The Texas vs. California Example

[Grim17]

This article points out the differences between the largest red state and the largest blue state. Those differences are striking as well as very telling.

The Texas vs. California Example
By Jay Ambrose
June 13, 2011

So what example should America follow, that of deficit-slaughtering, budget-cutting, seriously limited government in Texas, which has added 730,000 jobs in the past decade, or that of regulation-happy, spend-mercilessly, owe-everything, flee-this-place-quickly California, which has lost 600,000 jobs during the same period?

While not a hard question in a nation where unemployment recently shot up over 9 percent again and is dramatically expanding its unfunded entitlement promises on top of its accumulating debt, let's continue to look at some astounding facts about Texas after noting a much-repeated analysis of how it got there.

It has no state income tax, low corporate taxes, does just enough regulating to get the job done, cares for the environment without making a fetish of it, lets its legislature meet for a relatively short period just once every two years, keeps the executive branch slim and trim and is a right-to-work state where unions don't get to grab dues through governmental coercion.

Businesses love all that, varied researchers tell us. A number point out that, in 2008, Texas accounted for fully 70 percent of all new jobs created in America, and if you think that's great, which it is, don't suppose this was a one-shot deal. Businesses are reported to rate Texas the single best state in which to operate. Give them a chance and many will pull up stakes from yonder plunder-and-abuse venue and follow the Lone Star to high profits, sharing prosperity and opportunity as they resettle.

Meanwhile, what glitters is definitely not the Golden State. California is faced with a $26 billion deficit, cripples businesses with unconscionable taxes and rules, has dreamt up environmental objectives that in effect are combat tactics against the common good and is faced with a cost of living that is only part of the reason why citizens are deserting the place like the hordes that once upon a time rushed to enjoy its splendor.

Recently, even Governor Jerry Brown described his state as "fantasy land," and he wasn't talking about movies issuing from Hollywood. He was talking about the sort of thing various publications have documented -- The Washington Examiner, The Weekly Standard, The Economist, The National Review, Newsweek and more -- such as the second highest personal state income tax in the country and public employee pensions there is no way to honor.

RealClearPolitics - The Texas vs. California Example

 

[ksu_aviator]

No, don't you know...without big government, big taxes and big regulations you'll die a horrible slow death. [/SARCASM]

 

[tessaesque]

But Texas is so horrible!!!

/sarcasm

This is why I love my state, in all seriousness. We have our issues, but overall we're pretty inviting, both for business and private citizens. We need to re-focus on education, but I don't think that means we need to throw money at a problem. We need to undo changes to our textbooks and focus on increasing standards. Other than that, I think we're doing okay over all.

 

[Eighty Deuce]

Texas vs. California got that red-blue thing going too. What a shock !!!

 

[d0gbreath]

The largest Red State is Alaska. Start over please.

 

[OscarB63]

The largest Red State is Alaska. Start over please.

really? California still loses. California is such a ****hole that people are actually moving out of Ca and into Alabama and Mississippi :lamo

 

[ksu_aviator]

really? California still loses. California is such a ****hole that people are actually moving out of Ca and into Alabama and Mississippi :lamo

And Kansas and Texas and Oklahoma and Minnesota...it goes on and on. There is a reason Texas is the fastest growing state in the country...it is more friendly to business. There are jobs here. The economy in Texas is not good, but it is far better than most other states.

The only large state economy that was marked by that level of growth was Texas, the second largest state by GDP. The Lone Star state's GDP rose 52% between 2000 and 2010.

See full article from DailyFinance: America's Fastest- and Slowest-Growing State Economies - DailyFinance

Let me rephrase that, the economy is not as good as it was in 2008 and 2009...it still isn't bad, just not at its best.

 

[Grim17]

The largest Red State is Alaska. Start over please.

I knew very well that one of you liberals would take the word "largest" and launch a lame attack on me, just to steer things away from the actual subject... It's a pathetic and sad part of your nature and what make you all so predictable.

BTW... Sorry to disappoint you pal, but by "largest" I meant population, not land mass.

 

[PeteEU]

Texas also has a larger budget deficit than most states last I looked.. and no Perry plugging his deficit by using stimulus money is not "fiscally" sound.

 

[tessaesque]

Texas also has a larger budget deficit than most states last I looked.. and no Perry plugging his deficit by using stimulus money is not "fiscally" sound.

State Budget Gaps: How Does Your State Rank?

 

[ksu_aviator]

Texas also has a larger budget deficit than most states last I looked.. and no Perry plugging his deficit by using stimulus money is not "fiscally" sound.

Not even remotely true. The Texas budget was balanced without stimulus money and without using much of the rainy day fund. Which they have because they are actually smart enough to run a surplus during the good times.

 

[winston53660]

Not even remotely true. The Texas budget was balanced without stimulus money and without using much of the rainy day fund. Which they have because they are actually smart enough to run a surplus during the good times.

LOL, last I read they tapped 3.1 billion from the 9 + billion dollar fund and also cut billions from one of the lowest ranked school systems in the country.

