[PaulS]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

"Why are we talking about New Hampshire now?"

It's one example of a state that has super low taxes, yet productive people are moving there in huge numbers. MAYBE there is something other states can learn from, about how they pulled that off. I think it's impressive when a state can cost a lot less than other states, yet still offer a quality of life good enough, that people want to live there. I think it's worth discussing. It's telling that none of you wants to spend one syllable on that conversation. There might be things other states can learn but the fact is that of all the states that don't have income tax you want to talk about 1 (NH). Instead we have numerous studies of 52 states (group as a whole) which show that on average the blue states are better in most statistics. So while it makes sense to look at 1 or 2 states, those are outliers and are prob. not indicative of the full population. That is why you want to talk about an outlier but the stats show that on average the blue states are better than the red states.

"why does it seem the majority of red States do so much worse than the majority of blue States on almost every economic and social question?"

Sure, even though you dodge my questions, I'll answer yours. Rich people tend to live in blue states, and they drive up certain metrics. That doesn't mean that the state is the reason behind it. Well what is the reason then that attracts rich people who can live anywhere but make the decision to live in blue states?
We have numerous studies of 52 state with numerous differnt stats and the majority (all?) seem to show on average the blue states are better.

CT has very high average incomes. I think that has very little to do with anything the state doesI disagree, and has everything to do with the fact that southwestern CT is a beautiful coastal area that's close to Manhattantrue. But again, the state of CT is doing something to make rich people want to live heretrue. As we will learn in the next 20 years when our unfunded debt of $62,500 per taxpayer becomes due, you can't run a whole state on the backs of hedge fund managers. There aren't enough of them, and they can leave very easily when they want to.

Paul, what do you think happens to CT when enough Baby Boomers retire that we need to write pension checks that we can't fund? The unfunded debt might be as high as $62,500 for every single taxpayer. That's what's needed to pay for the promises the state made. Where are we going to gat that money?

Not seeing #s that high. But if the fed. gov. limited the tax payment transfer to +-10% of taxes paid all that additional $ would stay in the blue states and over time would help wipe out that debt. The transfer are not obviously cash but includes payments to hospitals, rent, etc. Those all have a multiplier and add to the tax base. Kentucky gets 35% of their total tax rev. from the fed. government. I know it is an outlier and I said shouldn't be used as an example of the whole group but if those payments where less, Kent. would have a bigger defecit and have to cut back more services