the fourth largest economy on the planet. Only the U.S., China, and Germany beat it, and Germany just barely.

"Suddenly" concerned about poor people, but votes hard-core Republican every time 