Not Enough Babies?

[newbury]

It could be that the lions share of the services purchased have little to nothing to show?

With regard to "government spending $$$" the services purchased gave someone money to pay taxes.

He said a man has no right to contemplate marriage before he has the means to support a family.

Families should not be created by mistake or relying on others to pay for them. This should be drummed into everyone in early education, starting as soon as they learn to eat.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I have worked around/with many many Mexicans; both legal and illegal; and most were never planning on staying here forever. Lot of them still sent money home to wife/Sancho (if you know, you know ; and had a specific goal; start a small business, build a house; basically the American dream, exported back home. Now, in my experience, the 2nd generation, born here, are a different group, culturally and work ethics. I've also worked around a pretty good number of eastern Europeans, who generally were here for good; some Nigereans, some Indians, Caribbeans;

I think a big change from earlier immigrants, is, it is Much easier to keep a connection with the old country (if they want). It used to be a one way trip; never hear from the family/friends in the old world; now, it's a $250 plane ticket home for 3 weeks.

There is also a large Myth in other parts of the world that the US is the land of milk and honey. Come here, make 10 years of income in a year and go home rich. Then they get hit with the reality of barely making it. If you go to many parts of the world, all they see of the US is TV, movies, and YouTube stars, who have 3 lambos, a beach mansion, and they think that is the norm.

I agree with most of the above except the plane ticket, maybe to Mexico though. We paid over $8K and that only gets us to Manila. Granted, if we had bought them 6 months ago we probably could have saved 2 or 3k.

My wife, being the oldest daughter, has sent a lot of money to her folks. When I met her she was making about $200 per month working as a promotional girl and living in Mindanao at 21 years of age. She was sending $100/month back to mama and pappa in N. Samar. When I proposed it was agreed that I would make up that $100 per month until she got a job in the US. That lasted maybe 2 years. Now she sends money for medicine or home improvement. Her folk's house is WAY nicer than ours now. It had a dirt floor and thatched roof when I met her.

You can make 10 years of income in 1 year here compared to Philippines when comparing job to job, profession to profession.

 

[paulsharvey]

"You can make 10 years of income in 1 year here compared to Philippines when comparing job to job, profession to profession."

Yep, but what people miss is they are used to say, $8000/year; come up/over here, and with OT, make $60k/year; and still struggle to send $8k/year home; life is expensive here.

One major aspect that casual observers miss; a lot of guys come up with Zero skill, learn a skill and make good money. If they had that same skill, say block Mason, that does pay a livable wage in Mex; they just don't really get the opportunity to advance/skill up as much down there.

Also, careful who you listen too; because times have changed a lot in the 2nd world. I know Americans that worked in Nrth Mex in 1980s, and in a specific example; they needed to cut a large industrial roll up door opening into an 8-12" cast in place concrete wall (tilt up maybe?); Back then, they lined 5 guys up on the left, 5 guys on the right; and one guy held a chisel and the next guy went to town with sledge hammer, until he couldn't anymore, then he held the chisel and the next guy grabbed the sledge. That's not how it is anymore; back then, labor was dirt cheap; now it's better to rent a saw and hydralic hammer on a mini.

They ain't toting dirt in baskets on their heads; and it's certainly not 3rd world there anymore.

 

[paulsharvey]

If I was a betting man; I would bet on Vietnam, Phillipeans, Mexico, Brazil, Iran (if sanctions ever go away); rising rapidly, as they all have large, well educated (comparatively), relatively youngish populations.

Germany, Japan, South Korea, and some others have probably topped out there potential; the US is in better place, and I really think we still got about 20 years of life left in this country, before we really have to pay the piper.

 

[ultrarunner]

By chance I met 4 people from the Philippines in the checkout line… turns out they are all employed by the school district under contract teaching English and Science.

The 4 share a two bedroom apartment near the school where they work… no car.

They are trying to max savings for their return home…

Same story… a two bedroom apartment they pay 2k here would by $200 there but the money earned outshines anything at home.

Never thought we would import English public school teachers…

 

[NoTrespassing]

By chance I met 4 people from the Philippines in the checkout line… turns out they are all employed by the school district under contract teaching English and Science.

The 4 share a two bedroom apartment near the school where they work… no car.

They are trying to max savings for their return home…

Same story… a two bedroom apartment they pay 2k here would by $200 there but the money earned outshines anything at home.

Never thought we would import English public school teachers…

Obviously, the English-speaking population or people qualified or choosing to teach English in the US is dropping. The cost of living in the above situation is quite low compared to the average American's. If they left a spouse and kids behind, they are the beneficiaries of the sacrifice the parent is making. That's a very typical scenario. Two of my wife's brothers see their kids once per year for about 4 weeks.

