More athletes becoming tax refugees...

And Califormia did NOT make him any money. His baseball skills did. Originally Posted by ExNYer

by skills you mean roids right?

You should quit while you are behind. I'm not behind, I'm about to lap you.

Your first three paragraphs above are just more dopey name calling to distract from the fact that your initial post makes no sense. No it isn't - read all of it.

And now you are making even less sense. No, you just can't read.

Again, what does player unionization - or the lack thereof - have to do with moving from a high-tax state to a low-tax state to save more of your income? They still play in "high tax" states and have to pay those taxes on what they earn while playing there - a simple fact, like a bunch of others, that you just choose to ignore. The union is why they make the level of money that they do. When the unions are busted, they will earn less money and pay less taxes, right? It's all about reducing taxes (not tax burden) right?

And what "system" are players cutting and running from that made them a lot of money? A baseball player who leaves the SF Giants to play for the TX Rangers is not quitting baseball, he is only quitting California. And Califormia did NOT make him any money. His baseball skills did. No, he'll play games in California and pay taxes on what he earns playing there.

So again, what was your point? That you whining fools don't have a clue.

Can't you just be straight and say "As a progressive, I am angered when someone practices tax avoidance and tries to keep more of their money"? I would, IF I actually thought that was so. Taken to its end, your argument is actually about paying no taxes at all. Unlike you, I believe that everyone who benefits from what this country has to offer should be thankful and responsible enough to pay for it - like the ones who paid for it before them. BTW, none of the "oppressive" taxes you are talking about were instituted by command of a dictator. Try to learn how our system of government works. Your premise and your argument is bullshit.

It would be a lot closer to the truth. And it would make a lot more sense. Well, if making sense to you really means that it makes sense. Originally Posted by ExNYer

I can read it for you, but I can't understand it for you. Did C. O. Grits sell you his stove or is it a loaner?

Governments will get whatever amount of money they need to pay for whatever they do. Some use income taxes, some, like Texas, use fees, other taxes - such as property taxes and excise taxes - to take in what they need. Small government is great - except for the part where everyone has their favorite government function that they don't want to see abandoned. Your problem is that everyone else's favorite thing isn't yours. Tough titty, said the kitty. It's called politics - you might try it sometime.

I can read it for you, but I can't understand it for you. Originally Posted by Randy4Candy

Based on your posts above, I doubt you can read for yourself, let alone anyone else.

Governments will get whatever amount of money they need to pay for whatever they do. Some use income taxes, some, like Texas, use fees, other taxes - such as property taxes and excise taxes - to take in what they need. Small government is great - except for the part where everyone has their favorite government function that they don't want to see abandoned. Your problem is that everyone else's favorite thing isn't yours. Tough titty, said the kitty. It's called politics - you might try it sometime. Originally Posted by Randy4Candy

A whole bunch more subject changing.

I point out that a player moves from SF Giants to TX Rangers and you say he still pays taxes on games played in California. Is that REALLY the best you've got?

You conveniently don't mention that HALF of the games are played in TX and he pays NO income taxes on those games. Previously, CA got 13.3% of ALL games played at home in SF, plus 13.3% of other games played in CA (i.e., LA, SD, and a few interleague games with Anaheim). As a TX Ranger, he only plays the 13.3% CA income tax for the 7 or 8 road games he plays against the Angels and a few interleague games against LA or SD and that is only in some years).

BIG IMPROVEMENT. Can't you simply acknowledge that?

You can't. Instead you throw up a smoke screen about how Texas must be doing something else - like excise taxes or fees - to get the money. Bullshit. If you choose to respond, please identify specifically, the "fees" and "excise" taxes that Texas is using - that CA does NOT use - to make up for not having an income tax.

The truth is, ALL of the sales, property, excise, and other taxes that TX implements are ALSO implemented by California. And the California rates are about the same level or HIGHER that the TX rates.

And the MOST important factor in all of those taxes is that you can avoid them by spending less or not engaging in certain transactions. If you don't buy a huge mansion, your property taxes will be low. if you don't buy a lot of expensive junk, your sales taxes will be low.

The only tax you can't avoid when you are in a state is the income tax. To avoid that one, you have to move. Which is what some athletes are doing.

The only "something else" Texas that is doing is NOT spending so much. California takes in a HUGE amount of tax money and they still can't make ends meet. It is the SPENDING not the TAXES that is killing them.

Rather than acting responsibly and cutting spending they are jacking up the top rate. Which is why golfers and other athletes are reconsidering where they are living.

Rather than admit that progressive politics is ruining California, you change the subject and bring up unions. Again irrelevant.

First, golfers do not have a union and the average golfer makes as much money as the average football, hockey, or baseball players. The same goes for tennis players.

Second, being in a union or not does not affect your state income taxes. Josh Hamilton was represented by the players union when he was living in Texas and he is STILL represented by the players union now that he is in California. The only difference is, NOW he pays a higher tax rate.

Third, just how well is that players union working out for hockey players?

Governments will get whatever amount of money they need to pay for whatever they do. Originally Posted by Randy4Candy

There's that word again - "need". But if government doesn't "need" so much stuff, they don't have to raise taxes so high to pay for it, do they?

Your problem is that everyone else's favorite thing isn't yours . ... It's called politics - you might try it sometime. Originally Posted by Randy4Candy

Why is that a problem for me - as opposed to you? Isn't that the whole point of moving to low tax states? To escape from everyone else's "favorite things" and making them pay for their own choices?

And THAT is what politics is about - making choices. Everybody can't have cotton candy all the time. Sometimes you have to trim your wants and needs. When enough people and businesses leave, perhaps CA will learn it doesn't really need so many favorite things. Even its beloved movie industry is halfway out of the state. Many movies and TV shows are produced in others states and in Canada. Lower production costs and better tax environment. That's the defect of income redistribution schemes. Sooner or later, you run out of other peoples money.

When you squeeze people enough, they have the option to leave. That's called federalism. You might try it sometime.

Oh wait. You already are. Heh.

Tough titty, said the kitty. Originally Posted by Randy4Candy

Are you in fourth grade?

by skills you mean roids right? Originally Posted by JCM800

Them, too.