Business

Noted Economist’s Plan to Rescue California: Flatten it!

Noted Economists Plan to Rescue California: Flatten it!No, it’s not what you think. When Arthur Laffer (of Laffer Curve fame) says “flatten California,” he’s not talking about steamrollers. He’s talking about the Golden State’s tax rate.

“Firms, people, investments, and tax revenues are fleeing California, repelled by the most onerous antigrowth business environment in the United States,” Laffer writes in City Journal.

“California’s after-tax rate of return for doing business lags so far behind other states’ … that the exodus shouldn’t surprise anyone. Yet the state’s Democratic leadership is pushing a November ballot measure aimed at raising income and sales taxes in order to make up
for lost revenue,” he adds.

Although Laffer — himself a member of the California exodus — has lobbied for a flat tax in the broken state for years, his efforts have been met with little success. However, now that California’s financial crisis has taken on comical proportions (a $16 billion shortfall?), maybe — just maybe — state lawmakers will listen to what he has to say.

“California needs is a radical tax overhaul — to be precise, a single, low-rate flat tax. Such a reform would spur a renewal of economic activity and investment while continuing to raise the revenues that the state needs,” Laffer writes, arguing that the idea of taxing oneself into prosperity is absurd.

He explains the situation:

Taxes are indeed a big part of California’s economic problem. At 10.30 percent, the state’s top marginal personal income-tax rate is the fourth-highest in the country, and its top marginal corporate income-tax rate of 8.84 percent is 25 percent above the national average. Excessive taxation is an equal-opportunity tormentor, afflicting labor and capital, poor and rich, men and women, old and young. In the short run, higher taxes on labor or capital will reduce after-tax earnings. Some people will violate the law and fail to report taxable income; others will use legal options, including tax deductions and credits, to reduce their payments. In the long run, residents—those who can afford to, anyway—will vote with their feet and leave the state, shifting the tax burden to lower-wage workers, as well as to immobile land and property.

Laffer goes on to prescribe a cure for California’s financial ills. He suggests the state scrap “all its state and local taxes and fees” (except for “sin taxes” because those don’t really have anything to do with revenue) and replace everything with a flat tax of six percent “on two distinct bases.”

“One tax base would be personal unadjusted gross income from all sources, with only a few deductions,” he writes. “A single tax rate would apply across the board, from the first dollar earned to the last.”

“The other tax base would be businesses’ net sales, or ‘value added’ — that is, the difference between sales and production costs, which equals the state’s gross domestic product when aggregated across California,” he adds.

He argues that a six percent tax rate would not only curb the trend of people avoiding taxable income, but that a broad tax base would also remove possible places for people to hide income to avoid taxation.

Noted Economists Plan to Rescue California: Flatten it!California Gov. Jerry Brown

“That’s it. This tax system would yield as much revenue as all of California’s current state and local taxes. At the state level, the taxes on business profits, payroll, gas, capital gains, and stock options would disappear,” he writes. “Locally, property taxes would follow suit. All sales taxes — state, county, city, and special-district — would likewise be abolished.”

However, despite the fact that his ideas could save California, state lawmakers seem pretty intent on raising taxes in order to generate revenue. Of course, with an unemployment rate of 10.9 percent, the worst in the country, tax increases could be disastrous for the already fragile economy.

For California’s sake, maybe lawmakers should try something different. Maybe they should try reducing taxes instead of continually raising them.

“Without question, other major reforms are also needed in California. One could get lost for weeks in the state budget, with its vast unfunded liabilities, and come up with innumerable ways to save money that most Californians would find reasonable,” Laffer writes.

“But the tax reform that I’ve outlined would be a big step toward California’s becoming the Golden State again,” he concludes.

Read the full article here.

Front page illustration: Chad Crowe/Wall Street Journal

Comments (149)

1 2 3 4
  • RANGER1965
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:14am

    Here is the real question.

    If Obama is re-elected California will be bailed out. It’s as simple as that.

    But if Romney wins, and Jerry comes to the White House with his hat in his hand….what then?

    Will Romney bail them out?

