TEXAS: Dominating the Country As Usual In Being Almost Recession-Proof.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Well it is good to imagine that having a good business climate means nothing to the average person but then again it is those businesses that give jobs out and even contributes to the tax base in many other ways and has to use the services in the area it is based in. They also have to use other businesses in the area for their own use to stay in business and that means jobs for others.

Now if that business has a choice of being somewhere that it is taxed at 90 percent or zero percent then where is it going to think about operating? Now couple that with other factors like quality of life, infrastructure, education, climate and so on. Being at the top or near the top in many areas is very attractive to businesses so any state can't just try to work on one area to improve their odds at attracting businesses but need to work with others to try on many areas to make it all look better.

[Dan J 277]

Well it is good to imagine that having a good business climate means nothing to the average person but then again it is those businesses that give jobs out and even contributes to the tax base in many other ways and has to use the services in the area it is based in. They also have to use other businesses in the area for their own use to stay in business and that means jobs for others.

Now if that business has a choice of being somewhere that it is taxed at 90 percent or zero percent then where is it going to think about operating? Now couple that with other factors like quality of life, infrastructure, education, climate and so on. Being at the top or near the top in many areas is very attractive to businesses so any state can't just try to work on one area to improve their odds at attracting businesses but need to work with others to try on many areas to make it all look better.

Taxes are only a single factor out of many which would drive a company to locate in one place or another.

Even with the state low taxes, it doesn't benefit the average person very much. Income per capita are well below the national average. Granted in some places the cost of living would be pretty low.

[Texanadian 10]

Taxes are only a single factor out of many which would drive a company to locate in one place or another.

Even with the state low taxes, it doesn't benefit the average person very much. Income per capita are well below the national average. Granted in some places the cost of living would be pretty low.

I have no doubt that New York City has higher wages per capita than Dallas or Houston does. But the costs to live in NYC (and LA too) far outstrip the costs to live in TX. The side benefit of living in a low cost state is that your federal taxes are lower at the same standard of living as a more expensive place in the north-east.

[Dan J 277]

I have no doubt that New York City has higher wages per capita than Dallas or Houston does. But the costs to live in NYC (and LA too) far outstrip the costs to live in TX. The side benefit of living in a low cost state is that your federal taxes are lower at the same standard of living as a more expensive place in the north-east.

Certain things like housing, transportation and food costs do vary and are much cheaper in Texas for the most part. But most goods purchased in a store are the same price in Texas as they are in NYC. A washing machine for home depot is still going to cost the same, but the cost is less significant for a new yorker than a Texan.

[mawilson 2,133]

So why is the average Australian and Canadian are worth more than 3 Texans [combined]?

Average weekly wage in Texas: $845 (see http://www.bls.gov/ro6/fax/qcew_tx.htm )

Average weekly wage in Canada: $795 (CAN $823.53 - see http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/LABR79-eng.htm )

Average weekly earnings in Australia: $847 (AUD $969.40 - see http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6302.0 )

Edited June 27, 2010 by mawilson

[mawilson 2,133]

[*] The last number (Australia) shows the average earnings of all employees - full- and part-time - so may not be the same as the Texan and Canadian numbers. Still, the same ballpark.

[Heracles 417]

Average weekly wage in Texas: $845 (see http://www.bls.gov/ro6/fax/qcew_tx.htm )

Average weekly wage in Canada: $795 (CAN $823.53 - see http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/LABR79-eng.htm )

Average weekly earnings in Australia: $847 (AUD $969.40 - see http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6302.0 )

I think you know perfectly well that weekly earnings does not equate to wealth, otherwise everyone in NYC would be rich. The measure of wealth occurs at the middle class level.

Low taxes are good for businesses but mean jack ###### for everyone else. What matters for the remaining 90% is their salary and quality of life.

[mendeleev 68]

I remember well -- I lived in Texas at the time -- the S&L crisis of the late 1980s, a small financial crisis brought to this country by irresponsible S&L's, more in Texas (and Oklahoma) than anywhere else, that took advantage of Reagan-era deregulation to take money intended to be used for staid, fixed-term, fixed-rate home mortgages but instead lent out in riskier business real estate ventures. The real estate markets took a hit, and hundreds of S&L's -- again mostly in Texas and Oklahoma -- went insolvent. Those Texan S&L account holders were bailed out by the Federal government, of course.

The S&L crisis was a main contributing cause to the 1990-1991 recession. I left Texas during the height of the crisis, taking a job up north. I went to Oklahoma in 1994 and had the pleasant experience(for me) of buying a home and seeing the seller write a check to his bank at closing because I was able to buy it for a song, because of still-depressed prices brought on by that Texan recession.

