I'm so sick of hearing about the liberals from Taxachusetts...

[Liberalboy]

The GOP keeps clamoring about the fact that OH NO!....here comes another liberal from Taxachuetts. Having been born in Mass and growing up there I have no problem with having pride in my home state. When are the Democrats going to turn on the GOP and point out that the following Presidents were elected from Massachsetts:

John Adams #3
John Qunicy Adams #6
Calvin Coolidge #30
John F. Kennedy #35

Not a bad bunch to be associated with...(Don't know much about Coolidge though)

BTW...#41, George Bush Sr. sadly was born in Massachusetts - can we revoke his birth ceritificate?

[ima_sinnic]

1. the sore losers still can't get over the fact that Massachusetts was

the only state that didn't fall for Nixon in 72 like the rest of the gullible dumbass masses.

[bushwakker]

2. Our last 4 Govs have been GOP

if the taxes here are too high then whose fault is that?

[hyphenate]

3. AMEN!!!! n/t

[Lin]

4. Agreed, How dare they twist my liberal beliefs into

negative conotations? How dare they disparage my home state? do these flag wavers even KNOW it's the birthplace of liberty?

I'm so tired of being this angry....I really resent that...damned damned Bush!

[maxanne]

5. well fight back

show 'em his voting record in the last 3 years, and assert proudly:
He's no liberal!!

[Sparkly]

6. Massachussetts has a proud history

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I'm looking foward to having a New Englander in the White House again. No offense to Southerners here, but it's just time! :)

[mitchtv]

10. I f my plane got grounded somewhere. I would be happier to be

stuck in Boston than say, Houston, Montgomery,Okla City, you know, what I call "the Jenny Jones Triangle".Just my preference of course, I'm sure they're all fine places.

[Journeyman]

7. So do a comparison & contrast. . .

of everyday life in Massachusetts versus that of Texas. I've no doubt Massachusetts will prove better in every conceivable way. And though Texas has its oil barons and assorted ilk, I'm sure Massachusetts can show a greater percentage of wealthy people. And which state's people enjoy a greater income, per capita -- Massachusetts, where 34% of the citizens hold college degrees, or Texas, where only 26% have higher education?

Take a look at the US Census data (www.census.gov/statab/www/ranks.html): Average pay in Massachusetts: $45,000 (it ranks 4th in the nation); Texas: $36,000. Median household income: Massachusetts: $50,500 (5th in the nation), Texas: $39,000.

And what does each state receive for its taxation? Average teacher salaries: Massachusetts: $50,000 (7th in the nation); Texas: $39,000. Violent crime (per 100,000): Here Texas gets the nod for being on top: 579, versus 484 for Massachusetts.

And what are the taxes? Take a look at what the National Conference of State Legislatures says (www.ncsl.org/programs/fiscal/tax99stcolls.htm): Taxes per $100 of income: Massachusetts: $6.71 (ranks #21 in the nation); Texas: $4.77.

So for not but $2 more, I can live in Boston over Austin. Seems a fair price to pay.

[Liberalboy]

9. Nice....

Thx for that Journeyman!

[candy]

13. But have you checked the median house price?

It's $650,000 in my town in Massachusetts.Kind of changes things a little doesn't it?

[Journeyman]

14. Give us more definitive numbers, candy. . .

$650,000 is high for housing, but on the website I checked, that's for Boston. Springfield is at $119,000, and Worcester $136,000. Meanwhile, in Texas, its $148,000 in Austin, $122,000 in Dallas, and $118,000 in Houston. Not much of a difference, statewide, it seems. . . factor Boston out and it seems somewhat similar, no?

Old numbers (2002), and I can't vouch for their accuracy, but one of the big problems we have with debate in America these days is people playing fast and loose with numbers and accusations, which is what I tried to portray to Liberalboy. It's easy to make mindless "Taxachusetts" charges. Understanding what those taxes mean in the real world is more difficult, and requires more thought and analysis.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

22. No, Boston is way more expensive than Texas

my friend bought a 3000 sq foot home in a nice part of Austin for what a person in Boston or Cambridge would pay for a two bedroom condo without a yard or parking. Huge difference.

[HootieMcBoob]

28. That's the market

Conservatives love the "free market" and think it should regulate every aspect of our lives. The prices for a house is higher in Mass. because more people want to live there than want to live in Texas - supply and demand. It costs more to live in the nice part of town than it does to live in the worst part.

[auburnblu]

35. Hmm, there's less diversity in Mass

Texas has a heck of a lot more diversity though than Mass. Martha's Vineyard may be great if you are an Ivy League educated rich white person on vacation, but don't expect much divesity. Mass is no Vermont, this is true, but still . I wonder if the I hate Texas sentiment isn't primarily coming from, shock of shock, almost exclusively privileged white people.

[genius]

8. I'm tired of it to. Kennedy was my favorite President.

[AgentLadyBug]

11. more important than the # of presidents......

..... is the actual truth about the tax burden in a few states... this is from Eschaton (i dunno how to permalink or wutever, it's about 2/3 down the page):

==============================
Georgians bear more tax burden

Since Zell Miller recently called John Kerry an ultraliberal from "Taxachusetts," let's compare the tax situations of Massachusetts and Georgia.