    Report Post » RANGER1965  
    • Constitution_101
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:24am

      It’s not the job of the federal government to bail out the state. They made their bed, let them lie in it. Declare bankruptcy, just like Orange County did when the state didn‘t bail them out in the 90’s, pay for the mistake and rebuild. That’s what an individual has to do when they spend more than they make.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:47am

      @Ranger:

      If Obama comes into a second term, the bailout of CA is inevitable and with it will come the precident of Obama gaining control over the states, he will demand that all who are bailed out (and he will make sure all 50 have it happen) they surrender the constitutional soverign rights they have and answer to the beck and call of the Feds at every move and whim of Obama.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • wntsmallgov
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:41am

      Ranger, The real question is that if obama stays in “his” White House what will the country look like. I am not for bailing out anybody and I believe it is not in the best interest of this nation to keep bailing out any company or state.

      Getting back to you question, Romney will do a half bail out using his skills as a investor.

      Report Post » wntsmallgov  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 3:03am

      The only money in CA now is from the PERSIANS and other foreign folks who strut down Rodeo Drive and build their tacky MacMansions…they truly have taken Paradise and put up a parking lot. The smoke and mirrors dance there is amazing. We are seeing a huge change in the entertainment production … smug people thought filming would never leave, like they thought the aerospace industry or the high tech would last forever…the liberals have all but ruined the entire state. It has never occurred to them that SOMEONE had to pay the bills. I would like to disbar Gloria Allred and her dirty tricks against Meg Whitman – now we’ll never know what the state could have been with a real business person in charge. Brown is hollow. Liberals, Atheists, Marxists, Illegal Aliens… they have wrecked what was so productive; fruitful; wonderful. I wouldn’t go to San Francisco if you paid me. What on earth is wrong with those people? Public Nudity? Really? And gay everything shoved at our kids ?? I mean for a mere 7% of the population they sure make a big noise. I hope the VAST MAJORITY have seen enough, had enough and will be active this fall and VOTE in November. THIS IS WHAT a LIBERAL COUNTRY LOOKS LIKE…ugly, ain’t it?

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • socialism.rocks
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 4:45am

      if cali got dollar out for dollar into the fed it would be debt free…

      cali pays for parasite red-states who take double then what they pay in taxes…

      only austerity that will come is from red-states

      sorry when it comes down to it california has been a net producer for 70 plus years

      Report Post » socialism.rocks  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 5:07am

      NO, ther real question is: When California goes down… Which is the next States that these Idiot Liberals will move to, and do it Again?

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Constructionist
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 6:50am

      Californians inflicted their current woes upon themselves with idiotic policy. If their governor comes to the White House with a hat in his hand, he should leave with a foot in his *ss.

      Report Post » Constructionist  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 7:16am

      Thgings will be better when GOD flattens California…ot floats it out into the Ocean..

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • SocialistSlayer
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:04am

      Its amazing how stupid people (politicians) are! They are so greedy they can’t see the writing on the wall. It all boils down to : they are able to hide their evil ways using the current tax codes, they have power over others because no one can possibly adhere to every tax code they write and they can funnel money to wherever they desire. Nope the Flat tax is common sense but I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

      Report Post » SocialistSlayer  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:08am

      May California drown in liberalism…. The sooner the better….

      Report Post »  
    • Chromo200
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:18am

      Heck yes it is a liberal state just New York .. I remember NYC getting bailed out. Also why isn’t there talk about doing a Buffet Rule on the rich and wealthy .. Oh I know the Hollywood crowd won’t allow it.

      Report Post »  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:54am

      I do not think Romney would, but he might force Jerry and his ilk to take some crash courses on economics. If there was anyone ever born who could screw up a state, it’s Jerry. I cannot even fathom what the democrats were thinking running him, or maybe they wanted the destruction of California.

      Report Post »  
    • TAXLORDCOMETH
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:58am

      Socialism Rocks trots out the old federal tax loss you hear from progressives. If they could only get back all the money they send to the Feds, they’d be fine. Well, let’s see here — how about the major, and I mean huge military bases stationed all over CA from all 4 military branches. Their geographic location has landed them a disproportionate share of the defense budget which accounts for thousands and thousands of peripheral jobs. It is a good excuse though. IL wishes they could use it.

      Report Post »  
    • LameLiberals
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:10am

      I don’t trust Romney

      I definitely don’t trust Obama.

      If CONGRESS holds the purse strings – how can a president bail out any state?

