In other words: A discussion of The Bush Administration
Red State hypocrisy.
There are many interesting comparisons between red and blue states that will astound you by clearly demonstrating republican hypocrisy. We already had a posting about how red states on average have higher divorce rates on average then blue states. (Family values anyone?).
Here's a nice graph that show's teen parent figures by state (do you see a lot of red?):
(sex education leads to pregnant teens anyone?)
Red states are against federal taxes, but they sure love federal money.
States Receiving Most in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid
(2004 Red states in bold):
1. D.C. ($6.17) (a special case considering that is where the actual federal government is located)
2. North Dakota ($2.03)
3. New Mexico ($1.89)
4. Mississippi ($1.84)
5. Alaska ($1.82)
6. West Virginia ($1.74)
7. Montana ($1.64)
8. Alabama ($1.61)
9. South Dakota ($1.59)
10. Arkansas ($1.53)
States Receiving Least in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid
(2004 Blue states in bold):
1. New Jersey ($0.62)
2. Connecticut ($0.64)
3. New Hampshire ($0.68)
4. Nevada ($0.73)
5. Illinois ($0.77)
6. Minnesota ($0.77)
7. Colorado ($0.79)
8. Massachusetts ($0.79)
9. California ($0.81)
10. New York ($0.81)
(real welfare states anyone?)
An interesting side note to this is that red states tend to have lower local and state tax burden. Maybe because they always go begging to Uncle Sam with their hand out. Republicans, though the party of self-reliance, not only can't seem to take care of themselves, but want to punish those who do (gee, doesn't that go against their belief that the government should encourage self-reliance?)
Proposal Would Hit Blue State TaxpayersWASHINGTON - As President Bush lays the groundwork for a possible overhaul of the U.S. tax code, one option under consideration would deal its biggest financial blow to citizens of blue states such as California and New York.I'm sure it hasn't. Aren't the Republicans supposed to represent true American values... you know, like not being assholes?
Some conservative activists are urging the Bush administration to scrap the federal deduction for state and local taxes as part of a broader plan to revamp the nation's tax system.
Although the proposal would hurt some taxpayers in nearly every state, it would hit hardest in states with higher-than-average income levels and bigger-than-average state and local tax burdens. High on the list are a number of blue states ? those that were carried by Democrat Sen. John F. Kerry in last month's presidential election.
...
Supporters of the change insist the disproportionate effect on blue states is a coincidence, but they acknowledge that the proposal could hurt most in states that voted against Bush.
"Let me put it like this: It certainly isn't something that's a discouragement," said one prominent conservative. "Yes, we talked about this. The fact that it hits blue states is not something that's been missed among Republicans."
UPDATE: Also aren't republicans into an "ownership" society? i.e. people owning their own homes? If home owners can't exclude the amount they pay in property tax from their federal taxes some people will actually have to sell their homes (or at least haven't second thoughts about buying a new home or having an addition). For even working class homes in many areas that change alone in the tax law would mean hundreds or even thousands more the family would have to pay in federal taxes. That's got to hurt.
- rob 11:18 AM - [PermaLink] -
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