2/12/2006

Local taxes and how people vote

This chart shows the breakdown by U.S. state of the local tax burden. Polipundit makes the point that there is a correlation between low taxes and areas where Geroge W. Bush did well in the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004.

Perhaps the most surprising states are Colorado and Wyoming, both in the top 15.

[Hat tip: Polipundit]

4 comments:

moleboy said...

whats also interesting is that the states that are constantly saying how they should get to decide how their money is spent...the 'heartland'...are the ones paying the fewest taxes.
Those who pay the most, surprisingly, tend to be most liberal.
So, we have to ask, if people stopped paying taxes, where do you think the most suffering would occur?
Massachusetts? California?
Nope.
Can you say 'farm state'?

Antoine Clarke said...

Your point about agricultural subsidies makes sense.

However, my understanding of the chart is that it cover local taxes, which presumably are spent by local politicians. Ultimately, the people of Californian or Massachusetts can vote who they like to control spending or send it into orbit.

If my site has a "Conservative feel to it", that may have something to do with the grotesque incompetence of the US Democratic Party to win elections. I have similar views about the UK Conservative Party, which is even more incompetent than the Democrats at the moment.

moleboy said...

I frickin' hate farm subsidies.
I don't understand very much about economics, so I tend to keep my opinions to themselves (lest they be taken as worthwhile...)
But farm subsidies are just a lie based on the idea that, somehow, farmers are more pure of heart and spirit than others.
I have no problem with plans to help farmers. But:
1) farm subsidies don't work. the money doesn't tend to get to the small farmers
2) even if they did what was intended, they don't really solve the problem which is small farms are not financially stable, and mega-farms produce questionable quality product.

It seems to me that small farms should be phased out over a generation, farming families and communities given time, guidance, and aid to to other industries, mega-farms should be forced to comply with health standards.
problem solved.

Antoine Clarke said...

The above post is off-topic for this blog. However, it is a response to something I wrote, so I'm leaving it.

Any further comments about farming will not be published, unless it has a clear connection to local taxes.