by
Carl Hampton
11/07/2006
Believe it or not, we're being
pick-pocketed by the government! Should that
really come as such a shock! For every
dollar that we (the tax paying public) spent
in 2004, 79 cents went back to the state in
spending. In other words, there was a $51
billion shortfall, which according to the
California Institute of Policy Research, is
the largest in the nation.
Here is how we are being pick-pocketed.
States like Alabama, Virginia, and Maryland
actually get more back than they put in. And
how does that work? The government takes
money from California taxes and reroutes it
to other states, which also accounts for
federal salaries and highways.
The November ballot for this year proposes a
$37 billion state bond that would go towards
highways, parks, schools, as well as a
number of other things. It seems like a fair
deal so long as our wise and wonderful
leaders in Washington D.C. distributes the
money fairly. There are those who think our
(California) taxes should be going towards
other issues within the state. Democratic
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez feels that
President Bush is using this great state of
ours like an ATM -- we pay it in and he
takes it out. Our taxes should actually be
redirected to health care, education, and
homeland security. All of which are very
important issues that need to be dealt with
within California. Nuñez believes that if
the funds are there, then California should
get what it is owed and it would go a long
way towards putting California's fiscal
situation back on track.
As of now, California has the largest
deficit in the U.S. in total dollars. Are
there unfair practices in force here? In
Washington D.C., when referring to
California, the acronym “ABC” is used:
“Anywhere But California”. This is where
tax politics start to get a little
complicated. California was short-changed
when funding for the military was trumped by
what was spent on the State defense and the
aerospace industry. A lot of our funding is
based on formulas that don't work in our
favor.
Californians are younger than the average
age in other states which means California
brings in a higher income. California has
become a donor state for Social Security but
is short on welfare funding. Either way we
(Californians) are in a hole. California
Democrats Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer
have a few ideas of their own. They believe
that there could be a change in the way
California's taxes are being dispersed if
Democrats took control of one or both of the
houses in the November election. They have
also said that they themselves should be
able to figure out a way to squeeze a dollar
or two out of their colleagues and then get
the States Congressional Delegation to
support them.
Have an opinion or a question you would like
me to answer, then write me!
http://www.CarlHampton.com
