Comments on West Virginia Political Sweatbox: The Charleston Crybaby.

As wasteful of a life to respond to a 7 month old ...

2006-08-30T11:35:00.000-05:00

As wasteful of a life to respond to a 7 month old blog.

You mean a life like someone who posts anonymous c...

2006-08-24T17:36:00.000-05:00

You mean a life like someone who posts anonymous comments on 7 month old blog articles?

A life like that?

maybe he finally got a life.

2006-08-23T13:24:00.000-05:00

maybe he finally got a life.

i dont know why they wont at elast make up a name ...

2006-03-14T14:16:00.000-05:00

i dont know why they wont at elast make up a name either. i also said this and was told NO!

and where is bingmantch??? we are waiting on a new story here man! you mean with the legislature in and now out there is nothing to blog about dude?

or are you busy? mabye you need an assistant?

Since some of you all from the comment section of ...

2006-03-12T15:11:00.000-05:00

Since some of you all from the comment section of this blog have been critical of Bingmatch's writing style, might you allow me to present a critique of my own?

Some of you folks really ought to come up with a blogger name. It is hard to follow 85 comments where over half of them are "anonymous". In this format of communicating, where we cannnot see or hear each other, it would be easier to tell who is saying what if you all came up with identities such as WVGOP and West Virginia Republican have.

I'm not questioning anyone's honesty or integrity here. I realize some folks don't like using their real name in internet discussions (I use mine because I really don't care if some people don't like my thoughts or opinions. It is simply inevitable). But it would only take a few minutes to register a name, your own or an alias, and it would definately make reading a thread like this much easier.

My view of Raese is that he is a spoiled, lazy and...

2006-02-23T12:52:00.000-05:00

My view of Raese is that he is a spoiled, lazy and immature man motivated by nothing but ego. I don't think he's ever had a deep thought in his life and I don't think he has any interest in policy. He runs for office because he likes attention and flattery.

Only because of his personal wealth and the lack of other even remotely viable candidates willing to run is he in the picture. Assuming he doesn't bail out he will probably win the nomination but he will run a superficial, shallow and negative campaign and lose badly.

The national Republicans just want someone who can top 40% and give them some platform to attack Byrd as payback for his shots at Bush.

Once Capito (wisely because she would have likely lost too but would have made it an interesting and relatively close race) decided to wait for a better opportunity, the national Republicans were simplty desperate for someone who could even mount enough of a challenge to force Byrd to campaign. Raese can do that because he has money and name recognition but all the Republicans are doing is hoping Byrd embarasses himself so that he will lose stature nationally and be less of a threat to them. It really has nothing to do with WV.

Raese's only shot would be if Byrd died before the election but after the deadline for Democrats to replace him on the ballot. Even then I'd give at least money to the corpse.

I understand your thinking about having to change ...

2006-02-23T12:20:00.000-05:00

I understand your thinking about having to change to be a politician, I however would just appreciate someone being candid.

Give me your view of John Raese and why you think he is not a good choice. His website is not finished yet, really should be complete before publication.

Hiram Lewis, does what I dislike the most about politicians, he gives me the problems, with no solutions. WV normally does not like people to shotgun for office, Attorney Gen now US Senate.

I'm all for giving someone else a try -- just not...

2006-02-23T11:00:00.000-05:00

I'm all for giving someone else a try -- just not merely because he is someone else. I want better someones.

Once upon a time when I was young, I was interested in seeking office but, quite frankly, I determined I would have no chance of winning unless I did things that I am not willing to do-- grovel for money and become beholden to donors, suck up to established politicians, tailor my public statements to meet political expediency rather than say what I really think on some issues....

That's very cynical and I'll admit it demonstrates a lack of the will to "fight the good fight" and that it makes me part of the problem. It is true that every time that someone declines to challenge the power structure because of the difficulty, it just makes it easier for the bad elements to retain power. I am guilty of complaining about the absence of good challengers without doing everything I could to change that.

But, I'm not Don Quixote and I can't change the world --or even a small part of it that doesn't really seem to want the change I want. I'm not inclined to put the time. money and effort into a fight I think I would lose unless i seriously compromised my principles. I realize that just leaves the field to those who are not only willing to compromise principles but often have no priciples beyond using the system for the personal accumulation of power and wealth.

Basically, I content myself with fighting behind the scenes against the very worst things politicians try to do which is admittedly less than actually fighting for positive change.