 

[masscity]

For 2023, revenue 4.4 trillion, spending 6.1 trillion and debt 34 trillion.

Of course the best way to fix this problem is to cut taxes.

 

[ultrarunner]

Would it depend on specifics…

California raises taxes and well to do friends and several businesses I know decided enough and left the State…

No State Income Tax State vs a High State Income Tax State like California and New York is all the reason some need…

 

[jyoutz]

Would it depend on specifics…

California raises taxes and well to do friends and several businesses I know decided enough and left the State…

No State Income Tax State vs a High State Income Tax State like California and New York is all the reason some need…

Some of the no income tax states I’m familiar with just play a shell game. No personal income tax, but high sales and property taxes and lots of user fees.

 

[ultrarunner]

I may be wrong but California seems King of the Hill in user fees with a boatload of new in the wings.

I know several that retired to Nevada from California because they did not want to die in California and 2 are CPA’s with spread sheets showing estates benefiting greatly.

 

[paulsharvey]

Some of the no income tax states I’m familiar with just play a shell game. No personal income tax, but high sales and property taxes and lots of user fees.

None of us like taxes; but I think most people are willing to accept them If you see them being spent on upgrading/maintaining infrastructure. Sure, we all grumble and complain, but we accept it. It's when you see it clearly being dumped on ridiculous stuff like homeless health programs, environmental parks, or to 2 lane an existing 4 lane road, to encourage riding bikes to work...

BTW public spending has waste in every sector you can imagine; including the 'sacred' parts, like law enforcement and education. Schools will completely swap 'systems' because a consultant say this if you buy this new program your test scores will go up. Has math changed that much that we need to change/upgrade programs ever 2 years?

I personally prefer to live in a lower tax, lower public service county; but I will admit, I do like trash collection (we do have that, but some neighboring counties do not offer trash pick for rural residents). Part of that is; you can't expect to have the County come deal with stray dogs, or expect monthly litter pick up on roads.

So; my county has pretty poorly rated schools; but next county east has the highest rated schools in FLa. Was driving though the north end (wealthier end) of that county at like 2;30pm on a Friday for work; and every intersection within like 2 miles of any school had 4 crossing guards. 4... at signalized intersections, with cross walks and all.... Just in a 5 mile section of road, that was probably close to 16-20 'Public Service Assistants' each with a cop car.

 

[jyoutz]

I may be wrong but California seems King of the Hill in user fees with a boatload of new in the wings.

I know several that retired to Nevada from California because they did not want to die in California and 2 are CPA’s with spread sheets showing estates benefiting greatly.

I have a son who lives in one of the no income tax states. He is buying a small house on a small subdivision lot. His property taxes are 6 times what I pay for my 3300 square foot house, 2400 square foot barn and 20 acres. His auto registration on a 2015 F-150 is 5 times what I pay for my Dodge 2500. There is no free lunch in the no tax states.

 

[paulsharvey]

I have a son who lives in one of the no income tax states. He is buying a small house on a small subdivision lot. His property taxes are 6 times what I pay for my 3300 square foot house, 2400 square foot barn and 20 acres. His auto registration on a 2015 F-150 is 5 times what I pay for my Dodge 2500. There is no free lunch in the no tax states.

Property tax of close to 1.8% the appraised value per year; tags about $110/year (new tags are close to $400), here in FLa. The property taxes can be killer on a paid for, large, older home.

Tennessee has what, 9.75% sales tax?

The flip side; you could be in NJ/NY/Cali, and pay high sales tax, high property tax, and a high income tax...

 

[ultrarunner]

Property tax of close to 1.8% the appraised value per year; tags about $110/year (new tags are close to $400), here in FLa. The property taxes can be killer on a paid for, large, older home.

Tennessee has what, 9.75% sales tax?

The flip side; you could be in NJ/NY/Cali, and pay high sales tax, high property tax, and a high income tax...

Thinking along those lines in that some states have the trifecta when it comes to taxes...

 

[Torvy]

Some of the no income tax states I’m familiar with just play a shell game. No personal income tax, but high sales and property taxes and lots of user fees.

That info is all publicly available and largely false.

Most states with high income Taxes also have high sales and/or property taxes (property is tough to compare because valuation is as important as rate).

I've personally lived (as an adult) in 3 states with no income tax and 2 with income Taxes. More states are dumping the income tax. It used to be just 5, TX, SD NV, WA and FL. AK, WY and TN have also dropped income Taxes. Many others have lowered rates.

 

[jyoutz]

That info is all publicly available and largely false.

