It seems that in New Jersey, a full half of the state would like to leave, if they could.
Even New Jerseyans can’t stand living in New Jersey, according to a new poll that said nearly half of adults residing in the Garden State want to pull up stakes.The Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll, released Wednesday, found 49 percent of those polled would rather live somewhere else.
New Jersey already is suffering from an image problem and bears the brunt of jokes because of its corruption and pollution problems. But 58 percent of those residents polled said the heavy financial burden of just living in the state is no laughing matter, and that’s why they want to leave.
Poll participants cited high property taxes (28 percent), the cost of living (19 percent), state taxes (5 percent) and housing costs (6 percent) as the main reasons they want out. The poll also found that 51 percent of those who expressed a desire to leave planned to do so, with adults under the age of 50 making between $50,000 and $100,000 the most likely to flee.
High taxes making people leave? Really?
But a Rutgers University report released last week found that New Jersey, with nearly 9 million people, is experiencing a population loss and said the number of residents who had left the state more than tripled from 2002 to 2006, with 231,565 people moving elsewhere.
The Rutgers Regional Report, which examined U.S. Census Bureau and Internal Revenue Service data, noted 72,547 people left in 2006, ranking New Jersey fourth — behind California, Louisiana and New York — among states with the highest population losses in the nation.
High prices aren’t the only thing driving people out. New Jersey ex-pats headed in droves to warmer climates, with 124,584 moving to Florida and 29,803 moving to North Carolina. Others (42,459) moved to neighboring Pennsylvania.
That migration depleted the state’s tax coffers of an estimated $10 billion in personal income and $680 million in sales tax, according to the Rutgers report.
So let’s get that straight.
- High taxes make people leave
- Those people no longer pay tax at all
- The state ends up with less tax revenue
So… higher tax rates can cause lower tax revenue. Who’d have thought!
It’s quite simple. People just want a fair deal.
When it becomes obvious they are not getting a fair deal they eventually do something about it.
The Unions were powerful many years ago because it was patently obvious people were not getting a fair deal. They’ve done a good job, and they are only needed now as caretakers. We can now focus on the next problem – governments that attempt to grow in authoritarianistic and bureaucratic ways that demonstrate clearly to citizens that we are no longer getting a fair deal.
Now, looking at Australia consistently lowering tax rates for low AND MIDDLE income earners, we in NZ think – are we getting a fair deal?
Looking at a 9 billion dollar budget surplus, we in NZ think – are we getting a fair deal?
Looking at constant tax increases (40+ new taxes or significant increases in taxes since Labour came in), we in NZ think – are we getting a fair deal?
Looking at no adjustments in the tax tables for inflation, interest rates etc, we in NZ think – are we getting a fair deal?
Looking at the various government scandals to do with wasting money, dropping people from growing waiting lists, being caught out in various idiotic programs, we in NZ think – are we getting a fair deal?
We are not. So many people are voting with their feet. It’s costing the country, and hurting us in ways that will become only too apparent in the next few years.
By: ZenTiger on October 19, 2007
at 9:25 pm
What Zen said. Exactly. But will National do anything about it? I has me doubts.
By: kg on October 20, 2007
at 8:20 pm
Have to agree kg, which is perhaps why so many people are voting with their feet.
If they win the next election, they have a chance to stem the tide. It will be interesting.
By: ZenTiger on October 21, 2007
at 12:28 pm