Economist Magazine article: California vs. Texas (San Diego, San Jose: apartment complex, house, neighborhood)

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by hartford_renter

My thoughts are why doesnt CA cut spending more, they need cuts in education and social spending. (Ed budget was 50% of total state expenditures). They spend too much that is their problem, as it stands how can they raise taxes they are already one of the highest taxes states.

Thank you. I agree for the most part. But the prevailing mentality here is that more money/taxes/regulations will fix all the problems.

I keep wondering why we are 6th highest in taxes and so low on per-capita spending for education. There seems to be no accountability in Sacramento.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by JakeInSoCal

I dont see people leaving California to go for Texas. They seem to all go to the Mid west our deep south. Correct me if I'm wrong. I think California will bounce back, but probably very different in gov't. And it seems like its the poor moving and I'm not sure whos replacing them, I guess retirees. California and Texas have about the same amount of Hispanic/Latinos has each other and I would think CA would be more accepting but I see how them being mostly lowerclass here affects it. For a long time people have come here and we've expanded way to big. The huge population is part of the problem in why our gov't is so huge.

I moved from Irvine, CA to Keller, TX. I won't compare the 2 cities but let's just say that household income is higher in Keller and housing is still about 1/3 in Keller.

In TX many Hispanics legal or illegal make a decent living and own their own homes. They are homeowners and thus have more of a stake in their communities.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

In California that same relationship is a huge element of our class warfare. California STATE may be generous to Mexicans but Calfornia the CULTURE is hardly as welcoming as Texas.

Perhaps the general culture of California would be more tolerant/welcoming of illegal immigrants if the state of CA wasn't so generous with the welfare benefits.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by JakeInSoCal

The huge population is part of the problem in why our gov't is so huge.

I don't get why Californians always say this. Japan is the same size as CA and has even more restrictive geography. Yet Japan has 125 million people vs. 38 milliion in CA.

It has NOTHING to do with population size and everything to do with poor management and lack of accountability in CA state government.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Absolutely - but there is a deeper connection. When people can afford to live and thrive, there is lower crime and fewer social problems as a result. That builds a proud and sustaining culture instead of a multi-generational underclass.

I'm not sure the crime rate in TX cities is really any lower than in CA.

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

I'm not sure the crime rate in TX cities is really any lower than in CA.

Not the point - it is easy to live in an area with effectively zero crime in TX. You can spend 200k and own a house in an area with good schools and no crime in Dallas, Houston, esp San Antonio. Not possible in any CA major city.

[esmith143]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

I keep wondering why we are 6th highest in taxes and so low on per-capita spending for education. There seems to be no accountability in Sacramento.

Because we're among the lowest in property taxes. 0.5% effective tax rate (averaging prop-13 protected and recent homebuyer households) vs. 2-3% in TX. Adjusted for higher cost of living (you have to pay more to CA employees, teachers & such to get quality personnel), total tax burden in CA is not substantially higher than in TX.

[esmith143]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Not the point - it is easy to live in an area with effectively zero crime in TX. You can spend 200k and own a house in an area with good schools and no crime in Dallas, Houston, esp San Antonio. Not possible in any CA major city.

The grass always seems greener on the other side.

But, for example, crime rate in Plano - the quintessential "nice" Dallas suburb - is considerably higher than in Poway or Irvine.

There's no such thing as areas with zero crime, especially in major cities.

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by esmith143

total tax burden in CA is not substantially higher than in TX.

Unless you make 100k+ in CA and own a 500k house of course. Same house will cost you 200k in TX and there is no income tax. Even with 3% property tax you will come way, way ahead in TX. Now those summers....that is something else entirely.

My dear friend moved to Houston 10 years ago and never looked back, she lives like a queen there! She loves it, but it's not for me.

[esmith143]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Unless you make 100k+ in CA and own a 500k house of course. Same house will cost you 200k in TX and there is no income tax. Even with 3% property tax you will come way, way ahead in TX. Now those summers....that is something else entirely.

My dear friend moved to Houston 10 years ago and never looked back, she lives like a queen there! She loves it, but it's not for me.

If you want to live in a good area with access to well-paid jobs, you may end up paying 500k for a similar house in TX anyway.

2529 Harris Blvd, Austin TX 78703 Home for Sale - Yahoo! Real Estate (http://realestate.yahoo.com/Texas/Austin/2529-harris-blvd:ff53703fc75ac892149b22cfd2b74d6 - broken link)

If you live in the boonies, TX is cheap and so is CA.