California's Population Increases (real estate, 2013, tech jobs)

[eccotecc]

L.A. Times article:

California population grows by 332,000 to 38.2 million - latimes.com

[bigdumbgod]

We've pretty much conceded that it's 40 million at this point.

[Think4Yourself]

But, but, but... The right wing nuts keep claiming everyone is fleeing the state. How can that be so if the population keeps going up?

[USDefault]

I wonder what percentage are taxpayers. My guess, very low percentage.

[ElizaTeal]

Originally Posted by USDefault

I wonder what percentage are taxpayers. My guess, very low percentage.

My thought exactly. I love California, but unfortunately I'm not rich enough or poor enough to live there.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by Think4Yourself

But, but, but... The right wing nuts keep claiming everyone is fleeing the state. How can that be so if the population keeps going up?

They only count the Republicans who are fleeing.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by USDefault

I wonder what percentage are taxpayers. My guess, very low percentage.

You mean, the highly sought-after ones from around the world getting the high-paying tech jobs, who thusly contribute very appreciable amounts of revenue to the state through taxes paid? There doesn't seem to be a shortage of those coming in, at least not here in SV. In fact, they might be dutiful taxpayers who pay their taxes without whining incessantly about paying taxes! Imagine that!

[USDefault]

Originally Posted by Think4Yourself

But, but, but... The right wing nuts keep claiming everyone is fleeing the state.

No. The studies are quite clear that young taxpaying families and the upwardly mobile are fleeing California. The Wall Street Journal illustrates the point:

The Great California Exodus

According to Mr. Kotkin, these upwardly mobile families are fleeing in droves. As a result, California is turning into a two-and-a-half-class society. On top are the "entrenched incumbents" who inherited their wealth or came to California early and made their money. Then there's a shrunken middle class of public employees and, miles below, a permanent welfare class. As it stands today, about 40% of Californians don't pay any income tax and a quarter are on Medicaid.

It's "a very scary political dynamic," he says. "One day somebody's going to put on the ballot, let's take every penny over $100,000 a year, and you'll get it through because there's no real restraint. What you've done by exempting people from paying taxes is that they feel no responsibility. That's certainly a big part of it.

And the welfare recipients, he emphasizes, "aren't leaving. Why would they? They get much better benefits in California or New York than if they go to Texas. In Texas the expectation is that people work."

Ergo, the worst possible outcome. Taxpayers flee. Freeloaders stay, increasing the strain every year. The only thing to stop this imbalance is to put an end to this institutionalized redistributive failure.

And if it doesn't end, productive citizens will continue to depart, as it is their right and an exercise of their free will to do so. No one can force any productive citizen to continually pay for freeloaders.

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

You mean, the highly sought-after ones from around the world getting the high-paying tech jobs, who thusly contribute very appreciable amounts of revenue to the state through taxes paid? There doesn't seem to be a shortage of those coming in, at least not here in SV. In fact, they might be dutiful taxpayers who pay their taxes without whining incessantly about paying taxes! Imagine that!

We'll see how the compass turns when the Fed stops printing money and the QE train stops blowing asset bubbles ever higher, thereby imparting farcical values on perennial money-losers like Twitter and Facebook, along with real estate. The 1999 tech bubble implosion is prologue.

I may be wrong about this, of course. But I most certainly am correct that young families and upwardly mobile productive citizens continue to leave California for superior opportunities in lower-cost states.

[eccotecc]

It sounds from the dialogue, the only solution is to put up a fence at the border to keep tax payers from fleeing the state.

[USDefault]

Originally Posted by eccotecc

It sounds from the dialogue, the only solution is to put up a fence at the border to keep tax payers from fleeing the state.

It would violate the Constitution of the United States, which in matters of interstate commerce and private property rights, stands above all, including the constitutions of the several states.

Neither capital nor labor can be controlled. If people want to take their money or their skills to another state -- and particularly one with a much more fair tax regime -- they can, they will, the Constitution permits them to, and no law or politician can stop it. Witness the scores of executives and athletes leaving France, with its outrageous 75% confiscatory tax rates. Hollywood -- now shooting television and movies in much lower tax states, so much so that the stupid politicians now are trying to extend tax breaks to lure them back.

Capital and labor will always flow. That flow can never be stopped.