Cal Thomas: Florida’s economy is booming while blue states like New York are mired in debt -- why is that?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
While most attention has been focused on immigrants trying to enter the United States over America’s southern border, there is legal migration taking place that has been largely ignored, though it may have at least as much economic and political impact as the other.
People are moving out of high-tax states to Florida and other states with lower tax burdens.
Florida’s new governor, Ron DeSantis, mentioned the movement in a speech to the Club for Growth, which describes itself as “a national network of over 250,000 pro-growth, limited government Americans who share in the belief that prosperity and opportunity come from economic freedom.”
DeSantis says New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has accused him of stealing residents from his state. “I’m not stealing anybody,” said DeSantis, “they are driving people away.”
The data back him up. Chris Edwards of the Foundation for Economic Freedom, the first free-market organization in the United States, produced a research document for the Cato Institute that shows “of the 25 highest-tax states, 24 of them had net out-migration in 2016.” One of the states that gained from migration was Florida where “145 households moved in for every 100 that left.
DeSantis says this influx has fueled economic growth of the state, leading to a $1.4 billion revenue surplus.
Economist Richard Rahn has created a chart that includes a comparison between the tax rates of New York and Florida. He writes that while New York imposes high taxes and conveys an anti-business attitude (the recent debacle with New York City losing a headquarters for Amazon is just the latest example), “Florida imposes no state and local income taxes in addition to the federal income tax — yet Florida is booming, with a budget surplus, while New York is mired in debt. Only 50 years ago, New York had four times the population of Florida, and now Florida is larger than New York.”
In Florida, the policy seems to be that if you can earn it, you get to keep more of it. That is the best prescription for economic growth and personal satisfaction.
The sound economic state of Florida is not the only subject DeSantis is touting. He won applause from the dinner crowd when he mentioned his executive orders suspending Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher and Dr. Brenda Snipes, Broward County supervisor of elections. Republicans have accused these two of manipulating votes, causing confusion and chaos over vote counting that dates back to Bush-Gore in 2000.
DeSantis has other victories in his short time in office. He has named three conservatives to the state Supreme Court, transforming it from a liberal to a solid conservative majority. He has also announced plans to sign an executive order scrapping the “common core” public school curriculum, replacing it with a “strong American civics” course.
As a new Florida resident, what amazes me is why high-tax states don’t get it? The facts are there for anyone to see, except for those who deliberately refuse to see them. And that’s the problem. In the case of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California and other Democrat-run states, ideology appears to have eclipsed reality.
If Governor Cuomo thinks DeSantis is stealing residents from New York, maybe he should consider whether his policy of “stealing” taxpayer earnings and demanding that residents pay even more, isn’t the real reason for the exodus.
It is not a difficult question to answer. In addition to the economic benefits associated with living in Florida, the weather is a lot nicer, if you discount the occasional hurricane. While people were freezing up North during the recent polar vortex, the sunny temperatures in South Florida ranged from the 70s to the low 80s.
So, keep coming New Yorkers, and others from high-tax states. Down here, the policy seems to be that if you can earn it, you get to keep more of it. That is the best prescription for economic growth and personal satisfaction.
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People are moving out of high-tax states to Florida and other states with lower tax burdens.
And finding that services are lacking once they arrive, ie: 1950's textbooks still being utilized in some classrooms. Perhaps in a few years when the Atlantic and the Gulf are lapping on their doorsteps they may re-evaluate their locale.
While I understand (living in the #4 location for high taxes) folks do not care for taxation, they do seem to enjoy it's benefits, I suppose it comes down to the individual. Most to all of the folks I know that have opted for the Southern migration have done so for warmth and the lack of snow not to escape taxes.
BINGO...In my area of Florida most of the people that have moved here is because of the weather not taxes...I moved here just because of the weather and taxes were never a consideration.
Also it's wise to note that some of the homes in Florida are 2nd homes for ''Snowbirds''....
Yep, June through November traffic is so much lighter.
If they intend to vote for the same sugar cookies that destroyed the urban centers, one would hope they re-evaluate sooner rather than later.