If you can steer me to some challengers who actually are worthy of some support based on something more than "you don't they will be just as bad or worse than the incumbent who has already proven he's bad" I'm all ears.

If, for example, I am offered John Raese and Hiram Lewis as alternatives to Byrd, i might leave the ballot blank for that race but I'm not going to vote for THAT kind of change for change's sake.

Your thought about infrastructure is correct. Tha...

2006-02-23T09:15:00.000-05:00

Your thought about infrastructure is correct. That is exactly full-circle of where we started. Since the current and former state politicians have not done the job to help the state infrastructure, give someone else a try. I try to look at the bills as they are introduced and I'm hard pressed to find anything that would promote development. You write with intelligence, maybe you should seek office and "make positive change."
The majority of the voting public do not know what their representative stands for. As I have professed, all we get are "sound bites" no substance. If the voter is not informed on an issue or candidate they do all of us an injustice with a vote, just because it's on the ballot!

i wish one of you two nutsacks would change your n...

2006-02-22T19:07:00.000-05:00

i wish one of you two nutsacks would change your name so one can easily tell yall apart.

what are you sceered of?

just make up a name darn it!

I agree that private investment is the only chance...

2006-02-22T16:27:00.000-05:00

I agree that private investment is the only chance for meaningful long-term change.

Of course, many things government does BESIDES PUBLIC EDUCATION (public education is of course the single greatest "entitlement" on which public money is spent) can help or hinder the chances of attracting private investment.

Just as good public schools, colleges and universities can create an environment where private investment is more likely to occur so do myriad other things that government provides from nuts and bolts stuff such as sewers and roads to services such as police, fire, health, to luxuries such as recreation, culture and the like.

The so-called Republican who says septic tanks are all we need (at least a step up from outhouses) ignores the reality that if I'm going to make a major investment I will do it in a place where public infrastructure helps both my company and my prospective employees. I'm not going to invest in a county that lacks adequate water and sewer, police and fire, road and other transportation, etc, when I have the choice of investing in places that do have those things. I didn't get the money to invest by not having a clue about the benefits of those things and I'm real unlikely to be persuaded by some basket case telling me they are just a waste of tax money.

Of course, we can't get from where we are to a place where we can provide such things to everyone everywhere in a short time in one big step. Simply spending money without a strategic plan targeting scarce funds to the particular needs in the particular places that will do the most good is wasteful.

I could pump a billion dollars into McDowell County and give it a 21st Century infrastructure and services and gain very little in return-- because it's still going to be an unattractive place to live for most people and a les than ideal place from which to conduct business.

I could of course get much more mileage from a much smaller commitment of public funds in places that are already much closeer to being equipped to attract investment and are just lucky enough to be in a geographically more convenient place.

As I said no one is ever going to RISK their own money investing in large scale enterprizes in the middle of nowhere. It makes no sense. Sure, we can supply "corporate welfare" and get folks to take our money and open businesses on flawed business models that will flounder after a few years because they can use the corporate welfare to pay themselves good money then move on leaving us in basically the same situation we were before with less money. THOSE types of government programs (strangely the kind most Republicans find most embraceable, are the least rational and most wasteful uses of government money-- nt to mention the antithesis of free-market capitalism because they involve the government choosing to favor one entity over all other actual and potential competitors.

Government should stick to providing the things we all know that are necessary but that only government can or will provide at the level necessary-- infrastructure and basic public services.

If it was directly PROFITABLE to operate sewer systems in WV, we'd have private enterprise doing it. It's not DIRECTLY profitable. The reason for having sewers isn't that you are going to make a lot of money operating them. It's that their existence can help attract things that will make other people money. The private sector obviously is not going to invest money in ventures that merely help OTHER VENTURES succeed. that's why government has to do it or it won't get done.

Assisting the general community in propepering and succeeding is a task for government but no business will do it because that is not why busineeses exist. they exist to make money for their owners.

We have to provide a certain level of PUBLIC works and services so that the people who want to make money in business can make as much money as easily here as they can with a similar investment elsewhere. Otherwise no rational business would choose to operate here.

Private business investments are the only chance f...

2006-02-22T14:53:00.000-05:00

Private business investments are the only chance for change. The government is not able to provide for viable economic development. WV has to start somewhere and we already have the education system in place it just needs changed a little. Nothing drastic, because "hillbillys" don't like change. The development might or might not follow. The status quo Joe will not bring about anything positive! JUST TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT! ENTITLEMENTS ARE NOT THE ANSWER! Give people new or better tools and maybe things will change.

