As a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania I find it strange that on this Independence Day I am beginning to entertain thoughts of voting with my feet as a way of escaping our increasingly socialist-leaning state government.
My state always has had the problem of the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh axis controlling its politics. Living in the middle of the state meant limited representation. But in the past even those concentrations of Democrat voters in the two major cities weren’t doing things like stealing elections. Now? Well, you make the call.
It’s not to say the state was nirvana back in the day. Pennsylvania has a strong track record as a state that has been regressive in the way it treats its citizenry, particularly on the topic of taxes. I recall as a young man novelty license plates cropping up when Pennsylvania instituted the state personal income tax in 1971 christening our state as the “Land of Taxes.”
Between the current income tax rate of 3.07 percent and a sales tax of six percent, seven percent in some counties, Pennsylvania is helping itself to a considerable chunk of residents’ money at least in the case of those who work and earn income.
Keep looking and the picture gets even worse. Every time you buy a gallon of gasoline, there is 58.7 cents of Pennsylvania tax in the price, second in the United States only to California’s 62.47 cents a gallon.
Our current governor, Tom “The Big Bad” Wolf, when he gets a spare moment to consider something other than imposing more ridiculous COVID-19 restrictions, has floated a trial balloon on getting rid of the gas tax. Before you stand up and cheer, understand that there will be an even more ridiculously high tax applied on something else to make up for the shortfall.
Since food purchased in a grocery store is not currently taxed, I’m thinking Governor Taxalot will look at that. Similarly, retirement income such as Social Security and pensions are not now subject to state income tax in Pennsylvania, but don’t be surprised if that should change under a plea for more money and an accompanying generational warfare approach calling for fairness.
Meanwhile, some Wolf acolytes in the Pennsylvania state house, Democrats of course, have proposed a 5 cent per bullet tax and ways to track purchasers and owners of ammunition.
This ridiculous bit of virtue-signaling legislation is a non-starter for now due to Republican control of the state legislature. But be afraid for the future.
Meanwhile, West Virginia legislators are going in the opposite direction, having passed a law effective July 1 that eliminates sales tax on guns and ammunition purchased in the state.
I’m beginning to understand why the highway signs as one enters West Virginia welcome you to “Almost Heaven.”
The bill’s authors were seeking economic revitalization and have offered tax credits to manufacturers of guns and ammunition who locate there, with one taker already.
It goes beyond this latest bit of enlightened legislation in West Virginia. The state has a U.S. Senator, Joe Manchin, who although he is a Democrat, thinks more like a traditional Republican. He’s the only Democrat holding statewide office in West Virginia.
The governor is a Republican named – you can’t make this stuff up – Jim Justice.
Elitists like to look down on West Virginia due to the relatively low level of higher education. And the economy continues to be stressed due to its reliance on mining coal, an industry under a nonstop campaign to kill it and its workers.
West Virginia is phasing out its taxation of Social Security income and generally has low property taxes, two more items in its favor.
Ideally, I’d move to a state like Montana. But West Virginia is a lot closer, and less expensive due to it not having been “discovered” by limousine liberals fleeing the carnage of the big cities.
I’m keeping an eye on West Virginia, and on the cretins in our state capital of Harrisburg. If both keep moving on current paths, it might be time to check into U-Haul availability.
Sam Ross Jr's site 