The Texas vs. California Example

Nobody that matters wrote:

OmniScience wrote: -BTW, I lived in Texas for a short time and hated it.

Did you hate the politics or the geography?

I lived there for about a year when I was in my teens. I'd say the geography (really boring area) and that 'Texas arrogance' -where some people seem to think that Texas is the greatest place on the planet, and that if you're not from there they kind of look down on you a bit - I got a lot of crap because I was "from the North".

You guys are funny. Texas depends on the federal government to bail it out of its deficit. Nearly 97% of the money used to fix the 2010 fiscal deficit in Texas was from federal "stimulus" money. Yes, those brave Texans needed help from President Obama to keep from going bankrupt.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/23/news/ec ... /index.htm

OmniScience wrote: Funny post, Archer. Just FYI for ya-

5 of the 6 most polluted cities in the U.S are in California.

Financially, California is a disaster.

Texas has a high sales tax because they have no state income tax.

-BTW, I lived in Texas for a short time and hated it.

Again with the facts??? :bash Stop it!! You confuse them!!

Something the Dog Said wrote: You guys are funny. Texas depends on the federal government to bail it out of its deficit. Nearly 97% of the money used to fix the 2010 fiscal deficit in Texas was from federal "stimulus" money. Yes, those brave Texans needed help from President Obama to keep from going bankrupt.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/23/news/ec ... /index.htm

Maybe if the people of Texas had been allowed to keep their money instead of giving it to the Feds, they wouldn't have to beg for it back?

Actually just kidding, high sales tax combined with a low income tax makes tax receipts much more variable since consumer spending is much more variable than incomes, so Texas chose a risky fiscal strategy.

[sarcasm]Yeah, Texas is so bad off that FEMA refused them aid to fight wildfires, because they could handle it by themselves[/sarcasm]

I guess it must be bash archer day....first I get taken to task by outdoor because I didn't mention California.....hmmmm, I've never lived in California.....don't know much about it, but I'm supposed to post about it to make outdoor happy.....I am sure CA is equally as bad as texas, but the OP was about how great Texas is......

Next Omniscience thinks my post is funny(?) because I neglected to mention that CA has highly polluted cities.....as does most any state, but Texas IS #1, by their own evaluation as well as anyone else's. And yes I know Texas has the high sales tax to compensate for no income tax......when I moved here it was a raise in pay.....lower sales tax, MUCH lower property tax, lower home insurance rates, and lower health insurance costs......property tax issues could be part of Texas problems now, as home values fall so do revenues.. OOPS, sorry, Texas has no problems, they're all in California.

Please....what is it about a liberal posting that some of you would rather just bash than actually have a discussion? or is it just me?

Please....what is it about a liberal posting that some of you would rather just bash than actually have a discussion? or is it just me?

You gotta be kidding me!

Actually just kidding, high sales tax combined with a low income tax makes tax receipts much more variable since consumer spending is much more variable than incomes, so Texas chose a risky fiscal strategy.

I like this "risky" strategy. It's not what I would call risky- that a state government is dependant upon the prosperity of it's citizens for it's funding.

What it means is that Texas government has an interest in a good economy- that if they make regulations so intrusive as to stomp on the golden goose- their "goose" is also cooked. I would like to see this adopted everywhere.

If the economy takes a dive- it means that local government must also make do with less - just like the citizens. We wouldn't be in the pickle we are in today- hundreds of millions in debt in Colorado if our government spending was tied directly to revenue.

It means when hard times affect the citizens- hard times also affect government. I also like the idea of funding government with sales taxes instead of income taxes. A person who loses a job or has his hours cut spends less money- and the state gets less. If that person finds a better job- he spends more and the state gets more.
As home values fall so do revenues- this is exactly what should happen- what is the alternative? I know- start running up the credit card like California.
Perfect!

And I think it's noteable the statistic that a full 70% of all new jobs in the last few years were created in Texas. That is BIG! There's a reason for that. Just the fact that they were adding jobs at the same time that almost every other state was losing them is big.