I'm all for education. Even without any benefit be...

2006-02-22T14:24:00.000-05:00

I'm all for education. Even without any benefit beyond that inherent in people being more educated I support it. However, the "education is the key to economic development" argument is a fallacy whhen applied to a specific location.

Educated people can and will move to the jobs and the jobs will not move to them if they are in a small isolated community lacking infrastructure, public services and private amenities. If i am investing money i want to be in a place that provides me with the ability to both grow my business more cheaply and to maintain a stable workforce of experienced employees.

Sure many high tech firms are small. So what? The owners will still make the rational decision to locate in places where it is most beneficial to them. That will not be a rural area from even medium sized cities let alone larger ones.

Good luck trying to sell someone with money on the idea that Clay Couty is a great place for his start-up because it's cheap to live there and Clay County HS has a CS program equal to that in suburban San Diego.

West Virginia already produces many people more than capable to provide valuable services to employers. The thing is, as you stated, is that most of them have to go elsewhere to provide them for reasons other than their level of education and ability.

Education is prequisite to certain types of development but unless accompanied by all the other prequisites it alone will make no real difference in the local economy. It will just make the young people from that community better equipped to go into the greater world and succeed.

Education is one part of the equation but we could have the finest education system in the world and it won't make much difference without the other parts.

I appreciate your views and knowledge of the WV co...

2006-02-22T14:07:00.000-05:00

I appreciate your views and knowledge of the WV concern. I must tell you that as I travel many states and areas of the US big manufacturing is not happening elsewhere either. I offered my companies services free to a local school system, we are essentialy a software engineering company. In short, the mighty education engine that exists and resists was not interested. WV, according to State Education Department, been on top of the technology game for years. Visit your local school and see all the computers that are collecting dust with old software that are essentially useless. Education is the answer to some employment problems and contrary to your belief many of the Tech business start-ups are 50-100 employees needing 4,000-5,000 sq. feet of office space. Internet is available even in the most remote areas of the world, including WV. The education system has not changed and as long as the average teacher in WV is in his 50's they will continue to resist. Economic development would flurish with an educated workforce. WV schools in the recent past have dropped vocational programs even though less than 50% of high school students enroll in college, with less than 20% receiving a degree. Education system needs to step to the plate and change the approach. I deal directly with the business world that would enjoy relocating to a quiet area, like WV would offer. Economic development is a political buzz phrase that most just throw out in the public with little or no understanding. Remember the economic development money floating around 2 years ago, take a hard look at where that money went. Very little job creation that was probably more "pork favors" than anything constructive. Now the populus of WV thinks Joe will fix it all with a sign!

Where the grass is green is subjective. One thing ...

2006-02-22T13:07:00.000-05:00

Where the grass is green is subjective. One thing to remember is that people don't always do things or allow things you don't like because they are too stupid to get what they want.

Sometimes people just want something different than you want. Many people who live in conditions you or I would find unacceptable prefer to live that way than the alternative. Not everyone chooses to strive for professional and financial success as we see it.

Some people just want to be left alone and exchange the perceived "advantages" of rural life for the opportunity to have more money elsewhere.

In a rural states in the modern world the "power" of that way of thinking increases over time almost inevitably precisely because more of the people who feel that way stay and more who seek "success" as the modern world defines it leave.

Realistically, much of West Virginia cannot be made suitable for large scale "economic development," The terrain, isolation, lack of infrastructure and services, and population simply are not suited for much beyond small marginal businesses and boom and bust extraction industries (many areas don't even much of that beyond some second rate timber).

Even if WV were to get its act together politcally and make strides, the investment and jobs will be centered in a very few "metropolitan" areas such as the upper Ohio Valley, Kanawha/Putnam/Cabell, Clarksburg/Fairmont Morgaantown and Jefferson/ Berkely.

The reality is that there is no real chance for the rest of the state to change a great deal internally-- much of the state would only benefit indirectly from GOVERNMENT revenues derived from taxation elsewhere being more plentiful and providing a MARGINAL improvement in services and infrastructure.

No one is ever going to think it is a good idea to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in any of the rural areas of WV to establish manufacturing or service employment on a large scale. It simply makes no sense and there is nothing state government can do to change that.

To the extent some counties have natural resources that can be brought to market at a sufficient profit a few jobs will be created until either the resources are depleted or the market changes. There will never be an automobile manufacturing operation in Upshur County or a High Tech operation in Logan County.

