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Massachusetts and Maine have sales taxes of 5% (yes in Boston too!) and New Hampshire has no state sales tax. How many Southern conservative states can match that? Sales tax in Oklahoma City, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Nashville and Birmingham are ALL over 8% (3 of them at 10%). States in the South have misleadingly low state sales taxes, but every city in them adds on a hefty city and county sales tax that more than doubles the sales tax.
Studies on state/local tax burdens are often misleading, politicized and subject to many assumptions and interpretations. It's not clear cut at all.
And then there are the property taxes in the NE states, which would choke a moose.
clam bakes, beaches, sailing along the cape and narragansett bay in the summer, foliage in the autumn, skiing in the winter, boston public gardens and swan boats in the spring....the seasons is what makes new england so amazing.
I would argue that New York State, east of the Hudson River and north of Westchester County is very much in the New England orbit, culturally. Dutchess County NY (example Beacon and Fishkill) are extensions of Danbury CT, IMO. Columbia County NY is not unlike Western Mass. Washington County NY feels like an extension of Bennington VT. A surveyor's mark in the ground can not fracture a cultural identity. More often than not, especially in the northeast, cultural divisions are determined by natural features, i.e. changes in terrain or rivers.
I would argue that New York State, east of the Hudson River and north of Westchester County is very much in the New England orbit, culturally. Dutchess County NY (example Beacon and Fishkill) are extensions of Danbury CT, IMO. Columbia County NY is not unlike Western Mass. Washington County NY feels like an extension of Bennington VT. A surveyor's mark in the ground can not fracture a cultural identity. More often than not, especially in the northeast, cultural divisions are determined by natural features, i.e. changes in terrain or rivers.
I understand what you are saying and there are many cultural similiarities between this area of upstate and New England. However, New England is a very specifically defined region. For any other region in the US you can spend days arguing where the cultural or physical zone ends (as we all seem to do, day in and day out, in regards to 'the south', 'the midwest' and other areas). But for New England, you really can't, because it is a very specific line-up of 6 states. and thats it.
EDIT: also, the post I was responding to was someone talking about tax burdens. sooo a sliver of NY state being similar to New England does not mean the state (which we can all agree is at least MOSTLY not in New England) should be listed when making the argument that New England has high taxes
Last edited by TheWereRabbit; 03-26-2009 at 02:40 PM..
WHAT?!!??! Something like this actually exists somewhere?
My church always has at least a few "money-changers" in it just in case you need their services. I think its helpful but this one wack-job always trys to get them to leave.
WHAT?!!??! Something like this actually exists somewhere?
Yes, it does. Actually as close to you as suburban Chicago, believe it or not!
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). But for New England, you really can't, because it is a very specific line-up of 6 states. and thats it.