      Report Post »  
    • starman70
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:12am

      There will be no need to flatten California, Just let them go and they will flatten themselves.

      Report Post »  
    • Bum thrower
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:27am

      Trouble is, only Dem controlled states are in touble; CA, NY, and maybe a few others. Don’t think congress will spend the money to bail out states………In case you haven’t noticed, the Feds are BROKE!!!

      Report Post »  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:44am

      Here is an idea, stop all freebies to the ILLEGAL ALIENS = BILLIONS SAVED. Then go for the flat tax.

      Report Post »  
    • samurai2112
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 10:33am

      @Socialism.Rocks, What you are saying is lessen the federal tax burden on individuals and businesses because the Federal Government no longer needs the money to fuel their bloated bureaucracy and their control on redistributing wealth?. Wow, maybe you are learning something after all. There isn’t a red state who would argue against this concept just Democrats in Washington that rely on the giving of other people’s money for votes and the concept of “equal distribution.”

      Report Post » samurai2112  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 11:03am

      It won’t happen while Governor Moonbeam is still in California. Moonbeam loves his taxes and is constantly asking to raise them..like a good statist liberal. I’ve said in the past that only pain will educate Californians..but now I‘m beginning to believe that even pain isn’t enough for the liberal dolts.

      Report Post »  
    • pompey
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:09pm

      ….no bail out for socialism……we can only hope that the next trimmer is the big one….!

      Report Post »  
    • Kopen
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:22pm

      NO ! Romney will tell him to Stop spending and reform the welfare programs .. California has got to live within it’s means .. so moonbeam had better get off his highhorse and ease up on all the job killing regulations and propsed tax increases he wants .. we can’t afford him any more ..

      Report Post »  
    • Basharr
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 11:32pm

      Actually Arnold went to Obama with his hand out and got some money but nothing close to what was needed to fix Ca.

      Report Post »  
    • WhatTheHuh
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 12:43pm

      Correct. It’s a given that Obama will bail out California, if to do nothing else than to save the public sector unions. That‘s why the Democratic legislature here doesn’t want real tax reform. They know they are “too big to fail,” so they will continue with policies that appease their bases. I’m sick of it; and if I were Oklahoma, or Montana, or Pennsylvania, I wouldn‘t want my tax dollars bailing out another state’s fiscal maleficence. Of course, it seems it doesn’t matter what voters want anymore. Washington is going to do what it wants to do.

      Report Post »  
    • MetalPatriot
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 2:12pm

      First (and most importantly) Bashaar’s avatar rules! Angry Burt says it all.

      Romney is a Progressive (like Gengrich & McCain). Putting our nation’s entire hope in one man (any man) is never going to work.

      CA (I live here) is run by anti-Constitutionalists…has been for decades…that‘s why we’re a failed state. This used to be a “dreamland” for farmers, business, home building, movies, music, hot rods, etc. I’ll never understand why evil has completely destroyed what was once bountiful.

      *of course, it’s people did it, but I can’t understand why.

      Laffer is genious in that his solution is so simple…he proved on an old Beck episode that a national flat tax of about 12-17% would do the trick. But, no, politicians are too “smart” to do that.

      Lifetime politicians need to be put in asylums.

      Report Post » MetalPatriot  
    • HickoryStonewall
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 8:01pm

      Bailed out hell, he’ll give to the narco-terrorist led Mexican government, he already armed them.

      Report Post »  
    • blackyb
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:17am

      A few of those Gay AIDS patients will take up all the money in the insurance programs. These hedonists want to live like there is no tomorrow and someone else pay the freight. These people are Obama smoozers. All the hedonist fringe groups were courted by obama to form a large voting bloc like the blacks they have dummed down and offered freebies to and the latios who he is offering certain citizenship in this country who have not waited in line like everyone else. He is expecting to use these votes to win, and/or just like Florida and other states who want to purge dead and ineligible voters, they want to allow a crooked vote, because they know he has dummed these down too. This man is not fit to even visit the White House, let alone live in it.

      Report Post » blackyb  
  • olddog
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:11am

    I closed my business and left Ca. in 96, because of the taxes the liberals had created. I was no problem reopening in another state, where I was not drained… We all know leftists Tax and Spend..