Possibly, with a comprehensive and rational strategy, we could make it so more of these industries locate in the few places in WV where it is feasible but doing what is necessary raises the clannish parochial temper in WV. (That is not "stupid;" it's just a cultural attitude)

Stating we need to give Charleston or Morgantown special attention so we can attract industry there by making them more competitive with similar towns out of state just incites people who think those places already benefit too much from government spending at their expense.

That's not stupidity. You can tell these people the truth: "Look, there is no way we can increase the job base in your county no matter how much we spend but if we target our limited money wisely we can make it possible for you to find good jobs ELSEWHERE IN WV rather than out of state they will reject it. Not because they are too stupid to understand but because they aren't moving anywhere and WANT to stay where they are because it is home and moving to Charleston or Morgantown is just not what they want. They'd rather just get as much as they can of the small pie than relinquish some of their slice so some distant town can grow and make the pie bigger which may or may not help years in the future.

They'd rather have life remain as it is even though they understand it's not great. They understand that people in more populated areas can make more money and enjoy more amenities. They don't want them and they are against spending money to make it possible elsewhere because the immediate effect is less for them.

I was just repeating what has been posted on this ...

2006-02-22T12:28:00.000-05:00

I was just repeating what has been posted on this blog about "stupid" I would not be stupid enough to say it in the campaign. I would say that raising one tax that is a "lump tax" all at once would allow spin doctors to jump on the proposal. The problem in local campaigning is getting the message out and having the funds to do so. KISS keep it simple stupid is the only chance a challenger has. The entrenched will not allow for a meaningful debate because they have nothing to gain. If I told the voting public what and how I would attempt to make positive change and KISS the message, maybe I could win. Finding a single issue that puts a negative light on the incumbent and driving it home is the only real chance, sad but true. My personal feeling is do I want to be considered a "politician" in my life! I currently work out of state most of the year and have considered making my home in a different state. Grass is greener on the other side. WV is what WV is and I aint' going to change that. I graduated with 437 people in 1983 and 90% have left the state for employment. How does WV keep or bring families back with all the negatives that surround the state? I deal with business people in many states and when I tell them where I call home the phrase I hear the most "almost heaven" that is now "open for business" not anytime soon. We are associated with RObert C Byrd and he is laughable outside of WV. I hear and see it all the time. This will probably be my last voting year in WV and maybe Byrd has done somethings for WV in his 56 years in Washington, he well should have. He is 86 years old and it's time to step away and go to the farm.

If you plan on running for office, I advise refrai...

2006-02-22T11:41:00.000-05:00

If you plan on running for office, I advise refraining from characterizing those you need to vote for you as "stupid" and "easily confused."

Perhaps inexplicably, many people don't respond favorably to being called too stupid to understand things and are less likely to vote for people who say such things.

Tax policy is complex in the details and one can if one chooses present issues relating to it in such a manner that only the initiated can understand. However, the key to persuasion is developing the ability to explain complex matters in easily understood language.

People who cannot explain something like this so that a person of average intelligence and education can grasp the important fundamentals, simply is not good at communicating and that is HIS flaw not his audience's.

Now, you could look at someone such as WVRepub or Peregrinus and argue-- "Hey, you can't get them to understand pretty basic stuff, so it's not as easy as you claim." Well, I think not. I think those are just people with closed minds and personal agendas who either refuse to focus on anything that challenges their simplistic world view or they are simply feigning a level of "stupidity" far beyond that of the overwhelming majority of voters.

I think almost anyone can understand-- "Yes, we will raise your property tax bill and it seems like a lot all on one statement, but you are getting more than that back over the course of the year because we have reduced these other taxes. so, overall you come out ahead."

Not everyone has advanced degrees but you need to learn to respect the intelligence and common sense of the "common man" a great deal more if you expect make it very far.

Actually, the hardest part is not getting people to understand you--it's getting them to listen to you in the first place when you don't occupy a position of power.

That's going to be a challenge no matter what, but the wrong attitude makes it close to impossible. I've pointed out to WVRepub how is infantile ranting renders him irrelevant. If you are truly interested in political change don't make the same mistake.

Your idea is good, since most property is owned by...

