California: Raise taxes wealthy and business will flea, cut services, poor will end up homeless (sale, loan)

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

I would and am. Being retired and planning to stay that way, considerably lower taxes were a large consideration in leaving California and had a lot to do with where we've chosen to end up.



Again, a lot. My wife and I worked legislation and politics for the state for a congregate 35 years and we know from personal experience how dysfunctional this state is politically and governmentally. We're also not in agreement with the direction in which it's heading. For the most part, extreme liberalism and "progressiveness" equates to higher taxes on those with decent incomes to give the money they've earned to those who haven't.

Not our idea of an equitable situation, especially when it's being done for votes, not for altruism.

Because of the increasing tax burden, my wife and I went from, 5 years ago, thinking we'd retire in situ in the Bay Area (we are fortunate enough to technically be able to make it work, just barely), to now, pretty much deciding we'll eventually sell out and leave the Bay if not the state. It's a done deal. We're not in a hurry, but that is our long term plan. Of course, if Rustbeltitis really starts to take off here, we can expedite our exit.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

I would and am.

There's always the 2%.

Also, would you stay if your California State income taxes were exactly the same as your destination state?

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Charles

There's always the 2%.

Also, would you stay if your California State income taxes were exactly the same as your destination state?

Reread my second response. An equal tax burden wouldn't make up for my disdain for California's governance, its permissive attitudes (except for Nanny government's) nor the fact that I've become a minority in my own state. I want to move back to America. This isn't it any longer.

[BennyPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Reread my second response. An equal tax burden wouldn't make up for my disdain for California's governance, its permissive attitudes (except for Nanny government's) nor the fact that I've become a minority in my own state. I want to move back to America. This isn't it any longer.

I agree.
Taxes are the symptom, they are not the disease.

[MIKEETC]

No bailouts!! Not for me, not for anyone. I have bills - I pay them. If I can't afford to pay them, then I don't make them. End of story.

[smilinpretty]

California needs to cut back, and spend far less. I know people who live in California and they are upset. Vehicle registration went up, sales tax increased and I believe sales tax on gasoline.

Arizona is experiencing it billions of dollar deficit.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Charles

How many would leave? What percentage? 1 out of 5? 1 out of 10? 1 out of 100? 1 out of 500?

Raise state taxes how much higher? 5%? 20%, 25%? Big deal; that alone would drive you to pack up an leave?

With everything else being equal, how many people would pick up and move, away from their families, their jobs, their familiarity, the Southern California weather, simply due to higher state taxes?

I think you bring up a good pont. But you're also missing the point. If you look at the long term trend, California has exhibited the exact attitude that you describe.

Sure, any ONE tax increase, any ONE extra regulation any few extra illegal immigrants depending on the tax payers for schools, health care, etc, is only going to send away a few people at the margins.

But over the last 20 years, as a result of this kind of complacent attitude, we have lost many of our middle class folks and have become more and more of a haves/have nots state and it has hurt our tax base tremendously. It's a gradual process.....gradual enough that a lot of people don't see it even though it's happening right under their noses...kind of like that 'frog in a boiling pot of water analogy' where if you turn up the heat gradually, the frog will boil to death. (This actually isn't true with frogs...the frog will eventually jump out....but it does seem to apply to humans).

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by BennyPhoenix

That was proposed years ago by Diane Feinstein when she was Mayor of SF. It was deemed illegal; it is the job of the Feds to control the border.

This is true. But seriously, California doesn't really try to do much about the issue. The Democrats in the legislature WANT to have a large underclass dependent on them so they can get votes. That's why places like San Francisco are "sanctuary" cities for illegal immigrants..'cause some people are making money or becoming powerful off the illegals (and it isn't just Republicans).

[Icy Tea]

Cut services and the poor will flee reducing the burden on the tax payers.

[Huckleberry3911948]

the wealthy and the business already have fleas.
they need a pest exterminator asap.