    Report Post » olddog  
    • loriann12
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 7:50am

      Yea, their philosophy is, if I don’t get enough money from taxes because business are leaving and going to states where they tax rate is lower, I’ll just raise the taxes to get more money from the businesses that are still here. They don’t even consider that less taxes will cause business to COME there, they’ll have more businesses and thus more money even with a lower tax rate. I don‘t understand why they don’t get that. It‘s like the scheme of Obama’s with letting the individual pay less Social Security and calling it a tax break because your check is $20 more a week.

      Report Post »  
  • Chancellor
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:11am

    I hope all the businesses get a clue and leave the Loser state to it’s own demise!

    Report Post » Chancellor  
    • bobdog19006
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:27am

      As Margaret Thatcher said, “The problem with socialism is that sooner or later, you run out of other peoples’ money.”

      When Californica runs out of Republicans, which seems imminent, who’s going to pay for all your glorious state programs? Illegal immigrants? Hollywood? San Francisco gays? Movie stars? Teachers’ unions? Labor unions? Politicians?

      Report Post » bobdog19006  
  • BenFrank1791
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:07am

    Califorinia’s been broke for 30 years, So what do they do,,, they do what leftists do all over the world, they ignore it, and vote in an old leftist like Jerry Brown. Look at France, same thing, they just hope someone will come along and help them pay their bills, like all the times before, execpt this time
    Atlas has Shrugged. Or to as Margaret Thatcher said, they have finally run out of other peoples money to spend. And it going to get worse for them, with a Republican control, White House, House, and Senate. Toke on Jerry Toke on !

    Report Post » BenFrank1791  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 5:38am

      The have a Lemming Ideology… and they refuse to fight Mother Nature!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • TONY BOLOGNA
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:49pm

    California is having a ton of troubles, most of which are due to the idiotic ideologies of the Republican Party and those of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Its going to take some smart Democrats quite a few years to undo the crazy legislation of Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    Report Post »  
    • Chancellor
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:09am

      Like the Democrap in charge now is doing anything to help the state……..

      Arnold baby was never a Conservative don’t care what the letter is before his name……

      A Liberal Progressive always shows his true colors when he is using other peoples money!

      Report Post » Chancellor  
    • RANGER1965
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:10am

      Yep it‘s all Arnold’s fault. Thankfully California has excellent Liberal leadership now. Which is why California is doing so well…er…

      …on the road to recovery…

      …uh…in a financial death spiral?

      Wait!! it‘s Arnold’s fault!…The check is in the mail…The sun was in my eyes…

      The familiar mantra of an emotional, and intellectual coward….ie: Liberals.

      Report Post » RANGER1965  
    • Constitution_101
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:21am

      Arnold is a Republican like Bloomberg is a Republican…only because of the R. Neither of them are for individual rights, only collective solutions and collectivism is not the same as individual rights.

      Report Post »  
    • calisun
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:58am

      Tony is an idiot.

      Report Post » calisun  
    • armyofnibiru
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:13am

      your so full of balogna toni,what is it 70 %or 80% demoncrat in ca.just tax more spend more .give the state workers 700,000,,800,000 dollars a year.get another rino to blame.hate hate hate spend spend spend tax tax tax you’ll pull out of the mess in say 5-6 hundred years.chase all the companys out so only the mafia and unions are left.then you could brake some homeowners legs and steal their property.or invade mexico their doing better than ca.

      Report Post »  
    • wntsmallgov
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:43am

      Tony, CA has been in trouble for a long time. I know people who live out there and their idea to cut un-employment was to have the government hire them. The schools are joke because based on my friend the teachers were not allowed to do anything, even with the open drug use in class.

      I would lay off the dime bag and kool aid a bit.

      Report Post » wntsmallgov  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 6:04am

      Ahnold a Republican, married to a member o’ the Kennedy clan. You just came in dead last in the Twit Race.

      Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
    • GeeWhiz
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:41am

      Phoney bologna, not Tony. Just a pile of red meat, looking to see who is going to jump.

      Report Post »  
    • garylee123
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:32pm

      As a resident of the REAL northern Ca. (State of Jefferson) I can say that you are full of crap. You look at any stupid law or bill coming out of the Ca gov’t and it ALWAYS has a little “d” behind the name of the sponsor. Republicans have little to no power in this state. The main problem is the state is ruled by a few population centers that have no idea that anything exists outside of their concrete forest. Sometimes I think fog causes liberalism. But, congratulations to Ca for letting the first goldmine to open in 50 YEARS.

