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Serious question...is raising taxes a strategy of keeping the riff raff away?
Uh ...no. Taxes in New Jersey are progressive, not flat. Therefore, the taxes are high disproportionately on the higher incomes. It's actually a great strategy for keeping the non-riff raff away. Which makes things worse, because you're attracting a lot of low- and middle-class people who are thrilled at all the social services New Jersey provides without having to pay a terribly high tax. This then burdens the system more, which leads those same people to vote for more funding for the services and throw the bill at the "rich."
P.S. Truth In Accounting just released its 2014 tax report on the states and New Jersey is the 48th worst state, only ahead of Illinois and Connecticut. The report is an analysis on the individual tax burden, meaning "how much would every citizen have to pay in order to repay all of the debt the state has." For New Jersey, it's $36,000.
If you want to look at New Jersey's specifics, it's on page 71. The state owes $135.4 billion, including $91.1 billion in pensions ($55.6 billion of which are unfunded).
I don't understand this, someone please help. If most NJ residents hate high taxes, (I am not talking about state employee, unions etc), why they keep voting for democrats years after years in the state legislature?????? If people in NJ really want a change in tax policies, they need to change the polite systems from the top.
I don't understand this, someone please help. If most NJ residents hate high taxes, (I am not talking about state employee, unions etc), why they keep voting for democrats years after years in the state legislature?????? If people in NJ really want a change in tax policies, they need to change the polite systems from the top.
Because it's a progressive tax rate. So you're voting for someone else to pay the taxes. If you make, say, $70,000/year New Jersey is actually a relatively low taxed state. Now, as a result, the only thing left to tax is property, but I think you'd rather pay higher property taxes and lower income taxes. It's less money out of your pocket and most people don't own the gigantic mansions that really get hit hard.
The biggest problem New Jersey -- and most states -- face is the lifetime of pensions and benefits they owe state employees. That's also why it's basically a racket to get a teaching position in New Jersey, probably (I'm going solely on what people said in the other thread) because once you're in, you're basically set for life. At some point, that's going to come due, but there's no reason any of them would vote for anyone who would reform the system at all. Therefore, you're just stuck with a permanent Democrat structure. It's basically a vote-buying process.
Because it's a progressive tax rate. So you're voting for someone else to pay the taxes. If you make, say, $70,000/year New Jersey is actually a relatively low taxed state. Now, as a result, the only thing left to tax is property, but I think you'd rather pay higher property taxes and lower income taxes. It's less money out of your pocket and most people don't own the gigantic mansions that really get hit hard.
The biggest problem New Jersey -- and most states -- face is the lifetime of pensions and benefits they owe state employees. That's also why it's basically a racket to get a teaching position in New Jersey, probably (I'm going solely on what people said in the other thread) because once you're in, you're basically set for life. At some point, that's going to come due, but there's no reason any of them would vote for anyone who would reform the system at all. Therefore, you're just stuck with a permanent Democrat structure. It's basically a vote-buying process.
So what you say is that essentially the "poor" along with the democrats are bleeding the "rich"? But I can feel a lot people complaining here are not "rich" by any means, this system is bleeding the "middle working class" too.
Also, many southern states have progressive tax rates too, NC, SC, GA, why they don't these states have this "Democratic State" problem?
So what you say is that essentially the "poor" along with the democrats are bleeding the "rich"? But I can feel a lot people complaining here are not "rich" by any means, this system is bleeding the "middle working class" too.
Sure, but keep in mind that a lot of the "middle working class" you're talking about is benefitting from the state. For example, most of the teachers and cops and union guys are part of that middle class. But it's fine because they're not getting the brunt of the tax hit and, anyways, the benefit of a free lifetime pension with full benefits is way worth it. Do the math.
Quote:
Originally Posted by artking09
Also, many southern states have progressive tax rates too, NC, SC, GA, why they don't these states have this "Democratic State" problem?
This is just a random guess, but I think it's mostly due to the fact that a lot of southern states don't have the same urban-rural makeup as New Jersey. I've personally always wondered how PA has a flat tax when it's an overall Democrat state and how it functions (although, the pensions in Philadelphia are also crippling the city).
So what you say is that essentially the "poor" along with the democrats are bleeding the "rich"? But I can feel a lot people complaining here are not "rich" by any means, this system is bleeding the "middle working class" too.
Also, many southern states have progressive tax rates too, NC, SC, GA, why they don't these states have this "Democratic State" problem?
It's just Republican rhetoric. Don't try to make sense of it.
Yeah, just listen to him, he's handing out money, so it's all good.
I'm talking about the structural make up of this state (ie: Home Rule) & how it forces municipalities to charge an exorbitant amount of property taxes. Property taxes are the real killer in NJ.
You, on the other hand, just want to regurgitate a Fox News talking point.
I'm talking about the structural make up of this state (ie: Home Rule) & how it forces municipalities to charge an exorbitant amount of property taxes. Property taxes are the real killer in NJ.
You, on the other hand, just want to regurgitate a Fox News talking point.
Property taxes are viewed as "the killer" because for middle- and lower-class people the income tax in New Jersey is no big shakes. In other words, people in a Democrat state are upset because they have to pay taxes when they usually try to have "rich" people pay it.
By the way, I don't disagree with your points on home rule, as they merely reinforce my point. If you're duplicating services, that leads to duplicate pensions, salaries, and benefits for public servants, all of which need to be paid for. That being said, my point about New Jersey's taxes stands.
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