PS - I am not a Texan and have only been to the panhandle area- but Texas has a lot of good things to think about- and I agree that eventually the welfare state and socialism will take over- just like everywhere else.

archer wrote: I guess it must be bash archer day....first I get taken to task by outdoor because I didn't mention California.....hmmmm, I've never lived in California.....don't know much about it, but I'm supposed to post about it to make outdoor happy.....I am sure CA is equally as bad as texas, but the OP was about how great Texas is......

Next Omniscience thinks my post is funny(?) because I neglected to mention that CA has highly polluted cities.....as does most any state, but Texas IS #1, by their own evaluation as well as anyone else's. And yes I know Texas has the high sales tax to compensate for no income tax......when I moved here it was a raise in pay.....lower sales tax, MUCH lower property tax, lower home insurance rates, and lower health insurance costs......property tax issues could be part of Texas problems now, as home values fall so do revenues.. OOPS, sorry, Texas has no problems, they're all in California.

Please....what is it about a liberal posting that some of you would rather just bash than actually have a discussion? or is it just me?

Your post came across as a typically liberal 'Bash Texas' rant which I found funny on 2 levels.

1. Everyone knows California has some massive problems - maybe more than any other state -and you mentioned none.
Perhaps you could expound on the finer aspects of California in contrast to Texas? After all the thread is Texas vs California.

2. I do not have a very high regard for many Texans based on my experience living there, so I have no problem with a bit of Texas bashing. I just thought you could have done better!

OmniScience wrote:

archer wrote: I guess it must be bash archer day....first I get taken to task by outdoor because I didn't mention California.....hmmmm, I've never lived in California.....don't know much about it, but I'm supposed to post about it to make outdoor happy.....I am sure CA is equally as bad as texas, but the OP was about how great Texas is......

Next Omniscience thinks my post is funny(?) because I neglected to mention that CA has highly polluted cities.....as does most any state, but Texas IS #1, by their own evaluation as well as anyone else's. And yes I know Texas has the high sales tax to compensate for no income tax......when I moved here it was a raise in pay.....lower sales tax, MUCH lower property tax, lower home insurance rates, and lower health insurance costs......property tax issues could be part of Texas problems now, as home values fall so do revenues.. OOPS, sorry, Texas has no problems, they're all in California.

Please....what is it about a liberal posting that some of you would rather just bash than actually have a discussion? or is it just me?

Your post came across as a typically liberal 'Bash Texas' rant which I found funny on 2 levels.

1. Everyone knows California has some massive problems - maybe more than any other state -and you mentioned none.
Perhaps you could expound on the finer aspects of California in contrast to Texas? After all the thread is Texas vs California.

2. I do not have a very high regard for many Texans based on my experience living there, so I have no problem with a bit of Texas bashing. I just thought you could have done better!

Sorry you think I came up short, I didn't see any reason to bring up California, I didn't disagree with the OP, and have no "finer" points to discuss.......also, I don't know a whole lot about CA, I've only visited there once in my life.

Unfortunately I know more than I ever wanted to learn about Texas.

I'll try to do better next time

:thumbsup:

Besides the educational problems in Texas...there is also the illegal immigrant problem and major child welfare problems. I lived in San Antonio, when I was stationed at Lackland AFB for a little over 8 years and did not like it at all. Partly it was the geography (except for Port Aransas on the coast...beautiful) and climate...partly it was the attitude...partly it was living in the big city.

Didn't really pay a lot of attention to the "civilian" economy stuff...being associated with the military insulated me from a lot of issues that affected civilians. I was absolutely astounded that a whole subdivision (probably consisting of 20 or more homes) of rather large homes could be built and inhabited in less than a year's time...they sure looked nice from the outside and on first glances were nice inside...but there sure were shortcuts taken and on more than one occasion I was told that they were "crap". And the stop lights need to be re-timed or the people need to learn that Yellow doesn't mean speed up and run the red light...lots of vehicle accidents in Texas and vehicle insurance is quite a bit more expensive there than here in Colorado...largely because of the illegals driving without licenses.

There are some good things about Texas...it didn't take that long for them to complete the construction on the bypass freeway that ran around San Antonio. I was impressed with the short length of time it took to complete once started. And they have no problem putting criminals to death if deserving.

I've never spent any time in California, so I'm unable to expound on the good or bad in California.

I'll take Colorado, with all its foibles and problems over Texas any day.