      Report Post »  
    • USA5
      Posted on June 16, 2012 at 6:22pm

      When you find smart Democrats let us know. Will the smart Democrats please stand up?

      Report Post »  
  • Watermain
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:37pm

    A big amen from the Golden State. They’re killing us one tax at a time.

    Report Post » Watermain  
    • TSUNAMI-22
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 1:12am

      Yeah, and they are killing the farmers one little fish at a time.

      I see the “congress created dust bowl” signs up and down the highway all the time.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 5:48am

      The Laffer Curves simply show that… the Maximum Revenue that can be obtained, from a Tax, is 17%. So, this would be the Flat Tax goal on Business… but in the area of Income Tax, Tax must be progressive, in order to support the Class/Wage/Wealth Structure.

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • OhioRifleman
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 3:25pm

      @ Luke RW

      _Class/Wage/Wealth Illusion_

      Corrected for you.

      Report Post » OhioRifleman  
  • ktmrider1
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:31pm

    the only way to save the once great state of california is to get rid of all the democrats but that aint gona happen so just like all the other democrat controled states you just have to suffer

    Report Post » ktmrider1  
    • countryfirst
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:22am

      California and many states like it have had a spreading disease, called liberalism. And until they vote in the antidote, they will have to endure.

      Report Post » countryfirst  
  • MAMMY_NUNN
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:26pm

    Hows that taxing pot working out ?

    Report Post »  
    • TONY BOLOGNA
      Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:43pm

      Hows that being a retarded Republican working out for you?

       
    • calisun
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:59am

      I smell poop, oh it’s just Tony.

      Report Post » calisun  
    • RebelPatriot
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:08am

      Typical liberal banter, name calling when all else fails, or at least a retread like Brown.

      You can’t continue to raise taxes without business growth.

      When Reagan was force to raise taxes the country’s economy was booming. After the taxes were raise the economy slowed, then came George Sr. and he brought it to a near stand still, along with Bill and George Jr. and now with King Hussein at the wheel the economy is about to tank if regulations and trade laws are not changed to make companies believe they will get a return on their investments for the future.

      If companies are making money now, why should they invest in growth when fuel prices are high and the HNIC is talking about raising taxes. Why extend, the environment is not favorable for growth and businesses are holding out for a more favorable environment to invest in growing their business.

      Why add another grocery store to the chain when more and more people are unemployed?
      Why add another clothing store to the chain when more and more people are on food stamps?

      More people working creates more tax dollars from the working force.
      More people working creates more tax dollars from companies who are expanding their businesses to accommodate the influx of new capital into the markets.

      What King Hussein hasn’t figured out is this is capitalism, not socialism. We can’t all work for the damn government, someone has to work in the private sector to pay the bills to run this country, you stupid communi

      Report Post »  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:36am

      I thought legalizing and taxing pot was the fix all plan just like gambling the only thing it accomplishes is the breeding of corruption.

      Report Post »  
    • michael48
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:00am

      tony=meaningless lemming…serfdom suits you well , comrade..now back in grannies basement…

      Report Post »  
    • DGuy
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 8:37pm

      Bologna is some crapnasty stuff. I won’t give that junk to my dogs…

      Report Post »  
  • Wilahelm
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:17pm

    You people are sick!

    Report Post » Wilahelm  
    • ktmrider1
      Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:33pm

      you like em sick dont you big boy move to sanfransicko youll lovvvvve it

      Report Post » ktmrider1  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:36am

      Isn’t the Blew Man Group from there, KTM?

      Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
  • MasterJoshua7
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:16pm

    I would really love to see this happen. I imagine that the drastic change these policies would make would be almost immeasurable in California. It would be impossible for others not to notice the surge of economic activity AND increased revenue and conservatives might have something to point at and say “Here! See how it works!”.

    I know the chances of it happening are probably slim but we can still hope and pray.

    Report Post » MasterJoshua7  
    • RebelPatriot
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 2:15am

      To many government employees would be laid off for lack of work. The collective bargaining unions would have a field day.

      It would look like Wisconsin all over again, of course Wisconsin is in better shape today than 2 years ago.

