Posted on 06/12/2005 7:05:22 AM PDT by qam1
Congratulations, New Yorkers: You now have the distinction of officially being the highest-taxed group in the nation.
According to an annual publication of The Taxpayers Network, www.taxpayersnetwork.org in Cedarville, Wisc., New York merely third in 2002 has ascended to first place in 2004 in the category of state and local tax burden as percent of income.
On the average, New Yorkers pay 12.9 percent of their income to state and local taxes. In 2002, they paid 12.3 percent and were surpassed by Washington, D.C., and Maine.
Both Washington and Maine fell in the rankings, both because their respective percentages fell and because New Yorks rose.
Why has New York reached the pinnacle?
Part of it must be the generous benefits New York state accords to Medicaid recipients. This states are said to be the most comprehensive of any, meaning that more maladies and conditions are covered than anyplace else.
New York is a great place to live if you need government assistance. If youre among those helping to pay for it, though, it is the worst, and The Taxpayers Network has documented that it is so.
This hurts in two ways.
First, if you are a resident, you are keeping less of your pay than people in other states. This obviously is not a piece of information destined to promote peace of mind.
And second, if you are counting on business and industry migrating to your state to ease your tax burden, you are probably out of luck, since taxes are one factor such prospective migrants examine in trying to decide where to settle and they arent likely to choose a place where the government usurps so much of ones income.
So economic-development specialists in New York state are swimming upstream. The northeastern corner of the state is particularly up against it, as it is isolated and subject to notorious weather.
The economic developers in this region deserve immense credit for accomplishing what they have. They have parlayed few advantages into impressive gains. Among those advantages are proximity to Canada and breathtaking scenery.
In trying to offset an extremely gloomy tax picture, they may not sound like much, but our advocates are apparently very clever.
We are now learning that, in addition to already high taxes, our property is increasing dramatically in value. While that sounds like a fortunate bit of news, it actually compounds our tax problems, since assessed value is a component of the tax formula.
In trying to find a way out of this paralyzing predicament, our trust must rest with our state representatives. It is up to them to find or invent ways to deliver services less expensively.
Other states are doing it, and they dont seize 12.9 percent of constituents income. That is a dispiriting and indicting statistic.
I lived in NYC for four years - 125th st & riverside drive.
My father grew up on a dairy farm in Westerlow, NY.
I own 230 acres in Herkimer, NY.
I trash NY because, well, it's trash.
You ever notice how people that live next to the city dump, soon stop recognizing the smell?
Not one of my kids has ever been to NYC, nor will they.
But enjoy those benefits - if it works for you, I have no problem with it.
Oh, and thanks for electing Hillary.
Why would you be looking for a fight on a Sunday morning?
Why would you want to insinuate an insult?
Sorry. Bad mood. Just thinking about NYS government does that to me.
Understood...no harm, no foul.
Killjoy.
Having been born in Queens, lived in Brooklyn, then moved out to the lsland when I was a kid.
I left LI after the LILCO mess,Grumman leaving. Not to mention the high taxes and house prices that looked like telephone numbers.....in other words I just couldn't afford to live there anymore
Yes LI is a better place then the city to raise kids.
What can be done outside of moving out of the blue state. stop voting these local people in office that support liberal ways
And being that 50% of New York City is now foreign born (to which the mayor said that he will not enforce immigrations laws), you can expect taxes to keep rising as illegal immigrants continue to "benefit shop" as to which states hand out the most freebies. Liberals love to give away everything that they don't own!
I don't consider King George to be much of a Republican.
"Why are people not flocking to New Hampshire?"
The weather sucks from November to May.
It is costly but we were lucky enough to acquire several properties long before the current boom. You are right though, too mant good folks like you leaving. Interestingly though your replacements (at least in my town) are usually foreign born believers in the opportunity that America offers, not socialist leaning urban transplants.
"Very interesting, tell us more about the political landscape there. Why is it blue? "
Massholes move up to escape the Massachusetts taxes and then vote for Democrats for President and Governor. Additionally, during presidential years, students and other temporary residents vote here. All you have to do is show up at the polls with a bill with a NH address and you can vote. During non-presidential years, the Republicans win everything.
Fortunately, the state Senate and House are heavily Republican. Our national congressional group is all Republican and quite conservative. (Judd Gregg, John Sununu, Charlie Bass, Jeb Bradley)
They already have. That is why Miami Beach is called " the southernmost borough of New York".
Insult? It's an observation.
Perhaps I could have been long winded and PC, but I'm neither of those things.
I know it's been said a million times, but imagine having to do this kind of crap to exercise any other constitutional right:
Clerk: Good morning, sir, can I help you?
Customer: Yes, a copy of the Times, please.
Clerk: Fine, sir. If you'll just fill out these forms, give us your social security number, provide three references and a fingerprint, and pay the newspaper permit application fee.
Customer: Gee, that seems a bit excessive, but if it's going to keep us safe from inflammatory ideas getting into the hands of the wrong people, I guess it's O.K.
Clerk: Thank you for being so understanding
One hour later:
Customer: Alright, here are the forms and the fee. How 'bout that paper?
Clerk: Yes, sir. After we've checked your references, there will be a three-day "cooling off" period. You should have today's paper in about a month...
Judd Gregg is not all that conservative. He voted for continuance of the AWB
Shhhhh!!! Too many ex-MA and ex-NY types here already. We may have to put guards at the border.
Hillary Clinton - New York...be very careful what you wish for. Mrs. Clinton has made her pile now she wants yours.
"Judd Gregg is not all that conservative. He voted for continuance of the AWB"
Gregg had an 88 rating in 2004, higher than either Bass or Bradley but lower than Sununu (100).
I'm from LI. Conservative all my life. Maybe if you don't judge them right off the bat, you will find they could be republicans.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.