Have I said enough how I love this state? I do. Here’s a tour-de-force article as to exactly why:
Massachusetts is the best state in the union. – Slate Magazine.
So, what of the charge that good outcomes result from high incomes? Lewis says “you might turn the question on its head” and ask, instead, why is Massachusetts so rich? “Massachusetts and others at top of the index tend to make significant public and private investments in the ingredients of well-being,” explains Lewis. Ultimately, these investments pay off both socially and economically. …
[H]igh income is no guarantee of good social outcomes and strong investments in people clearly haven’t punished one of our wealthiest and most globally competitive state economies. In fact, if America wants to be a healthy, smart, rich, globalized, high-tech powerhouse, we arguably have no better model than Massachusetts.
You’ll notice that this article is chockful of empirical data, not just a bunch of assertions about how to create a good life. We’ve done it. If you care about a.) The economy, b.) education, c.) health, then we’re doing relatively well here. Not perfect, nothing to be complacent about. But certainly something to point to, to show that public policy taken seriously, and a can-do attitude from policymakers and private citizens, does indeed make a difference.
As a friend said, “Haters gonna hate.” Never mind them.
Discuss
18 Comments . Leave a comment below.looks good, even with the information from The Tax Foundation (which has a project protesting America’s high corporate tax rate).
They have also been criticized for their methodology by the CBPP:
Massachusetts tax rate looks even lower when looked at through the lens of state and local taxes as a share of personal income. There we rank 33rd.
out of state over the last several months, and have been struck at how our 6.25% sales tax looks like a bargain compared to other states that are politically much more “conservative.” Tennessee, for example, has a 7% sales tax and a 6% income tax – both higher than “Taxachusetts.”
For the record, yes, I still think that once MA’s economy is in solid shape, the sales tax should be returned to 5%. That time may be soon approaching. But please, folks, don’t pretend that we’re a high-tax state. We’re not.
…in education, in infrastructure, etc, is that it creates economic growth, which itself brings more revenues, which you can then invest back into education, infrastructure, etc. It’s part of the reason why our downturn wasn’t so steep and we’ve come back quicker.
It’s a self-propelling engine that eventually, you wind up not being “top o’ the tax rates” but somewhere in the middle, with a great economy. But it requires maintenance – we saw in the early 2000′s, under Mitty, that we were heading in the wrong direction with regards to some of the outcome stats. We turned it around in 2006 just in time, IMHO. (THANK YOU GOVERNOR PATRICK!)
Salaries, wages, Social Security, IRAs and pension income are not taxed in TN. There is, however, a 6% tax levied on stock dividends and interest from bonds and other obligations. The first $1,250 in taxable income received by a single filer is exempt ($2,500 for joint filers).
So TN taxes the “job creators,” but not everyone else. Interesting. A model you’d support?
Or Illinois which has a 10.25% sales tax on everything or out of Cook County where it’s still 8%. And this is a state with a LOT more conservatives as soon as you leave Chicago city limits. My gf packs an empty bag whenever she comes to visit me because of the ‘bargain tax free’ shopping in MA! Take that New Hampshire!
but there are plenty of places where we could continue to invest in the things that make Massachusetts successful, including public transit [in and outside of Boston metro], energy efficiency, UMass, mo’better justice in our court system, etc.
It’s your birthday!
Well OK maybe not but it should be!
You might want to take a look at how MA leads the way for the area in workers earning minimum wage or less and this doesn’t take into account the many, I’m sure, that make $8.25 + who aren’t included in these numbers. Also, the cost of living hasn’t been considered here.
and consider the cost of living.
In the meantime, the highest share of minimum wage workers of any state is Texas, where 9.5 percent of the hourly workers were paid at or below the minimum wage, far above the rate of 1.9 percent the chart shows for Massachusetts. And the minimum wage in Texas is the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which is only as high as it is because of the work of Ted Kennedy.
I mention all this because last week the state GOP delegation was using a survey of CEO’s that rated Texas (surprise!) as the best state “to do business” in, as a way of criticizing the business climate here.
that living in Mass is living the good life. And for those who are, that is terrific and awesome and I am really happy for you. But until I see that same celebration happening for many, many people who work multiple jobs just trying to meet their basic needs, or who have not enough work to do the same, I’m going to refrain from jumping for joy. So does this make me a hater?
… What Charley said above, “ Not perfect, nothing to be complacent about. But certainly something to point to, to show that public policy taken seriously, and a can-do attitude from policymakers and private citizens, does indeed make a difference.“, escapes your understanding?
I worry that if there is too much made of the positive, everyone will become complacent. I want to remind everyone of the negatives that still exist. I also want to remind people that “public policy taken seriously, and a can-do attitude from policymakers and private citizens” caused us to lose our music program two years ago, while property taxes continue to go up. (I think we should just give credit where credit is due.)
and we’ll all get depressed.
There are LOTS of positive attributes. We are blessed with many educational institutions, all those teaching hospitals, and good intellectual capital.
I would suggest that our constitutionally-mandated FLAT INCOME TAX is a saving grace which otherwise might have led to the rich-person migration experienced by CA and NYC.
On the downside, we are not growing — aggregate household income, GDP, and population are lagging (inflation adjusted and comparatively.) Next stop — 8 Congressional seats in 2020!
The more time I spend in Illinois the more I appreciate how lucky I was to grow up in Massachuetts. For me free kindergarten, recycling programs, generous medicaid and section 8, racial and socio-economic diversity and integration, and no homophobia are givens. But in Illinois its been a much tougher fight to even get there. Based on presidential polling its the bluest state, but outside of Cook County its redder than a tomato.
Really? A remarkably large number of megarich, superrich, and wickedrich live in those two places. What’s the evidence that this migration is taking place?
I mean do you really think a few tenths of a percent on the income tax [which rich folks don't pay nearly as much us as a percentage of their total income] would induce somebody to live in Jersey instead of Manhattan? In AZ or NV instead of LA or SF? I just don’t see it.
you’ll give away the dirty little secret.
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