Two years ago Sylvester Stallone, he of the distinctive speech mannerisms, bulging muscles, and penchant for testosterone-laden action film roles, sold his expansive Los Angeles estate (to some singer named Adele; no idea who that is) and moved to Palm Beach.
Now, he's speaking up on why he made that move. While what he says is interesting, what he doesn't say is worth noticing.
In the opening scenes of his Netflix documentary, "Sly," Stallone is in his massive Los Angeles estate, as movers begin packing away decades' worth of his life and career.
"It’s really easy to become complacent. I thought I gotta do something drastic. Everything’s getting kind of mundane, repetitive, I can feel myself withering a little bit, drying up like an old fig falling off a tree," he reflected.
He continued, wondering, "Jesus, how long am I going to be around, for another 20 years? I don’t want to be complacent for 20 years."
That complacency worry was, apparently, a big part of "The Expendables" star's reason for the cross-continental move.
The "First Blood" star also reflected on being a filmmaker and the disconnect between home and work. Stallone said, "When you’re young you’re [like] I gotta fill the house with art, I gotta fill the house with children, well, now it’s full, children have moved on, and you’re left with this big, kind of hollow…[mmm]. It doesn’t serve you anymore as a source of inspiration."
He continued, "I wasn’t moving because ‘Oh wow I wanted another beautiful view.’ Any time changing that paradigm which you become used to, it’s literally to jump-start that process again."
I guess that makes sense for the creative sorts; a change of scenery can be refreshing. But might there be other reasons for the move? Ones that Stallone doesn't mention?
How about crime? Los Angeles, under the administration of the notoriously lenient District Attorney George Gascón, has seen a historic crime spike in recent years, one that shows no sign of reversing itself -- not yet, anyway. It's enough of a problem that the local police forces are feeling the strain, in some cases to the point of tragedy.
How about good governance? Whatever you think of Ron DeSantis as a Presidential candidate, his administration of Florida has seen some remarkable common-sense legislation passed and signed into law. And Gavin Newsom has been an unmitigated disaster for California. When he's not wandering off to seek attention in China, or doing to the Constitution what the homeless in California are doing to the city streets, he's signing ruinous minimum-wage laws and driving up the prices of energy.
How about taxes? The Tax Foundation rates Florida #11 out of the 50 states when it comes to tax burden. California? #46. No contest.
It's very likely Sylvester Stallone left California for the same reasons so many others have fled the once-and-former Golden State: All of the above, and then some. Given the industry he works in it is probably prudent that he has a habit of being ambiguous when talking politics, but people of all political stripes, whether they admit it or not, prefer paying less in taxes to paying more in taxes; if you doubt this, just look at the extensive list of wealthy celebrities who write checks to the IRS over and above their legal obligation. In fact, I have documented this list for you:
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Stallone also has some business experience outside of acting, as he and fellow action-flick stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis were partners in the founding of the Planet Hollywood chain. So it's likely that all things considered, there may be more reasons for Stallone's move to the Sunshine State than he lets on.
Granted, I'm no mind reader. But there's a long list of reasons for anyone to get the heck out of California right now, and Florida is one of the better destinations.
And remember this: When it comes to "progressive" politicians, we're all Expendables.
This seems appropriate.
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