Oh fucking please!
So far, I like the overt things DeSantis has done but....this bullshit article is really about one dumb shit trying to pass off bullshit to other dumb shits that believe this crap without question.
First of all, this is not a "conservative state" .
It is a Republican dominated state and much of that is the good 'ol boy system at it's finest.
If it was a conservative state ex felons wouldn't have their rights restored as we just overwhelmingly voted.
I've been here since the late 70's, and Florida is usually the last to feel a deep recession and one of the first to emerge.
We "boom" because we have a global economy here. When Americans were hit and not traveling, the Europeans and others did. That provides us with the ability to not charge state income tax.
Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville are major, major ports for import/export, we have always had development and manufacturing as well as being a huge consumer state for transport.
Every governor, including this one has understood the balance that must be kept, whether they are Democrat or Republican.
The state's political lines are fairly well defined. North of Tampa /Orlando is Republican, south is Democrat.
In his recent moves DeSantis has shown that clearly. He's initiated moves and asked for the resignation of the whole board of the South Fla. Water Management District for good cause and initiated the Everglades projects. In the North he added 3 judges.
This guy knows ZERO about Florida and he's bamboozling the weak minded again.
In Ocala, Marion county Fl the economic impact of the horse industry is $2.6 BILLION per year...
The Ocala airport is name Ocala International Airport. It has NO scheduled airlines here and only private plans land here. The runway is built to accommodate 707's which come in from all over the world to pick up horses they have purchased here. We are a world economy in many ways.
This guy really doesn't know much about Florida.
The seed's premise is false.
New York is 16th in average income, at $ 60 850.
Florida is 39th, at $ 49 426.
- Wikipedia
The whole article is bogus. Is it lying? Not from a perspective.
Is it dishonest? You bet.
[Removed]
Florida is a Great State to live in !
Roads are Great !
Services are Great !
WORK IS GREAT !
PROPERTY TAXES ARE GREAT !
NO State Tax is GREAT !
etc....…….
There are a few hiccups now and again....but Overall.....Florida is GREAT !
Florida ROUTINELY shows up in the news for having the most and the dumbest criminals in America.
"Florida ROUTINELY shows up in the news for having the most and the dumbest criminals in America."
Brenda Snipes ?
before, blue states could raise taxes and the people could just write that increase off their federal taxes.
why would they care if their state taxes went up and their federal tax liability went down by the same amount?
no financial harm done = no foul observed = let's do it again.
but now that red states are no longer subsidizing blue states taxes via federal tax write-offs.
the blue state people will get it soon enough.
being forced to pay for one's own decisions is funny like that.
cheers
I'll say the same as I said to KAG...
I wonder what farmer McDougal would say to you after he used his Home Equity Loan to buy his new silo in Iowa?
Or the apple farmer in NYS? The cattle rancher in Texas?
How about the Mom n' Pop business they threw everything on the line for?
Just collateral damage?
Did you happen to notice that the comment was not addressed to you''?
No, you didn't.
Actually I just went back, and no you didn't.
You're aware, of course, that blue states are net contributors to the Federal budget, while red states are net beneficiaries?
Blue = maker
Red = taker
not hard when red states subsidize blue state taxes huh?
but guess what, that game is done, over, and finished
blue-staters will pay their own state taxes from now on.
cheers
Shhhh. The more independant they become, the less the blue states have to pay.
Then, lets see how much they have to tax their own citizens. Look what Kansas has to bail themselves out of?
Or the history of California, where the voters finally got so tired of the right-wing's dilatory blockages that they voted them out... completely...
the problem with that theory is...
not being able to write off state taxes on federal income tax means the people in blue states pay more.
those people vote and/or leave the state
cheers
Here, seems you may be just a bit mistaken.
As opposed to subsidizing Kentucky? Well, thanks!
They also earn more...cheers
I'm talking about the people's wallets... not the states.
do try to keep up
and now, no federal tax breaks for state taxes = now, they pay more in taxes as well.
trump cutting income taxes for redstaters while raising taxes on bluestaters was a win win right?
