The Catholic vote has grown much in California, and moved it left as the Protestants no longer dominate the vote.
For example 2004, a year in which California had strong pro-life issues on the ballot.
Posted on 06/27/2012 11:39:43 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Not only do my ex’s live in Texas, but your ex’s, and pretty much everyone else’s ex’s as well. All of America is moving to Texas. Especially the ex-residents of high tax states like California and New York. And, I'll bet many of the ex-residents of Big Brother tax and spend Massachusetts, Illinois and Michigan are there too. The fact is Texas led the nation in net population growth for the past decade, while New York and California led the nation in net population loss. Interestingly, the most new Texans (over 550,000) came from one state- California. They brought with them a remarkable $14.3 billion in income, but even that paled to the almost $1 trillion in assets and income that re-located New Yorkers brought to the Lone Star State.
From 2000 to 2010 a staggering 3.4 million people moved out of New York resulting in a net loss of 1.3 million residents. California was a close second with a net population loss of 1.2 million during the same decade.
So why is everyone running for their lives from New York and California? And why are so many of them heading to Texas? The answer is taxes, regulations, and quality of life. Americans have figured out that high taxes and excessive regulations kill jobs and quality of life. People simply want to have more opportunity for success and keep more of the money they work so hard to earn.
It’s no coincidence that New York has ranked first or second in the nation for tax burden every year since 1977. That includes state income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes. There is also gas tax of a whopping 49 cents per gallon, and the highest estate and gift taxes in the nation. After grabbing more of your money than any state while you’re alive, New York also steals more of your money after you’re dead. I should know- I left New York 25 years ago and never looked back.
California now ranks first (ie worst) for highest state income tax. Add to that the mantle of worst state in the nation for excessive rules and regulations. It’s no wonder the Milken Institute ranks California as having the worst business environment in the nation. I should know- I left California too.
Lest you think this is some kind of fluke, or that taxes are not the determining factor in this “escape from NY and California,” it isn’t just Texas that is gaining all these fleeing residents. The U.S. Census reported that all of the top 15 states for population growth during the past decade are no tax or low tax states like Nevada, Florida, Arizona, Utah, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. It seems Americans are smarter than politicians give them credit for- they are voting with their feet for lower taxes, pro business attitude, and more economic freedom.
Because no state in the union has a better economy, let’s look "up close and personal" at the Texas miracle. Texas practices what I proudly call “Wild West Cowboy Capitalism.” And it works!
Texas has zero state income tax, zero capital gains taxes, and zero death taxes. It is a “right to work” state where employees may choose to join a union, but are never forced to. It is pro business and anti-lawyer (discouraging class action lawsuits and the first state to pass a “Loser Pays” law). Texas is also tight-fisted with welfare and entitlement benefits- unlike New York and California. The result of this limited government attitude is people with high incomes, assets, and ambition are moving into Texas, while those who lack work ethic, and feel entitled to handouts are moving out. Good riddance.
But the most important attribute of Texas is that its constitution limits the time that politicians can meet. The Texas Legislature is limited to meeting only 4 months every other year. That pretty much explains everything. Texas and my state of Nevada have no state income taxes and the fastest growing populations in America…not in spite of, but because the politicians aren't allowed to sit in their seats all year long thinking of new ways to re-distribute income, impede business, and destroy jobs.
Let’s look at the remarkable results of favoring hard working job-creators over entitlement addicts, and business owners over lawyers. Texas now has more Fortune 500 headquarters than New York. It tied for the highest state economic growth in America over the past 50 years, while displacing New York as the second largest state economy. The annual Texas economy has passed $1 trillion, accounting for 8.3% of the entire U.S. economy. In the last three years one third of all jobs in America were created in Texas, and in the past decade, more jobs were created in Texas than in the other 49 states COMBINED.
One smart businessman, Andrew Puzder, sums it up. Mr. Puzder, CEO of California-based CKE Restaurants with over 3000 restaurants including Carl’s Jr. and Hardees was recently quoted in the Wall Street Journal. He calls his home state of California “the most business-unfriendly state…” Opening one of his restaurants in California takes 2 years and costs $200,000 more than opening one in Texas, where it takes only 6 weeks. Is it a surprise that CKE has stopped opening new restaurants in California, but plans to open 300 in Texas?
So there you have it. Now you know why everyone’s ex’s live in Texas (or soon will), and why businesses, as well as people, choose states that treat them better, give them more freedom, and allow them to keep more of their own money. Imagine that? The results of smaller government, restrained politicians and lower taxes is dramatically increased wealth, happier citizens with a higher quality of life, and far higher job creation.
