Give the money to laid off workers instead? Why don't we give the money to the people that actually work because their jobs are truly necessary for society to function?

yeah, but once the Californian government goes bankrupt, you will have prosperity for years to come...unless the federal government steps in, at which point you will have free money from the rest of the country...until the U.S. goes bankrupt...at which point i will be dancing in the streets with you! :D