I say.... a job well done
And where do you think those federal subsidies come from?
Out of the wallets of blue state taxpayers....
Yes, do try to keep up.
Sorry to bust that bubble...you really think it will be the blue state's problem only?
Pretty ignorant comment...small farmers using their equity to grow will thank the right whole heartedly.
Those Mom'n Pop startups? They're gonna love you too.
So...you got yours and fuck everyone else, that how it goes?
Well...the right is giggling all they way to fucking up something else.
That's the essential difference between left and right. The left thinks and acts in terms of "us". The right thinks and acts in terms of "me".
Such an ignorant comment.
Do you think every home in the east is over the threshold?
Which do you think may be worth more, A home with 50 acres of land? Or a home with 50 acres of citrus trees that are steady producers?
Now, what do you think the equity value difference would be?
Or the family that has been growing Spruce or Pine for 20 years and buys a new saw mill based on the value of those trees produced in to board feet....
Do you think homes with acreage for farming are only valued at the home structure value?
The shallow responses on this seed are showing an intellectual pattern, and it doesn't help the right.
So I presume then that you would support all states recouping 100% of their contributions into the federal coffers. That would mean that most of the 'blue states' would get their money back and many 'red states' could go pound sand...
Facts walk in, the righties run away....
Ugh, another NYS sucks article from someone who has never lived here or knows anything about the state.
We are an enormous state, population wise and so there is movement in and out.
NY population has actually grown since the 1960's.
Why? Because we have great schools, great higher ed, a world leader in the financial markets and have Wall St. We are the countries hub for diamonds. We are a leader in agriculture. #3 for dairy, #2 for apples and a booming wine industry. Read more here:
I don't love our governor, partly because he is just a shadow of what his dad was, but the only one who screwed our state was Trump, who capped our property taxes. What we pay to NYS is a pittance compared to that. That whole tax plan is one big Trojan Horse. The best is yet to come when the middle and working class gets screwed US wide.
Yeah. They're giggling and thinking they helped Trump screw the Liberals.
They couldn't possibly think that a growing entrepeneur would have a way to start a business and employ people. Or the family farm that just made a major purchase with a HELOC and now can't write off the interest or the taxes on all that land.
They're on here everyday, laughing, trolling, having a wonderful time slamming New Yorkers and wouldn't even concern them if the founder of this invested website was started on a property or Home Equity Loan.....nahhhh.
That would be like taking your actions in to consideration. We can't have that now, can we?
I wonder what Farmer Bob in Iowa thinks about those kooky Liberals getting screwed while he is too?
Think he'll be mad at the Liberals?
Perrie!
You're being unethical. Using facts!
I'm pretty sure that's a CoC violation...
So there are now 35 Comments... and no one has Commented on the data cited in the seed.
oh, wait... there's so little it really doesn't deserve Comment. But then... what's left? Nothing.
Flatulence.
OK, I'll bite.
is it your seed?
and are you also saying that your 7 comments are also off topic?
Or did you just want to type the word flatulence?
No. Are we not allowed to Comment on the quality of the conversation... wherever? I wouldn't mind such a Comment on any of my seeds.Some of them are pretty ugly.
Yes. That's "gradual derailing". An off-topic Comment leads to an even further off-topic Comment... and soon the seed is lost to view. I'm as undisciplined as most. It's hard to Moderate, intervening too soon or too late.
There may be some of that...
In reviewing the chart what I see is that all but a few states gained in population. The last column is domestic (interstate) moves in and out of the state.
In reality Florida (a swing or purple state) had a gain of 2,137,939...Of that 1,025,261 were interstate moves. It is not explained why the number of domestic/interstate moves. In my experience much of that is leaving the cold weather (retirees) for year around warm weather.
That said our property taxes are much lower than Texas and we have no state income tax.
Does that make Florida a better place to live than Texas?....It would depend on what your requirements are. People live where they live for a multitude of reasons, taxes are only one part of it.
Is that what you got in your world class research?
I wonder what the deal is with Minnesota? Really blue, and economically, doing really well.