California -- America's first failed state?

The west coast has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a french bikini on hawaii island
Dolls by a palm tree in the sand

I been all around this great big world
And I seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldnt wait to get back in the states
Back to the cutest girls in the world

I wish they all could be california
I wish they all could be california
I wish they all could be california girls

 

Under the circumstances, I think the lyrics to Dwight Yoakam's "The Late Great Golden State" would be more appropriate.

 

California's idea of a failing housing market is a house that was bought for $850K selling for $700K.

Detroit's idea of a failing housing market is the median price of homes being $6K.

 

You can check out any time you like ....

 

and I will clarify: It's 10th overall, but 18th by per capita income.


http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/jtf/JTF_TaxBurdenJTF.pdf

 

Hmm.
51st personal income tax rates
http://sba.ca.gov/Cost%20of%20Regulation%20Study%20-%20Final.pdf

42nd in corporate income tax rates
http://sba.ca.gov/Cost%20of%20Regulation%20Study%20-%20Final.pdf

13th in ranking of state and local tax rates
http://sba.ca.gov/Cost%20of%20Regulation%20Study%20-%20Final.pdf

51st in state gas taxes
http://sba.ca.gov/Cost%20of%20Regulation%20Study%20-%20Final.pdf

yet, by your study, 10th overall per capita tax burden.

A dislocation of facts, for sure.

How can a state with the highest income tax rates, highest gas taxes, and a close to 10% sales tax have the 10th overall?


My guess is because a certain percentage people pay little to no taxes. So the "per capita" numbers are skewed.

The tax burden for the people who actually pay taxes (middle, upper class, business owners) is extraordinary. Name another state with a 9.3% state personal income tax at $47k.

 

Also, that Public Policy report linked lists the sales tax rate as 7.25%. That's as dated as the Macarena.

 

Sales tax is 9% where I live.

 

Sucks to be you. Everyone else is only 15 minutes away.

Seriously, I love California. I'd live there if I could afford it.

 

The property taxes are way too low. So some things (like prisons) are getting funded and some things (like schools) aren't.

 

Mine is 9.75% - as is most of LA county, the most populous county in the country.

Inglewood is 10.25%.

10.75% sales tax rate in Pico Rivera and South Gate.

 

They aren't homeowners, but I know plenty of people who live just fine in the Los Angeles area who make less than 60k a year and don't have bad commutes.

Also, I've spent time in both SoCal and NYC and I'll take the women in NYC every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I prefer beautiful brunettes over fake looking blondes every time.

Except for SF, I wouldn't move back to California if I was given an equal opportunity between somewhere out there and somewhere on the East Coast.