      Report Post »  
  • Pyronaught
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:12pm

    I can’t imagine paying 10.3% state income tax on top of an already outrageous federal income tax. Forget about corporations leaving, it’s the workers who should be getting out! In Florida we have zero state income tax and get along just fine. Taxes are only a fraction of California’s problem though. It’s a regulatory hell hole run by junk science worshiping enviro-nazis, which is probably worse for business than even the high taxes.

    Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:08pm

    Flattening with steam rollers is still a better idea.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • Dougral Supports Israel
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:03pm

    I predict that California will reject Laffer’s good advice. Laffer is in essence telling California Democrats that in order to save the state they must become fiscal conservatives. Its good advice but giving up their “soak the rich” mantra will be too much for them. The Moonbeam State will follow the course of Greece. California will teeter on the edge of bankruptcy and Jerry Brown will troop to Washington and demand that the rest of the nation bail them out.

    Report Post »  
    • Diane TX
      Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:19pm

      If the rest of the States have to rescue California, I for one, would demand their agreement to an austerity plan before they see one dime.

      Report Post »  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:19pm

      More like soak anyone but the rich if they soaked the rich Pelosi would move along with the high horse libs in that State.

      Report Post »  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:58pm

    Not a bad plan… Or if we’re lucky it will just sink.

    Report Post » Meyvn  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:58pm

    I see that the symbols for California are the Bear and a Red Star.

    What Country users the same symbols?

    Oh, that’s right, Russia. It all makes sense now….

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:54pm

    Give the state back to Mexico and save the rest of the states the cost of bailing it out.

    Report Post »  
  • Obamujahadeen
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:54pm

    “Flatten it!” I’m on board for that… then the middle east, 90% if the nation and hence world problems solved.

    Report Post » Obamujahadeen  
  • lassiegirldawn
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:51pm

    If every taxpayer leaves, that will leave it up to the illegal’s to pay the taxes. California is in a world of hurt.

    Report Post »  
  • Paul
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:49pm

    Works for me !

    Hollywood, Ground Zero.

    Report Post » Paul  
  • the_truth_or_not
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:48pm

    Once The CA legislature finds out that they could increase the flat tax rate, it would only be about two years before their flat tax rate is pushing 30% again. After all they need to pay for sexual mutilation for State workers who doesn’t want to be the sex they are.

    Report Post » the_truth_or_not  
  • Wolfgang the Gray
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:47pm

    Try Laffer’s idea. If they turn that down, bring on the dozers!

    Report Post » Wolfgang the Gray  
  • RLTW
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:46pm

    I like the idea of fattening with steam roller better.

    Report Post »  
  • SHOWMESTATEGUY
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:38pm

    I say let California continue on this road. They voted for it so they deserve it. Right?

    Report Post »  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:23pm

      I agree democracy rules.

      Report Post »  
    • garylee123
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 5:27pm

      It’s too bad that four population centers control the whole state. People that have no idea what is outside of their concrete jungles. I see that today our “d” legislators passed a budget without any “r” input. Wouldn’t even let them in the meetings. Do you think that‘s going to be a budget that’s good for Ca? State of Jefferson 2014.

      Report Post »  
  • MAULEMALL
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:37pm

    Please Cali…Don’t listen… Just fall into the ocean.

    Report Post » MAULEMALL  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on June 14, 2012 at 10:36pm

    A flat tax w/zero deductions is an inherently fair tax. It will also encourage those at the bottom end of the economic spectrum to work harder and move up and no longer be satisfied w/public handouts.

    Report Post » Elena2010  
    • Joe Bonham
      Posted on June 14, 2012 at 11:50pm

      Awesome. Will it motivate the rich to actually create jobs for them?

      I read today that thanks to economic growth, Chinese wages are steadily rising. So of course American corporations are starting to take their business somewhere else. God forbid they actually pay the employees a living wage. That would be Communism!

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 5:32am

      Will it motivate… the Elderly, Retired… to go back to work?

      Flat Tax for a Flat World!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • ecbuck
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:17am

      @Joe We’ll start paying you a “living wage” when you start doing “living work”.

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on June 15, 2012 at 12:40pm

      Joe Bonham

      There are only so many places in the world & only so many places a business can go. Wages will rise with it without progressive interference. Wages will rise faster without progressives.

      Report Post »  
1 2 3 4

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love