2006-02-22T10:47:00.000-05:00

Your idea is good, since most property is owned by out of state interests (85%) I will propose to charge them in taxes what I will need to off-set my reduction. Because we are stupid in WV your idea would be confusing to the general population and the spin doctors (politicians)would do what they do best. Tax the hell out of the natural resources adding $10 per short ton would add 1.47 billion per year. That would take care of half the taxes currently sent to the State. Coal companies will just have to pass it on to the buyer, I suspect most coal is exported. If your idea would be proposed all the stupid people would never vote you in. I know your idea is the most reasonable, and know that is what needs to happen, convincing the stupid people would never happen. Voters elect candidates (subject to interpretation) and I would show them how they would benefit from my proposals and that I don't sleep with big business. I would truly be for "The People"

"Abolish sales tax and personal property tax. Incr...

2006-02-22T10:21:00.000-05:00

"Abolish sales tax and personal property tax. Increase tax on coal tonnage to cover the lost revenue."

That will not work. While the severance taxes on coal, oil and gas could and should be considerably higher, the increase necessary to offset an abolition of sales and property taxes would be so extreme (somwhere between 15 and 20 times higher)it would shut down production unless energy prices have reached something like $500 a barrel for oil.

What could work is reducing personal income taxes and general business taxes, abolishing the sales tax on food, reducing the general sales tax to 3% (which would give us a great advantage over border states and attract gooods and service providers to border counties --which are many in WV) and greatly INCREASING property taxes and the severance taxes.

To be constitutional, property taxes have to be uniformly increased. In order to allow for a suubstantial reduction in sales, income and general business taxes-- property taxes would have to be SUBSTANTIALLY increased.

That would mean homeowners would face an increase the same as large land (or mineral) holders. the difference is that resident homeowners would have the increase in property taxed more than offset by reductions in other taxes:

for example take a "middle class" homeowner currently paying $800 a year in real property taxes. Under my proposal he would have to pay more like $2400-- a $1600 dollar INCREASE.

But, the elimination of the food tax would if he spent $100 a week on food save him -- $260 a year. If he spent another $15,000 a year on goods and services currently subject to the 6% sales tax-- reducing that to 3% would save him an additional $450 a year.

Then if is a "typical" taxpayer paying an effective 7% in state income tax and his family income is say $50K reducing his effective rate to 4% would save him $1500

So, while paying $1600 more in property taxes he would pay a total of $2210 less in sales and income taxes -- a net benefit of $610 a year.

Then the reduction of money being paid into the treasury from middle class residents of the state would be offset by

(a) the 200% increase paid in property taxes by all real property holders other than residential home owners and (b) a realistic increase in the severance tax.

This would allow us to keep the books balanced and have the positive affect of shifting the tax burden from economic activity (the selling of goods and services and the earning of incomes) to the possession of accumulated wealthy which often provides no or very little benefit to the people ACTUALLY LIVING IN wv.

Let us just get to economics 101, there are 100 pe...

2006-02-22T09:14:00.000-05:00

Let us just get to economics 101, there are 100 pennies in a dollar, if WV takes 10 for taxes and MD takes 8, we pay MORE taxes. The argument about rural WV and providing services is unfounded. Rural water is paid by the customer not tax dollars, fire service is volunteer, no tax base used, Sheriff and State Police is tax funded, look around we don't have many of each. Sewer systems are predominatly septic, no tax money for that either. So what is it that makes WV need more taxes, all I forgot the WV roads are some of the worst in the US.
I have enjoyed these blogs and I'm thinking about running in two years for a House seat. Here is my platform: Abolish sales tax and personal property tax. Increase tax on coal tonnage to cover the lost revenue. Cut state government, make school systems regional, don't need 55 school systems anymore, if ever. All gambling money minus 10 percent for the machine owner to the state. Bars can have two, no more tea houses. I will need to raise $50,000 for a chance of success, should be able to get money from the voters, just $3 each and they will get it in return after just spending $60 that they won't have to pay sales tax on. How could I lose with such tax cut ideas? Do yourselves a favor and listen real close to your candidates, they will say that job creation and tax cuts are the objective, with no plan or idea to implement. Happens every year and no one takes them to task. I was at a political BS forum 2 years ago and a Senator said "WV will be the most progressive state for technology and jobs in 10 years" so I asked what he had done in the last 8 as a Senator in regards to his statement! I was attached by some people in the gallary for being mean to the "nice guy senator" I thought and still think it was a fair question. Most voters don't take the time to weed through the BS say nothings that they just recognize the name on the ballot and move on, While WV just stands still. I think the Supreme COurt race of two years ago proves that it takes a lot of money and driving a negative point even if it is only half true to win in WV.

