The left and the mainstream media are once again blaming the failures of big government on the weather. This time it’s The Wall Street Journal claiming, “Sun-Soaked States See Populations Grow,” and “Florida adds more people than California for the first time in nearly a decade.”
The Journal reports Florida gained more than 1,000 people per day for a total of 365,703, which put it ahead of the formerly “Golden State.” Yet the reason can’t be the sun, since looking out my window I see that California still gets plenty of sun.
In fact, overall, the weather here is better than that of Florida where the seasons range from really hot with bugs to a very few months of mild and dreading the return of bugs.
What could offset the bug bite welts and make Florida more attractive?
I would say smaller government, an explanation the mainstream media avoids at all costs.
Florida has no income tax while California has, based on figures from the Tax Foundation, a “personal income tax system . . . of ten brackets and a top rate of 13.3 percent. That rate ranks highest among states levying an individual income tax.
"California's state and local income tax collections per person were $1,454 in 2012 which ranked 7th highest nationally.”
Zero income tax contrasted with the highest in the U.S. means Florida handily wins that competition. But what about the sales tax? California loses again.
Tax Foundation figures have the combined state and local sales tax rate in California at 8.41 percent, the eighth highest in the U.S., while Florida’s 6.62 percent ranks it 29th in the nation.
Then there is California’s one-party rule by leftist Democrats who find the time to regulate the most minute parts of your private lives, while totally failing to adopt a water policy that would have mitigated the current drought that is devastating parts of the state.
Florida on the other hand is governed by Republicans who are not perfect — but at least spend and tax less.
Then there is always North Dakota. It had the highest percentage population growth in the nation. With the money you save in taxes, you can buy a warm winter coat.
Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan. He is president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation and chairman of the League of American Voters. Mike is an in-demand speaker with Premiere. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.