According to the Tax Foundation, Georgia's state and local tax burden ranks 18th in the nation; Massachusetts ranks 36th. Strike one to Georgia.

Also, Georgia has a tax code that is so complicated that the state ranks 25th for business friendliness; Massachusetts ranks 12th. Strike two to Georgia.

By Miller's two-strikes-and-you're-out law, Georgia should be warming the bench. However, we'll give it one more at-bat.

For every dollar that Georgia sends to Washington, it gets back $1.01; for every dollar Massachusetts sends, it loses a quarter, which is redistributed to freeloaders such as Georgia.

Strike three, Zell.

JEFF BOATRIGHT, Decatur
========================================

damn jackasses.....

[Sparkly]

12. I've always said it'd be fine with me if the red states seceded

but I'm not sure I'd want to grant them the foreign aid :)

[pinto]

30. kick. facts, facts, facts.....thks for your post.....n/t

[LesTalkMoreDo]

15. My problem with MA is they don't allow people to arm themselves

What is the problem with a law abiding American owning a handgun and carrying it for protection?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

20. Bullshit. Plenty of gun owners here.

Also #1 in education, lowest rate of infant mortality and lowest rate of teeenage pregnancy. And except fr the traffic and weather we have a great quality of life. So chew on that for a while, pal.

[RandomKoolzip]

26. Jeez....can you guys try to be less transparent?

It takes the fun out of spottin' em when they just announce themselves like that....

[HootieMcBoob]

33. ha :)

ha ha lol ha :)

Look at it this way. Who would you rather have on your side in a fight a shit load of crazy red sox fans or some guy in sequins and fringe and a funny hat who thinks he needs a gun to protect himself.

lol oh boy

[Tom Kitten]

16. actually

Coolidge was born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont...for what it's worth...and not that it really means anything...I was born in Boston, lived my first 3 years there, but I am an Oregonian (34 years here)...I have lots of relatives back there, they are strangers to me...
Birthplaces are a sideshow, IMO...

[Cat Atomic]

17. This sort of hateful shit is acceptable when Republicans do it.

Imagine if Kerry came out and started talking about the "drunken fascists from Texans" or something like that. They'd be going insane.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MisterP]

24. it's Austria-on-the-Pacific now

with AHHHNULD as Governator

[EndElectoral]

19. Massacgusetts gets screwed by govt.

Look at your tax bucks in return for payment

http://www.taxfoundation.org/sr124.pdf

[Eric J in MN]

21. Paul Revere and the people who threw tea into Boston Harbor

Paul Revere and the people who threw tea into Boston Harbor were Massachusetts liberals.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

23. Amen to that!

If it weren't for a bunch of Massholes, we wouldn't have a country.

I'm a Masshole and proud!

[Nevernose]

25. #43 was born in Conecticut

Can we kick him out of Texas and send him back where he came from?

[SemperEadem]

27. Then perhaps they need to talk about Taxas--

seeing that the President is from Taxas, he raised everyone's taxes by giving kick backs to his uber-wealthy chums..

there has been more tax increases and intrusions into private life with the GOP, the party of less governmental intrusion and taxing.

[Nevernose]

29. Please see post #25

He's from Conecticut, and spe3nt most of his formative years in New England as well. It's New England that unleashed this particular Godzilla on Texas, not vice versa.

[DemoTex]

31. Called "Taxylvania" in my NC county ...

Transylvania. The "Taxylvania" bumper stickers are always on a beat-up pick-up truck with a Dixie flag in the back window and a Christian icon (cross, fish, etc) on the otherwise festooned rear of the vehicle. They are dumb mountain people who don't realize that "no more taxes" equates to "no more help."

[markses]

32. Massachusetts tied for second lowest personal bankruptcy filings per/1000

http://www.bankruptcyaction.com/USbankstats2.htm#BankruptciesbyState

(All stats 2001)

Alaska: 0.5/1000
Massachustts: 2.8 per 1000
Vermont: 2.8 per 1000

Now, let's see who has the highest:

Tennesee: 10.8/1000
Nevada: 9.8/1000
Utah: 8.9/1000
Georgia: 8.9/1000
Alabama: 8.8/1000

See a pattern? Wait, there's more:

Arkansas: 8.3/1000
Indiana: 8.0/1000
Louisiana: 7.9/1000
Maryland: 6.7/1000
Oklahoma: 6.7/1000

Yup. looks like all those Northeastern taxes are really hurting people! :eyes: We're trying to have a freaking society here! Oh, by the way, New York: 3.7/1000.

[sendero]

34. Republicans.....

.... are always living in the past and fighting last decade's battles.

A good ol' boy from Texas has wrecked the Federal budget more soundly than any Taxachusetts liberal ever could have.

One thing about Reps tho, they can follow the money and that is why they will not vote for Bush* this time around....

[progdonkey]

36. Kennedy

Hate to break it to you, but the only president on your list from Mass. who wasn't mediocre was Kennedy (though, he was so awesome, he balances out the rest). Adams produced the Alien and Sedition Acts ("Ye Olde Patriote Acte"), Quincy Adams was nothing special, and Coolidge left office with the nation severely divided over immigration, Prohibition, etc. between "Old" and "New" America.

Virginia, on the other hand, produced Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. Need I say more? :smoke: