An interesting LA Times editorial

By William Voegeli, a visiting scholar at Claremont McKenna College.

He compares high tax high benefit states, California; with low benefit low tax states, Texas. He concludes Texas is better off.

Key quotes:

"One way to assess how Americans feel about the different tax and benefit packages the states offer is by examining internal U.S. migration patterns. Between April 1, 2000, and June 30, 2007, an average of 3,247 more people moved out of California than into it every week, according to the Census Bureau. "

"According to a report issued earlier this year by the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., Texas students "are, on average, one to two years of learning ahead of California students of the same age," even though per-pupil expenditures on public school students are 12% higher in California."