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05/18/26 8:18:08pm [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4], 5 ]
Subject: welfare states


Author:
pjk
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Date Posted: 11/ 9/04 3:51:08pm
 Enjoyed the jokes, krz.

I found the following link off one of the liberal blogs:

http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxingspending.html

Kudos to New Mex - you're number 1!

I've heard of these numbers but never knew where to find them. Scroll down to the table. I suspected that wealthy "blue" states were subsidizing welfare "red states, but never knew the details. At a glance, it seems that, by and large, the blue states are receiving less and the red states more. Perhaps I'm being unfair, but it seems most of the states that are double digit pro-bush are the ones who are most dependent on the hardwork of the blue staters. Or put it this way, there is not one, not one, double digit pro-bush state that compares to a state like New Jersey or Illinois. Perhaps the number crunchers out there can refute or support the following: the greater the support for Bush, the more likely to be a welfare state.

I don't think it scores points for democrats or against republicans. I think it's relevant only in so far that "red state" republicans who want to eliminate government programs that help the disadvantaged need to look themselves in the mirror first. It's only relevant in respect to those who want to criticize big government yet are the ones who benefit most from that government. Maybe those wealthy liberal elites and the voters who vote for them aren't as bad as they are made out (by rightwing radio) to be after all.

I glanced quickly at the recent health care thread (I think is) about targeting taxes at specific groups. I have two things to say: 1) there are probably instances where this is merited; 2) it would have to be a good reason to merit it and it should be avoided. If we begin to try to just tax people on what they personally use or benefit from, I think we lose two things: 1) a sense of shared destiny and communal responsability and ; 2) a tax code nightmare even worse than the one we currently have (that favors those who can pay for legislation). Take roads for example - what if you don't own a car? Should you get a refund for the portion of your taxes that aren't used for road building, maintenance, license bureaus, etc. What if you never need the fire department to come to your house - should you get a refund when you move to another city or state? To me it seems the desire to parse out taxes according to use is jarringly out of place in a great civilization or society - it seems petty and shortsighted. Pennywise/pound foolish in both a monetary and a spiritual sense.

Anyway - I think there is little to be gained for liberals touting the fact that red states are more or less sucking at the teats of blue states. Aren't we red white and blue staters first?
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Replies:
Subject Author Date
Re: America's moral bedrockpjk11/10/04 5:35:05am
Re: welfare statesgeo11/10/04 8:37:24am
welfare states give mostpa11/10/04 11:53:11am
red and blue is mostly purplepa11/10/04 8:19:02pm

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