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.”
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.
RE: And my folks won’t leave.
Maybe you should show them the way by setting an example :)
May God continue to richly bless Texas.
I am thinking long and hard about telling the Peoples Republik of New Jersey goodby and going to Texas, been there many times and love it.
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.
This can't be repeated enough. I don't blame anyone for moving here, as long as they don't vote to turn Texas into what they left.
That is what happened to California. Tons of people came from new york and California went from a conservative state to a socialistic state.
Socialism is like a disease they destroy their host and just move on.
DANG SKIPPY! “Come on down, ya’ll are welcome. Just leave your liberal politics at home.” It’s hard enough dealing w/ the liberals in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and the People’s Republic of Austin. Oh and BTW, bring your guns. I firmly believe Texas will be the last state standing when the SHTF.
“leave your liberal politics.” Too late they are here and they show up as little bits and pieces of service folks want, a library, senior citizen centers, extra features in schools, greenbelts andso much more. One day the Tx miracle will be returned to yellow dog democrats and the folks holding the bag will be the republicans that made the accomidations. Already all the major cities ahve democrat leaning mayors - most years. That changes only when the citizens realize they have been had, give the pubbies four years then go back to liberals...see Hosuton, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas city council, Dallas county commissioners.
The trouble is that those California, New York, etc expatriates settle in to their new territory then start, voting for liberal politicians and demanding the liberal policies they fled from. They then turn their new home into the cesspool they fled from. People fleeing California have ruined parts of Idaho. Hopefully Texas will stop them in their tracks or demand they go live in Austin with the rest of the liberal brood.
Sure! C’mon down to Texas! We’re about to hit Stage 3 water restrictions, and all the newcomers can help contribute to the problem!
~PING~
I lived in TX for seven years, in the ‘70’s. I cried for at least six years after we left due to job transfer. I could STILL move there in a heartbeat!
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.
+1 (((ping)))
You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas.
Well said. It it is like a disease. But Texas has more immunity than California because California is the easy life compared to Texas and the elements one must deal with to survive. As Doug Sahm sings: “You just can’t live in Texas if you don’t have a lot of soul.” It is Realville for the most part.
Sure! C’mon down to Texas! We’re about to hit Stage 3 water restrictions, and all the newcomers can help contribute to the problem!
Have a plaque with that saying on my wall in the livin room right under a framed letter of Travis’s letter from the Alamo...
and again I say.
You liberals wont like it here STAY AWAY.
Oh, and don’t forget TORNADOS! We have lots of them! You really won’t like it!
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