Texans like to swagger now because they mostly missed the current bullet -- but boy did they have their hands out for the federal handout 20 years ago!

Edited June 28, 2010 by novotul

[john & jean 37]

I think you know perfectly well that weekly earnings does not equate to wealth, otherwise everyone in NYC would be rich. The measure of wealth occurs at the middle class level.

Low taxes are good for businesses but mean jack ###### for everyone else. What matters for the remaining 90% is their salary and quality of life.

so, you are moving to Texas, or going back to Aussie land??

[Heracles 417]

so, you are moving to Texas, or going back to Aussie land??

It depends, if I want to be in a robust [well paying] economy that offers a super high quality of life, I will move to Aussie land.

If I want grain fed steaks pumped full of steroids and cheap housing, I will move to Texas.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Booyah!

[luckytxn 2,265]

Lets see. Texas a single state out strips a whole country name of Aussieville. In all facets of anything that can be measured a single state of this union beats a whole second rate country of Australia. Hell even a debt ridden state of California could outrank that country.

Been reading lately about your so called great country and there is talk of a big reckoning coming. The only thing that is stopping OZ from falling is China and better not hope they don't have a hiccup. If they do the US will come and save your lazy sorry asses...again. Seems not all is so rosy down under. Been down that way and that quality of life is not there. I was asked to stay but said no way. I need a real country and not a wanna bee country that is schizo.

Canada seems to be having probs too. Should be temporary though as their probs are tied to us as usual since they are the little sister that needs us to keep them afloat.

[mendeleev 68]

Canada seems to be having probs too. Should be temporary though as their probs are tied to us as usual since they are the little sister that needs us to keep them afloat.

Canadian banks fared better in this financial crisis than those of any G7 country. Banks in the USA fared the worst, which only makes sense since they created the crisis in the first place. Seems like the little sister does just fine, and could teach the big -- what? -- sister, gorilla, brother, whatever -- a thing or two about how to run a responsible banking system.

Edited June 28, 2010 by novotul

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I have no doubt that New York City has higher wages per capita than Dallas or Houston does. But the costs to live in NYC (and LA too) far outstrip the costs to live in TX. The side benefit of living in a low cost state is that your federal taxes are lower at the same standard of living as a more expensive place in the north-east.

Another aside--even the best areas of NYC are diriter than West Jane neighbourhood of Toronto (from one who vitriolically hates Canada's largest city) where Dallas and Houston are far cleaner than Calgary's Inglewood (dirtiest area in Calgary, still cleaner than any part of Pigtown).

[Texanadian 10]

From another board, there was a question about moving to New York and cost of living.

I looked at a 1br rental... it was $1300 and when I got there, it turned out to be section 8. the lowest priced seem to be $1,400/month for a ****ty apt.

One of the people who answered said the following.

First of all, toss out the idea of living on your own. The rent range you're quoting realistically is in Bushwick, which is a very rough neighborhood.

I currently have three roommates in Brooklyn, two bedrooms for 1800 - a steal in NYC. In exchange or that, we get an apartment building that is infested with mice (all food must be put in Tupperware to protect it) and water controls that don't work in the shower.

It's the little things about NYC that eat you to death financially. No apartments, not even new construction, have central heat and air. So plan on paying higher (sometimes significantly higher) utility bills for similar living conditions. You're not going to get a washer and drier for under 2k a month, so factor in the expense of having to go to the laundromat regularly (I drop off - who has the time for that #%$?

Gas is 50 cents a gallon higher than anywhere else I've been except for Hawaii. Sales tax is high. Not only is there a New York State sales tax, but there is a New York City income tax that will gobble 200 a month or more from you.

I would say over half of all vendors in NYC do not accept credit cards, so you're constantly losing two bucks here and there for ATM fees. Car insurance is significantly higher here. And I gotta tell ya -- two cars in NYC? You realize you'll be parking on the street, right? And that two days of the week you won't be able to park on a particular side of the street (alternates) without a $150 ticket.

Similarly, expect your car to be broken into more than once. You can mitigate the risk of this by making sure that nothing, not even a gum wrapper, is visible inside. A club installed on your wheel also helps. People can and will tap, dent, and scratch your bumpers regularly if not the sides. New Yorkers think this is normal and "no big deal."

Texanadian: I know the person who wrote the above. He moved to NYC from Austin, TX. I can't even imagine how frustrating the above must be compared to living in Austin. This is his first time paying state income tax nevermind city income tax. And that rent would get you an extremely large home in TX. The rest of it would be annoying too.

I agree on Texas being a clean state. The people here take their trash seriously. "Don't Mess With Texas" is the state anti-litter slogan.

[sly_wolf 199]

I still wish I could move to Hawaii