Maybe the number of anthropology researchers we deem appropriate as a society is actually not that high.

Maybe if these people want to do anthropology research, they can, but at their own expense.

When I was looking into doing grad school, I had no illusions that if I went in without a grant that I'd be doing anything other than scraping by. I have no idea why anyone would expect anything else.

Even worse the UC system (and by extension UCSC) are state run institutions that get a hefty chunk of their operating budget from the state. They also prioritize foreign students over domestic as they pay higher tuition (nee fees as it was illegal in California for UC and CSU schools to charge tuition for a very long time). The state should not be in the business of exploiting cheap labor. Period.

It's fucking absurd how top heavy the state run universities (especially UC) are. I would hope that grad students at other UC campuses would strike in solidarity, but knowing that UC's got them by the short and curlies I doubt that'll happen.

There are strikes at UCSD and UCSB.

UC Davis, I believe. UC San Diego is awaiting poll results to decide whether they'd like to strike.

Just with some fast googling, I think they're paid in about the same range as US PhD's. Or am I mistaken?

Without any searching, the cost of living is probably much higher in California.

US universities don’t offer half time PhD studentships and then expect full time work. This was common in Germany when I had grad student acquaintances ten years ago. I doubt things have changed.