Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Friday, March 20. 2015

Connecticut: We're #1 again


Connecticut remains the most heavily-taxed state in the US (and the wealthiest, per capita), with supposedly the most government services (or maybe just the most costly) and almost the highest-paid government employees (after California): Connecticut Residents Work 6 Weeks Longer Than Louisianans to Pay Taxes


We often wonder what is gained by contributing all of this money, but in a Blue State you are at their mercy so you just try not to think about it. With all its dying cities filled with government-dependents, its liberal gentry, and the union power, you're screwed.


The higher they raise them, the faster they drive away the people who can pay them. It's a shame, because it's a wonderful little state with plenty of history, recreation, rural beauty, schools and universities, educated people, social life, every kind of church, seaside, rivers, real seasons, etc.

Posted by The Barrister in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects, Our Essays at 13:01 | Comments (10) | Trackbacks (0)

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Well, all I can say is that life for you must be good ..... or you would leave.
#1 feeblemind on 2015-03-20 13:30 (Reply)
No, it's the irrationality of seven generations on the same hilltop and a few hundred years in New England before that.
I'm keeping my land till I can't. If that means three jobs, so be it. It's the same mindset you see in New Mexico on the border or in old California. It is just rather more completely outnumbered here.
Will I lose in the end? Yes. But I'm not running for a promised land. Furthermore, if anything can be saved; it won't be saved by the people who pick up and leave. That worked when there was somewhere new to go to. It doesn't work now, consider Colorado...
#1.1 acairfearann (Link) on 2015-03-20 21:37 (Reply)
The only way to fix such problems is to move out of states that over tax. It is the only way to penalize them and make them change. Staying there and continuing to pay the high taxes, makes the legislature believe they can continue to do it without repercussions.

I am often amazed that I live in a house double the size of one I lived in out East a decade ago. The acreage is 10 times more as well. But I pay almost the same in property taxes for my much larger house on a great piece of property. Think about how much further your cash could go in a state that has lower taxes.

It would be hard for me to be the same middle-class-ish person I am and pay a pile more in taxes just to enjoy the same stuff I can enjoy in another state. And, honestly, nicer, less crowded stuff!
#1.2 MissT on 2015-03-21 16:40 (Reply)
You have a good point, and moving would solve it, if we still had true geographical representation.
The problem is that Connecticut's problems are the same self-inflicted wounds that nearly every single urban center is voting for. And when that happens....Obama wins in 2012 despite a geographically red map.
The conservative is an isolationist in the self-reliant sense; we don't like community organizers, they offend our very nature. We handicap ourselves though by doing so.
Will moving somewhere else solve our problem? Yes. For now. But as long as liberal equals urban/suburban/'let's connect' versus conservative rural/'let's move elsewhere'/'leave me alone' that 2012 map is going to keep happening, not only at federal levels but increasingly at state levels.
Furthermore, the businesses will adapt. The liberal areas have more, many more customers.
#1.2.1 acairfearann (Link) on 2015-03-21 20:30 (Reply)
Try this exercise in your CT town (since population has been declining especially school age kids).

You: The student population is down 10% why is the budget going up?

Them: It's contracts, health care, utilities and hiring two teacher coaches for common core.

You: I was told that by keeping housing development out of town it prevented school costs from rising. Now that you've chased the the kids out why isn't the budget at least staying the same?

Them: no answer

To have a zero increase budget would mean that you let the voters be in control and that is not allowed by anyone GOP/DEMS/WFP
#2 DirtyJobsGuy on 2015-03-20 13:48 (Reply)
Good one. Shows that even when dealing with the seemingly infinite tax revenues accruing from being the wealthiest state in the country, one needs to be judicious in taxing,spending- and REGULATING. Lesson: it ain't infinite. The increasingly heavy had of government is inexorably crushing the state.

Had CT continued as the lower tax alternative between MA and NY, it would not have gotten into the mess it is in.

While I am long gone from the land of steady habits and continually increasing government control, I still feel some link to my old home. Two of my hometown peers- one a friend and classmate and the other among the crowd with whom I played sports- have been State Commissioners of Whatever. One is currently a Commissioner.
#2.1 Gringo on 2015-03-21 13:29 (Reply)
Congrats! You must be proud of your balanced budget?
#3 NJSoldier on 2015-03-20 14:01 (Reply)
How disappointing - I thought we here in Chicagoland had the most expensive politicians money can buy, and are also driving away population at an efficient pace.
#4 jay myrick on 2015-03-20 15:50 (Reply)
You cant sell property in this dismal economy....esp if it's a business property in a libtard state.
our new commie gov is issuing eo's, wants to raise sales and state income tax, suppsedly to lower property taxes *a few yrs down the road*. Yeah right like they ever rescind a tax once it's imposed.

Businesses are folding. Our workers comp. Ins. And regulatory burden goes up exponentially as there are less hosts for the parasites to feed on. It's a vicious cycle.
#5 fjord on 2015-03-20 15:53 (Reply)
Yes, CT taxes are high; I often drive through CT to and from Boston. You know gas taxes are high when I fill up before I leave Mass and drive through CT, without stopping, because I'm looking for the lower gas price in NY!
#6 charles on 2015-03-21 03:25 (Reply)

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