tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post9126818340166581112..comments2023-10-31T03:18:26.963-07:00Comments on Great Guys Weblog: The Foundation of the Blue State BluesBrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-11288653779968421872010-01-09T10:04:50.479-08:002010-01-09T10:04:50.479-08:00Poor states, for example Mississippi, didn't h...Poor states, for example Mississippi, didn't have enough highly federally taxed, high income earners to make higher State taxation a viable strategy.<br /><br />California did.<br /><br />Mississippi was majority democrat as well, wasn't it?Brethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-59402677125505657772010-01-09T09:38:41.810-08:002010-01-09T09:38:41.810-08:00The problem is that it can't explain differenc...The problem is that it can't explain differences among the states because all states were faced with the same federal tax policies.<br /><br />Why did California decide to ratchet up its taxes and build infrastructure while other states did not?<br /><br />I suspect that losing control of public employee contracts is a much bigger explanation of variation among the states, which is to say, Democratic dominance.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16902329503560660425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-41157254909850146612010-01-05T15:58:46.374-08:002010-01-05T15:58:46.374-08:00I didn't say the pension overhang wouldn't...I didn't say the pension overhang wouldn't be ANY problem, I said it wouldn't be as much of a problem.<br /><br />Also, I believe the problems are much farther along now because of the advantage in the past of States like California having high income taxes and revenues because of state income tax deductions.Brethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-58001892747941508072010-01-05T09:56:14.175-08:002010-01-05T09:56:14.175-08:00Might be a factor, I don't know. But look to t...Might be a factor, I don't know. But look to the west (Hawaii) and the east (New York), and it doesn't sound like THE factor.Harry Eagarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04196202758858876402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-60224619757493347782010-01-05T09:20:06.503-08:002010-01-05T09:20:06.503-08:00I don't think the gravy train was enough to co...I don't think the gravy train was enough to cover that. The pension overhang was growing much faster <strong>and</strong> didn't provide any services as part of the bargain you discuss.Susan's Husbandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02862667802025231163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-34107244373114029962010-01-05T06:42:00.999-08:002010-01-05T06:42:00.999-08:00The public employee pensions are part of the graft...The public employee pensions are part of the graft and corruption. If the gravy train had continued forever, they wouldn't be as much of a problem.Brethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-28402617381282291662010-01-05T06:08:15.848-08:002010-01-05T06:08:15.848-08:00I think that's definitely a contributing facto...I think that's definitely a contributing factor, but I don't think it factors in public employee pensions which are just as large a part of the problem. That was permitted to happen because the benefits were gained by politicians past and the costs paid by taxpayers of today and tomorrow.Susan's Husbandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02862667802025231163noreply@blogger.com