Maggie's Farm

"Hewitt: The California Disease"

Apparently, Mr. Hewitt thinks we're incapable of using a search engine. A search for "corporate tax rate by state" immediately pulls up this site.

From Mr. Hewitt's column:

"California taxes are high and hit employers and employees hard."

But not as high as Nevada's, someone neglected to note.

"California also has a high corporate tax rate of 8.84%."

Well, that's just awful! And if he singled it out like that, then it's probably the highest in the nation, right? Otherwise, why would he single it out?

But New Jersey, of course, is cool:

"Even in high-tax New Jersey, the top bracket..."

So, New Jersey is cool and California is very, very bad.

Now, back to that high California corporate tax rate of 8.84%, from the above link:

Maine = high of 8.93%
New Jersey = 9.0%
Illinois = 9.5%
Minnesota = 9.8%
Dist. of Columbia = 9.975%
Pennsylvania = 9.99%

And just below California are the rest of Maggie's neighbors:

Connecticut = 7.5%
Massachusetts = 8.25%
New Hampshire = 8.5%
Vermont = high of 8.5%

But to continue with the rest of Mr. Hewitt's ardent screed:

"The state's legal environment is a mess, too."

Well, that's just awful! What a corrupt state! An example, please?

"A so-called consumer rights law allows trial lawyers to sue firms for minor violations of California's complex labor and environmental regulations."

"Using an obscure provision of California labor law that requires stores to have enough seats for all employees, trial attorneys have filed about 100 lawsuits, claiming damages of up to $100 per employee, against chain retailers."

Oh. Trial attorneys. Like that has something to do with the state of California?

In other words, another day, another hit piece as the right-wing propaganda machine attempts to indoctrinate its readers with the anti-California meme. At least, those readers without search engines nearby. Good try, though, Mr. Hewitt. Better luck next time.

And you can bet there'll be one.

"Barone: Cult of Global Warming Is Losing Influence"

Mr. Barone needs to start paying attention to the headlines. My morning post is the complete opposite of the above article. AGW is not only running rampant, but it's entered a whole new phase of late. We'll let the readers decide.