It is almost impossible to get you to understand A...

2006-02-22T08:25:00.000-05:00

It is almost impossible to get you to understand ANYTHING!

Quite a few states have fewer people per square mile as an overall figure. But, almost all of those states still have a higher percentage of their population living in "urbanized" clusters than does WV. Many states have a few cities where most of the people live and a lot of EMPTY land or a lot of land occupied by huge farms and ranches with very low numbers of people living. In WV we have our population spread out much more than most even if the total poulation density is higher than dome states.

Until you show some slight ability to grasp things you will continue to be irrelevant.

***

"West Virginia is a rural state. By the census definition, which considers all persons living in places of 2,500 or more to be urban residents, over 64 percent of West Virginia's people lived in rural areas in 1990. Among the 50 states, only Vermont had a higher proportion of rural residents, and only three other states had more than half of their populations living in rural areas."

http://www.wvbep.org/bep/lmi/SPECART/SPURBRUR.HTM

"That burden reflects what RESIDENTS pay in state ...

2006-02-22T08:10:00.000-05:00

"That burden reflects what RESIDENTS pay in state and local income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, luxury taxes and fuel taxes, among others."

As I said, that is intended to give INDIVIDUALS a guide as to which states are most "friendly" I also advised you that there are real questions about the Tax Foundation's agenda and it is not considered the "best" source by any means, but even accepting those numbers, the point is that study DOES NOT give a picture of the overall tax burden just the burden borne by individual residents.

As I said if we lowered personal income taxes and sales taxes, the amount paid by individuals would drop. If we made up the loss from that with tax revenue from property taxes and severance taxes, we would remain where we are in overall tax budent per capita (41st) but we would be way back in the 30s on the burden on individuals.

The amount collected by the State in WV is not high (it's BELOW AVERAGE. The issue is that too much of the amount collected comes from middle income resident taxpayers because of the tax structure.

In WV individuals do bear a higher share of the overall tax burden FOR THE REASONS I STATED ABOVE but the overall tax burdenin terms of ALL TAXES COLLECTED INCLUDING THOSE NOT PAYED BY INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS is in the middle.

What that means is that with a different tax structure that provided THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY TO THE STATE TREASURY, wEST VIRGINIA could rank much lower in that list

1st ill say that wv takes in plenty of money, it i...

2006-02-21T20:10:00.000-05:00

1st ill say that wv takes in plenty of money, it is just mismanaged and stolen and wasted.

your right about "cutting taxes will not make the problem go away" but if we cut the flow of money off, then they are forced to get efficient.

here is the best way to look at the numbers !

http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/taxesbystate2005/

now, are you saying that ND SD Idaho or New Mexico are more denselt populated than wv?

look at how much we REALLY pay!

Obviously, an affluent state with a compact poulat...

2006-02-21T19:51:00.000-05:00

Obviously, an affluent state with a compact poulation can provide services and infrastructure at less cost per total income than a poor state like West Virginia where people are spread out over a large, and hilly in case yo never noticed, area.

This is the kind of inabilty to think that makes me complain. If you are REALLY so incredibly dense you cannot grasp thse simple facts you are beyond hope.

It will always be more expensive to provide schools, roads, sewers ambulances, fire, police.... to a sparse population scattered across the many hills than to provide BETTER services to the same number of people all of whom live within 50 miles of one another.

If you do not understand either economies of scale or proximity differentials you simply are too ignorant to make any valid observations.

If you really think that things like this will cease to matter and present huge problems for WV if cut taxes then you are just too stupid for words. We already suffer because our servicers and infrastructure are a lot worse than many other places. Cutting spending on them is obviously not the solution. Even if we eliminated ALL waste and mismanagement fromn WV government (dream on-- if you think electing Repubs will do that then your crazy as well as stupid) it would still be more costly to operate governmet in WV than in most other states.

Until you start addressing things that relate to REALITY IN THE PRESENT ON THIS PLANET you will be irrelevant.

ah, i see, a man makes 100k a year in conn and pay...

2006-02-21T19:22:00.000-05:00

ah, i see, a man makes 100k a year in conn and pays10k

a man works in wv and make 50k and pays 7k.

now, obviously the man in conn payed 3k more than the man in wv, but if the man in wv made as much as the man in conn he would be paying MORE!

thats the more realisitc way to gague it. put wv's income at those of the other state, and use wv rate of taxation and see what we would pay!

we pay a far higher percentage of our income!