Most states with high income Taxes also have high sales and/or property taxes (property is tough to compare because valuation is as important as rate).

I've personally lived (as an adult) in 3 states with no income tax and 2 with income Taxes. More states are dumping the income tax. It used to be just 5, TX, SD NV, WA and FL. AK, WY and TN have also dropped income Taxes. Many others have lowered rates.

I didn’t say every state. I was comparing where my son lives to my taxes. The comparison I made was a bit overstated, but the difference is still striking. My property taxes are $2900 annually, his is over $10K. My vehicle registration is $63, his is over $400. I could go on with the user fees he pays, but those examples will suffice. But he pays no state income taxes. There are a few states on your list that have been income tax free due to state royalties on resources that aren’t going to be there in the near future. It will be interesting to see how they respond to those coming changes. What taxes and fees will have to increase or services decreased? There are also some no income tax states that will continue to do well with the current model. Most of those are high population states that generate lots of sales taxes.

 

[plowhog]

His property taxes are 6 times what I pay for my 3300 square foot house, 2400 square foot barn and 20 acres. His auto registration on a 2015 F-150 is 5 times what I pay for my Dodge 2500.

Anecdotal information like this is notoriously difficult to square up. So many factors can influence the numbers. As simple as "is his vehicle newer and more valuable than yours?" Which would explain at least some difference in registration cost.

The County you are in has perhaps the lowest property tax rate in the entire nation-- .56 percent of value. Good for you! National average is about 1 percent. So pretty much anywhere else, your son's property tax would be about double, but not six times as much.

"6 times" higher property tax, all other things being equal, would be a property tax rate of over 3%. I've never heard of that. So- is your home purchase from long ago with a lower valuation compared to your son's more recently purchased home with a higher value? Does his property taxes included bonds, special assessments, HOA fees, or anything similar whereas yours does not? If any of those things exist it's not really a fair comparison.

After you equalize things out, the differences will likely shrink, maybe by a lot. Then you have to factor in the amount of income tax savings your son enjoys not having to pay-- presuming he is employed and being paid.

I moved from a high tax State (CA) to a no income tax State (NV) more than 10 years ago. Our DMV fees are roughly the same, also property tax rates roughly the same, maybe slightly higher in NV due to Prop 13 in CA. But the savings of income taxes not paid far overwhelms all the other numbers, making it less costly here.

 

[plowhog]

There are also some no income tax states that will continue to do well with the current model.

In Nevada much of the taxation is on gaming. Seems a "good bet" that will continue.

 

[paulsharvey]

In Florida, your property taxes could be close to 3%; if your county/school board/city all have the max of 10 mils, and if you don't qualify for any of the homestead/save our home ammendments (ie not your primary residence).

This has been discussed before; property tax and all; each and every state has to bring in revenue to operate. Now, the total state tax burden varies wildly. Also, there are unique ways they can do it, that don't affect residents as bad; Hotel tax; out of state hunting licensees, ect. Georgia for instance, instate fishing/hunting combo $150; out of state $400; Colorado, it gets weird, but depending on what you get, it could be over $3000 for out of state. Depending on how toll roads are set up, that's essentially a tax.

 

[Hay Dude]

Anecdotal information like this is notoriously difficult to square up. So many factors can influence the numbers. As simple as "is his vehicle newer and more valuable than yours?" Which would explain at least some difference in registration cost.

The County you are in has perhaps the lowest property tax rate in the entire nation-- .56 percent of value. Good for you! National average is about 1 percent. So pretty much anywhere else, your son's property tax would be about double, but not six times as much.

"6 times" higher property tax, all other things being equal, would be a property tax rate of over 3%. I've never heard of that. So- is your home purchase from long ago with a lower valuation compared to your son's more recently purchased home with a higher value? Does his property taxes included bonds, special assessments, HOA fees, or anything similar whereas yours does not? If any of those things exist it's not really a fair comparison.

After you equalize things out, the differences will likely shrink, maybe by a lot. Then you have to factor in the amount of income tax savings your son enjoys not having to pay-- presuming he is employed and being paid.

I moved from a high tax State (CA) to a no income tax State (NV) more than 10 years ago. Our DMV fees are roughly the same, also property tax rates roughly the same, maybe slightly higher in NV due to Prop 13 in CA. But the savings of income taxes not paid far overwhelms all the other numbers, making it less costly here.

Gubmit workers rely on confiscation of peoples incomes to pay their salaries, so the aforementioned actually like taxes. Higher taxes mean higher salaries, more benefits, higher pension multipliers, and more gubmit workers that also vote the same way.

“No joke”.