 

[Grim17]

Texas also has a larger budget deficit than most states last I looked.. and no Perry plugging his deficit by using stimulus money is not "fiscally" sound.

The budget deficit Texas has is about half that of Califonia's, so I fail to see you point?

Oh, wait a minute... I forgot that your point is always to attack when the facts don't fit your agenda. Carry on then.

 

[tessaesque]

LOL, last I read they tapped 3.1 billion from the 9 + billion dollar fund and also cut billions from one of the lowest ranked school systems in the country.

Money isn't the problem with our school system. Ideology is.

 

[ksu_aviator]

LOL, last I read they tapped 3.1 billion from the 9 + billion dollar fund and also cut billions from one of the lowest ranked school systems in the country.

Actually the rainy day fund is currently over $12 billion and yes they cut money from the school system. What's your point?

 

[winston53660]

Actually the rainy day fund is currently over $12 billion and yes they cut money from the school system. What's your point?

No it is not currently 12 billion. That is a projection into 2013 counting on high oil prices.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Money isn't the problem with our school system. Ideology is.

It is a sad fact that many of the illegal immigrants view education as less important than the money their children can make today.

 

[PeteEU]

Not even remotely true. The Texas budget was balanced without stimulus money and without using much of the rainy day fund. Which they have because they are actually smart enough to run a surplus during the good times.

HAHHAHHAHHAHHA

What planet are you on?

The projected Texas deficit is 27 BILLION out of a 87 billion budget.. for god sake that is worse than Greece and Ireland ..lol. And dont even try to deny it with spin and what not. It is a matter of public record and if you dont believe me,... google Texas state budget deficit... plenty of material out there.

How do they deal with it? CUT CUT CUT CUT.. oh we have wildfires burning half the state.. who needs fire fighters to deal with it in the future.. we got the feds!!! And screw our schools.. they already some of the worst in the nation so why not cut that away too? You already rank LAST in a ranking of over all State spending, so any cuts that are made are extremely painful to those people effected... not to mention the safety of the citizens... not like the drought and hazardous conditions will go away over night.

 

[tessaesque]

Actually the rainy day fund is currently over $12 billion and yes they cut money from the school system. What's your point?

I get it. Cutting money from education is a huge no-no. Kind of like cutting entitlements. Nobody looks at the bigger issues: methodology, ideology, expectations, standards, goals for implementing standards, etc. There have been 5 major changes to how education works in the country since the 1990s, yet the degree plan for an educator in Texas has been largely unchanged, for example.

 

[ksu_aviator]

No it is not currently 12 billion. That is a projection into 2013 counting on high oil prices.

The projection is to have $9.4 billion in 2013, either way...even after the longest recession in the history of the USA, Texas still has money in savings. California didn't even have that during the longest period of prosperity in the history of the USA.

 

[tessaesque]

HAHHAHHAHHAHHA

What planet are you on?

The projected Texas deficit is 27 BILLION out of a 87 billion budget.. for god sake that is worse than Greece and Ireland ..lol. And dont even try to deny it with spin and what not. It is a matter of public record and if you dont believe me,... google Texas state budget deficit... plenty of material out there.

How do they deal with it? CUT CUT CUT CUT.. oh we have wildfires burning half the state.. who needs fire fighters to deal with it in the future.. we got the feds!!! And screw our schools.. they already some of the worst in the nation so why not cut that away too? You already rank LAST in a ranking of over all State spending, so any cuts that are made are extremely painful to those people effected... not to mention the safety of the citizens... not like the drought and hazardous conditions will go away over night.

Please link to this.

 

[winston53660]

The projection is to have $9.4 billion in 2013, either way...even after the longest recession in the history of the USA, Texas still has money in savings. California didn't even have that during the longest period of prosperity in the history of the USA.

Great and what good it when we have one of the crappiest if not the crappiest school system in the nation?

 

[ksu_aviator]

I get it. Cutting money from education is a huge no-no. Kind of like cutting entitlements. Nobody looks at the bigger issues: methodology, ideology, expectations, standards, goals for implementing standards, etc. There have been 5 major changes to how education works in the country since the 1990s, yet the degree plan for an educator in Texas has been largely unchanged, for example.

The biggest problem is in the attitude of the parents. I did some charitable work for a school in Fort Worth. This school was not doing well. We went to the concert the kids put on (we gave the kids new instruments) to be recognized for our contribution. During the entire concert the parents were talking, phones were ringing, people were laughing...it was so sad. These kids got up on stage to showcase what they learned and their own parents acted as though it was pointless. Now what do you think those kids learned that day?

 

[digsbe]

Overall I would have to say that Texas has a much better state government than California. Although neither is perfect.

 

[tessaesque]

Great and what good it when we have one of the crappiest if not the crappiest school system in the nation?

Again, money isn't the solution to that problem. The residents of Texas are a large part of this issue. They elect idiots who propose dumbed-down, revisionist versions of social studies, history, and science. They elect school boards who find assholes like Hinijosa, who spent his entire tenure in Dallas looking for a better paying position elsewhere (even though he made almost $350k/year with no performance/based standards).