The economy in Rhode Island (Providence, Warwick: real estate, insurance, homes)

[Rhodeislander]

"the sales tax here is identical to that in many other states, including florida. (a place many rhode islanders go to, more for the weather than for economic reasons despite conservative talking points.) "

State Sales tax Food
RI 7 0
Conn 6 0
Florida 6 0
Mass 5 0
NH 0 0
Doesnt look the same to me, and did you forget Florida has no state income tax? Only 3 states have 7% sales tax other than Rhode Island, non higher.

I see you like to comment about the Republican governor. Tell me something, in this Democratically controlled state, why do we elect Republicans as Governor? I have my thoughts about why, what do you think?
The house and Senate are a huge DEMOCRATIC majority in this state, how exactly does our Governor overcome that? You seem to think HE is responsible for all that ills us. Its a little more complex than that. When I state Rhode Island has been Democratically controlled for 64 years, thats fact, not a slight, or offhanded remark.
I think both parties need to get thier acts together, its not about them, its about us the citizen taxpayers....No?

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by Rhodeislander

Doesnt look the same to me, and did you forget Florida has no state income tax? Only 3 states have 7% sales tax other than Rhode Island, non higher.

CA has a state sales tax of 7.25% and NV's sales tax is 7.75%. Moreover, local sales taxes in counties and cities can be higher. Fulton County in Georgia (where the main part of Atlanta is) has an 8% sales tax in the county. Moreover, , the suburbs of Denver have 8% sales tax, and parts of Minnesota have a 7.25% tax, and parts of TX has 8.25% as some more examples.

[Rnrboy]

Originally Posted by Rhodeislander

"the sales tax here is identical to that in many other states, including florida. (a place many rhode islanders go to, more for the weather than for economic reasons despite conservative talking points.) "

State Sales tax Food
RI 7 0
Conn 6 0
Florida 6 0
Mass 5 0
NH 0 0
Doesnt look the same to me, and did you forget Florida has no state income tax? Only 3 states have 7% sales tax other than Rhode Island, non higher.

I see you like to comment about the Republican governor. Tell me something, in this Democratically controlled state, why do we elect Republicans as Governor? I have my thoughts about why, what do you think?
The house and Senate are a huge DEMOCRATIC majority in this state, how exactly does our Governor overcome that? You seem to think HE is responsible for all that ills us. Its a little more complex than that. When I state Rhode Island has been Democratically controlled for 64 years, thats fact, not a slight, or offhanded remark.
I think both parties need to get thier acts together, its not about them, its about us the citizen taxpayers....No?

OK, now I have to confess you're growing a little tiresome, so this is my last post. I don't mind debating people who actually digest what I say, and then offer a counter-argument - but when you ignore what I say it is irksome.

First up, the sales tax. (Your salient point.) It was 7% the 22 years I lived there. Hhhmm, must have changed it. As for income tax, it's true. Rhode Island is in a fiscal crisis partly because we blow our revenue needlessly, and FL is in one partly because they have no revenue to blow in the first place. (Their deficit percentage is just behind ours, and they had a way bigger builind boom than little Rhody.) Funny how things are complicated, and not black and white, eh?

What you ignore is my perpetual acknowledgement of the fact that the (state) Dems are just as much to blame as the Gov. I have already pointed out that they have the same conservative fiscal policies he does. The Democratic Leadership and the Gov are actually lockstep in this Dept. Don't believe me? Let's see how many of the Governor's proposals (after much hemming and hawing) the Dems actually throwout. Prediction: THey adopt just about all of them, none of which implement any real structural changes. It will be simply trying to plug holes.

Even Republican Rep. Watson agrees with me. He pointed out just two days ago that there is virtually no difference between the State Republican and Democratic parties when it comes to economics, and he's right. Both parties act conservatively in this department.

The reason I bashed the Gov was because he just made his proposal. Once the Dems adopt most of it, I'll be bashing them too. And people like you will keep blaming things on "liberals" even though every economic proposal the Governor has ever put forward has been adopted practically in its original form by the State Congress.

I don't blame the Dems for being too liberal, I blame them for not being liberal enough. It's going to take the Feds to bail us out of this one. There is no leadership in Rhode Island.

And that's all I have left to say on the matter.

[Rnrboy]

Originally Posted by wxjay

CA has a state sales tax of 7.25% and NV's sales tax is 7.75%. Moreover, local sales taxes in counties and cities can be higher. Fulton County in Georgia (where the main part of Atlanta is) has an 8% sales tax in the county. Moreover, , the suburbs of Denver have 8% sales tax, and parts of Minnesota have a 7.25% tax, and parts of TX has 8.25% as some more examples.

Ah, good point. This may explain my recollection of FL having a 7% sales tax. It may have just been my area.

[POhdNcrzy]

Guys, my Pa has been complaining about his propane bill which has been high for years and just went up handily in recent years.

This propane is for partial heating of his house (living room has a good soapstone wood stove) and to heat the hot water tank and also some for the gas cooking range.

The latest bill for Nov. 25 thru Jan 5. (i.e. about 5 weeks) was north of $700. (gasp!)

THAT IS INSANELY HIGH!

Come to find out, RI's (and most of the Northeast's) propane rates are over $1/gal. higher than most everwhere else in the US.

$1/gal. is a big difference.

Why is propane so expensive in the Northeast? (Is it just the surplus demand caused by the cold winters here?)

Do you guys pay half a grand or more ($500+/month) to heat your RI home in the cold winter months?

Does this have anything to do with RI politics or corruption ??

[CoventryDude]

Originally Posted by POhdNcrzy

Does this have anything to do with RI politics or corruption ??

Haven't you been paying attention? It's the Republicans fault. Them and the Democrats who aren't left wing enough.

Socialism hasn't failed every time because it's a flawed system, it's because the right people haven't done it yet. But we'll all be enslaved yet, just you wait and see.

[Rhodeislander]

Originally Posted by Rnrboy

Ah, good point. This may explain my recollection of FL having a 7% sales tax. It may have just been my area.

Oddly enough, I just went to the taxation site and copied the info. What I listed was what it said. I assume you think I made these numbers up?

I never said anything about liberals in any post. You bashed the Gov I asked why.

I noticed your MO is to attack the messenger rather than explain your rhetoric. I can pick your posts apart all day long if I want to, its still America I think? Its a wonderful thing aint it?

[gladt]

RI should be politically organized as a "city-sate" without the 39 city and town system. I think even dividing the state up into municipalities using the present county system might work.

[Rhodeislander]

Originally Posted by gladt

RI should be politically organized as a "city-sate" without the 39 city and town system. I think even dividing the state up into municipalities using the present county system might work.

Regionalize and cut back on some of the management positions. Do we need 39 POlice chiefs? and fire chiefs?

The economy is not hard to figure out, some would have you think its complicated and left up to nobel prize winning writers writing about nothing. You cannot spend what you do not have, very simple. We need to live that way and so does our government. Not conservative, not liberal just common sense.

[Rnrboy]

A must read on the Governor's New Budget:

Rhode Islands Future: Politics & Culture:: Hard choices, well maybe not

The GA also accepted the Governor's Medicare Waiver in full this week. How liberal of them! Let's see how much of this budget they accept. Either way, I am sure by this time next year when the Rhody economy is even worse, the right wing echo chamber will still be blaming "liberals". It's the same thing every year.