PS. My Texas friends want everyone to know, “Come on down, ya’ll are welcome. Just leave your liberal politics at home.”
YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN TEXAS IN JULY WHEN. . . .
The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
The trees are whistling for the dogs.
The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
Hot water now comes out of both taps.
You can make sun tea instantly.
You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron!
The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.
You discover that in July it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car.
You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.
You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.
Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, “What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?!”
You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.
Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.
The cows are giving evaporated milk.
When this song came out I lived in Tennessee and my 3 exes lived in Texas. One of them lived in Temple. Thank God that one left Texas about the time I moved back.
“Well, I haven’t made it to Texas, yet. But I do know that living (again) in MassaTaxIt is grating on me. And my folks won’t leave.”
You’re a dentist? Since you have access to certain medications...
Your parents would wake up in a much better state! :)
Seriously, you should consider Texas or Oklahoma. The cost of houses is much lower.
I remember the months-long drought Texas suffered, what, in 2011? Pretty sure the whole country was worried about you folks. I’ll be praying you get rain....I hope you don’t get a repeat of that last episode.
“...the growth of Catholic and non-Protestant voters which turned California into a permanent blue state.”
###
You name Catholics but don’t specify Jews, Muslims and Asians-just “non-Protestant voters”?
You forgot to mention the deadly one-foot fanged armadillo. Every time I visit Texas, they take naps in the road and puncture my car tires. Danged nuisance if you ask me.
“Texas is hot and humid
Snakes under every house.
Spiders on every widow sill.
Nothing grows here and it NEVER rains.
Everyone here is a racist redneck.
You won’t like it here at all STAY AWAY.
Public Service announcent from Stay the Heck outta Texas.”
You beat me to it.
Stay out.
We don’t need anymore.
.
Well, yeah, only an idiot would want to freeze their butt off in depressing grey skies and pay out their butt to do it. How or why anyone lives in the northeast is a frikking riddle to me. I left nearly 20 years ago and I’d rather lose a limb than ever go back,
Yep, I’m Catholic and an immigrant to Texas. Lots of us here and plenty conservatives...
“I’ll have a medium pop”
“Sorry”
“I’ll have a soda!”
“What size would you like?”
Welcome to Texas. Now go home!
Snicker
Thanks—all prayers are appreciated.
“People fleeing California have ruined parts of Idaho.”
What parts? Coeur d’Alene?
1. You can properly pronounce Corsicana, Palestine, Decatur, Wichita Falls, San Antonio, Burnet, Boerne, Nacogdoches, Mexia, Waco, Amarillo, and Waxahachie.
Good list, except I'd add Bexar County and Refugio... /g
I lived in Texas for 10 years - really miss it. Now I feel a bit out of place back in my native North Carolina. As others have noted, it's been infested with liberals and is now well on the way to over-taxed and over-regulated blue-state status.
Were it not for family obligations I'd get back to Texas in a flash.
The Catholic vote has grown much in California, and moved it left as the Protestants no longer dominate the vote.
For example 2004, a year in which California had strong pro-life issues on the ballot.
You have been in Houston a while if you can properly pronounce Kuykendahl Road.
Amen. Add to that liberal lack of manners and respect for property. I had to chase a bunch of folks out of my yard as they had decided it was a good place for a picnic. Seriously.
When I told 'em they were trespassing and that if they didn't leave they'd be arrested one of the little snots said "And I thought I'd left Massachusetts because of all the mean people." This is a true story. "Mean people". What kind of man says "mean people"? Somehow I restrained myself.
And yeah, old people like me are always talking about the good old days but there was a time when Texas was more free and had a wild spirit I don't see much any more.
Heck, I remember when the first sales tax (a whopping 1%) when into effect. Yeah, if we'd just let them charge a puny 1% Texas would have enough money to last forever. And they'd never, ever had to raise it. Property tax was a pittance as well.
Time was our roads were the best in the nation. Not so much any more, we'd rather spend money on colonias, which, according to the Tx. SoS means "a community or neighborhood". I feel something wet on my hat a lot more than I used to and it ain't rain even though we're told that's what it is.
But still the best doggone place in the world. I just hope we can keep from losing any more of it.
We have our own little slice of Berkeley in the North End of Boise.
They really need to be contained, so you can go and look at them like a museum or zoo exhibit, but they can't do any harm.
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